these have been conducted. Every thing that could please the intellectual amateur, has been lavished upon these concerts. Among the instrumentalists whom we have heard at Mr. Eliason's, we may mention Mrs. Anderson, and Messrs. Lindley, Eliason, Platt, E. and L. Schultz, and though last, not least, that beautiful oboe player, Gratton Cooke. In the vocal department, we have heard Madame de Meric, Miss Inverarity, Mrs. H. Bishop, Miss Grayton Osborne, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Wilson, Signor Guibilei, Mr. Parry, jun., and a Mr. Machin, a young gentleman of considerable promise, with a beautiful baritone voice, and whom we particularly designate, because he is yet unknown in the metropolis as a public singer. Messrs. Chelard and Perez have conducted these elegant little concerts, and several compositions of the former have been performed at them; we were particularly struck with two of these pieces :-namely, 'The Savoyard,' beautifully sung in English by Madame de Meric, and 'The Smile,' a duett, as beautifully sung by Miss Grayton Osborne, in her elegant style, and with her young and thrilling voice, assisted by Mr. Bennett, whose claims for knowledge of his art, and for taste, feeling, and enthusiasm, stand higher, in our estimation, than nine tenths of his professional brethren.

We sincerely hope, that Mr. Eliason will receive sufficient encouragement to induce him to give another series of these entertainments.

Mademoiselle Mars and the Legacy. The recent bequest of 80,000 francs, which, most unexpectedly, has fallen to the share of a celebrated actress, has formed, until within a few days since, a subject of much gossip and discussion, at the soirées, when, at length, the veil of mystery being cast aside, discovered to the curious world the names of Mademoiselle Mars, and the eccentric imbraglio of the legacy as those of the party most interested in an affair, which, certainly, savours of the romantic. A certain Marquis having, during a period of several years, been completely captivated with the charms of this distinguished actress, and finding that all his splendid offers were treated with disdain, submitted at length to his fate, and consoled himself by admiring at a distance the object he despaired of ever being suffered to approach. Thus, aux Français, on the night of Mademoiselle Mars' performance, was our enamoured swain to be found seated in a distant box, in regular attendance, his eyes, his ears, gratified, it is true, but his heart still enchained, whilst with each succeeding day his outward man betrayed the workings of the tyrant divinity within. A victum thus to gloomy despondency, he was one morning hastily traversing the Rue, when, his foot slipping, he fell upon his back, very seriously hurt. He was lifted up and conveyed to his hotel, where, stretched upon his couch in an agony of pain, and almost expiring, the ardour of his love was still not to be quench

ed, and he vowed that none other but the physician in the service of Mademoiselle Mars should approach him. That gentleman was accordingly sent for, and, upon examination, he found the sufferer's case so hopeless, that he lost no time in communicating to him his situation. The Marquis received the information with fortitude; he made his will immediately, which, having done, he sank exhausted on his pillow, whence he never raised his head again. The dawn of morning found him a corpse. The will being opened, it was found, to the dismay of his relations, that he had appointed the object of his adoration universal legatee.

Female Heroism, or La Cantinière of the 25th Regiment.-There is at present existing, in the French army, a young and beautiful woman, generally known as "La Belle Cantinière du vingt-cinquième." This young female, whose countenance is the index of mildness and courage, followed her regiment to the siege of Antwerp, where she evinced so much undaunted bravery and sangfroid, as to call forth the astonishment and admiration of even the oldest veterans in the corps. In the heat of action, and at the most dangerous points, Antoinette Moreau was to be distinguished by the basket slung across her arm, and the flagon hanging at her belt, busily engaged in distributing her refreshing aid, whilst she received, with a smiling face, the many compliments which, with their natural politeness, her customers bestowed upon herself and the quality of her cheer. This intrepid creature was not only distinguished for her care of the wounded, but signalised herself also by various feats of heroism, and on the following occasion in particular. A sergeant, Fabre, and his company of miners, being posted at the scarp of Fort St. Lawrence, where they had remained stationed for four days, it was discovered that they were short of provisions. The raft having been withdrawn, and the exchange of fire being very fierce at this moment, rendered the attempt to relieve them extremely dangerous. Whilst, however, their comrades were discussing the feasibility of the undertaking, our heroine having overheard their conversation, resolved, without a moment's hesitation, to risk her own life in the cause, and, whilst the soldiers still remained undecided what measures to adopt, she was already en route, and, in defiance of every danger, reached the appointed spot. Having hastily thrown her basket of provisions among the famished men, she retraced her steps to her quarters again, and, in spite of the murderous shots and missiles around, her guardian angel, in return for her truly heroic and benevolent act, safely conducted her back to her anxious comrades, by whom she was greeted with shouts of admiration. She has since been decorated with the croix d'honneur, with which she was invested by the royal hands of Louis Philippe himself.

THE HON. MRS. RAMSAY, the subject of this month's embellishment, is a daughter of the very ancient house of Sandilands, Lords Torpichen.

Sir JAMES DE SANDILANDS, Lord of Calder, the immediate ancestor of the family, obtained an extensive grant of lands from King David II., as a reward for his eminent services in the war with England, during the reign of that monarch. Follower in arms of the Lord Douglas, and participator in all his bold and successful attacks against the English, Sir James cemented the alliance by espousing the sister of his chieftain, the Lady Eleanor Bruce, and had a son and successor,

Sir JAMES SANDILANDS, who received the honour of knighthood from King Robert the Second, and espoused the second daughter of that monarch; by whom he had,

Sir JAMES SANDILAN DS, one of the barons who attended King James I. from Durham to Scotland, when that prince obtained his freedom, and who afterwards went to England as one of the hostages for the monarch's ransom. Dying in 1434, he was succeeded by his son,

with his associates. From this Sir John we pass to his lineal descendant,

Sir JAMES SANDILANDS, a person of great wisdom, and of the most exemplary piety and virtue. He espoused Margaret, only daughter of Archibald Forrester, of Corstophine, and by her had two sons, John his successor, and James. The latter, on account of his eminent talents and learning, was, by Sir William Lindsay, preceptor of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, recommended to the Grand Master at Malta as a person well qualified to succeed to the preceptory, and, becoming a knight of the order, was accordingly, at the death of Sir Walter, in 1538, invested with the title, power, and jurisdiction of Lord St. John of Jerusalem in Scotland. Attached to that bold and daring opponent of the Church of Rome, John Knox, the Lord St. John embraced the reformation in 1553.* In 1560, he was employed in one of the most remarkable embassies in Scottish history. He was sent to France by the Lords of the congregation to lay their proceedings before King Francis, and his celebrated consort Queen Mary Stuart. On presenting himself at court, the Cardinal de Lorraine loaded him with reproaches, accused him of violating his obligations as a knight of a holy order, by consenting to be bearer of the propositions of heretics; and, notwith

VOL. II.NO. IV.

The present family, however, are still members

Z

standing all his efforts to soothe the prelate; notwithstanding the most assiduous endeavours to recommend himself to the Queen, and to ascertain her intentions, he was dismissed without an answer. In 1564 he resigned the revenues of the Knights of St. John into the hands of Queen Mary, and in return had a grant from that princess of the baronies of Torpichen, Listoun, &c. These being erected into a temporal lordship, he was created Lord Torpichen, with remainder to his heirs and assigns whatsoever. His lordship espoused Janet, daughter of Murray of Polmaise, but had no issue, and dying in 1596, the barony of Torpichen devolved upon his grand nephew, JAMES SANDILANDS, second Lord TORPICHEN, grandson of Sir JOHN SANDILANDS, of Calder. This nobleman had, with other issue, two sons, both successively inheritors of his titles;

in 1715, to Scotland, and with a party of five hundred horse and foot attacked the rebels at Seton Hall; but having no artillery this expedition proved unsuccessful. His lordship displayed great valour at the battle of Sheriffmuir. He quitted the army in 1722; was by King George I. appointed one of the lords of police, and died in 1753, after possessing the title fifty-seven years. His eldest son having fallen in the field of Preston, he was succeeded by the second;

WALTER, eighth Lord TORPICHen, who, dying in 1765, left his honours to his son,

JAMES, ninth Lord TORPICHEN. This nobleman was an officer in the Royal Scots Fusileers, in General Burgoyne's unfortunate expedition to America, and was one of those who piled their arms at Saratoga, in 1777, in consequence of the convention concluded between Burgoyne and General Gates. His

JOHN, fourth Lord TORPICHEN, who dying in 1637, was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN, fifth Lord TORPICHEN. This nobleman protested against the engagement to march into England in 1648, and was one of the few peers who sat in the Parliament of 1649. Dying unmarried, his honours were inherited by his brother,

WALTER, sixth Lord TORPICHEN, who, dying in 1696, was succeeded by his son,

JAMES, seventh Lord TORPICHEN. This distinguished nobleman was a staunch supporter of the treaty of union between England and his native country. After serving abroad in the wars of Queen Anne, he returned,

tenant-colonel, and served under the Duke of York in Flanders. He was a representative peer. Dying without issue in 1815, he was succeeded by his cousin german,

JAMES SANDILANDS, tenth and present Lord TORPICHEN, whose father, Robert, was youngest son of the seventh baron, James Lord Torpichen. This nobleman espoused, 3d of November, 1806, Margaret Douglas, second daughter of John Douglas, Esq. of Kippendavie, by whom he has issue three sons, Robert, John, and James, and one daughter,

MARY, who, on the 4th of August, 1828, espoused WILLIAM RAMSAY RAMSAY, of Barnton, Edinburghshire, Esquire.