infantine folly, flattered parental vanity with visions of future greatness—but in Andrew Jackson was found a youth of humble, though honest origin; parentless and forlorn in early age; without fortune and friends; resting on the intuitive powers of a great mind, derived from the hand of nature; buffeting the storms of life, and at length raising himself, through merit alone, to the highest distinction that mortal man can attain.

MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS,

DAUGHTER of James V. and of Mary of Lorraine, his second wife, was born December 14, 1542, a few days before the death of her father; upon whose decease, the Earl of Arran was appointed guardian of Mary, and regent of the kingdom.

Henry VIII. on the death of James, conceived a project of marrying his only son Edward with the infant Queen of Scots; and sent some of the prisoners taken at Solway to Scotland, to urge his cause; but Henry, instead of temporising with the jealousy of the Scots, demanded that the person of their Queen should be immediately committed to his charge, and that the government of the kingdom should, during her minority, be placed in his hands, he at once alarmed and incensed the whole nation. His conditions were indignantly rejected, and after some dark and unsuccessful intrigues, he was compelled to make concessions; but he never relinquished his intentions of the union, till death put a stop

to his projects. The ministers of the young Edward followed the steps of their late master, and sent an army of 18,000 men to Scotland to enforce the union: the Scots were defeated in the famous battle of Pinkey. This disaster only tended to increase the hatred of the Scots and in an assembly of the nobles, they resolved to offer their Queen in marriage to the dauphin of France; an offer so flattering and advantageous was immediately accepted; and the beauteous Mary, at the age of sixteen, was, without delay, conducted into France.

The nuptials between Mary and the dauphin, were, on the 14th of April, 1558, celebrated with great pomp, at Paris; previous to which she was prevailed upon to subscribe three deeds; by which, in failure of heirs, she conferred the kingdom of Scotland, its inheritance and succession, as a free gift upon the crown of France.

On the accession of Queen Elizabeth, the Catholics instigated Henry II. to persuade his daughter-in-law to assume, with her husband, the title of King and Queen of England, a fatal presumption which led to the most disastrous consequences. When Francis II. be

came King of France, he attempted to crush the Scotch protestants, and sent a fleet to Leith harbor, in the hopes, that with the English catholics, he might make a safe landing, and eventually dethrone Elizabeth: but on the French fleet surrendering to the English, the French withdrew their army from Scotland, and entered into a treaty, by which Mary and Francis solemnly engaged neither to assume the title, nor to bear the arms of King and Queen of England.

Towards the year 1560, Francis II. died; and the situation of the widowed Mary was materially changed. His death was received by the Scots with transports of joy; and the prior of St. Andrew's was appointed by the convention to pass over to France, and invite the Queen to her native land; influenced by prudent resolution, she received the prior with marks of attachment and confidence. Mary was unwilling to embark for Scotland; fondly lingering in France, the scene of her early attachments and of all her pleasures. At length, she determined to commence the dreaded journey; and a train, suitable to her dignity, accompanied her to Calais, where she embarked. While the French coast remain

ed in sight, she continued to gaze on it intently, and appeared lost in reflection. 'Farewell, France!' cried she, ' Farewell, beloved country, which I shall never more behold!' By the favour of a thick fog, the vessel some days afterwards escaped the English fleet, which waited to intercept it; and Mary, after an absence of thirteen years, landed on the 19th of August, 1561, safely at Leith, in her native country, where she was received with every demonstration of joy; and conducted to Holyrood-house: here she kept her court with as much splendour as the poverty of her country would allow. The Queen, by the graces of her person and the elegance of her manners, commanded every where admiration and respect.

To the accomplishments of her own sex, she added many of the acquirements of the other. She was conversant both with the modern and Latin languages; and had made a considerable progress in the arts and sciences. Above all, she stole on the affections of her subjects by mingled dignity, courtesy and

sweetness.

On September 1, 1561, Mary made her public entry into Edinburgh, and was received with ardent demonstrations of duty and affec