I know every particular of that fearful storm, and in relating them I seek not to perpetuate the memory of wrongs which were fully and unreservedly forgiven by their gentle victim: still less would I fling a reproach where every British Christian is bound by God's command to yield honour: but the fierceness of the fiery trial, under which the quiet sufferer sank, does so exceedingly magnify the grace of God which upheld her throughout, and overspread her wounded spirit with joy and peace in believing, that all shall be told truly told, upon the unimpeachable authority already alluded to.

Lady Flora Hastings had always been of a strong constitution, and vigorous as any other young person in her rank of life. Of late she had felt the progress of some disease affecting the liver, but not so as to occasion great uneasiness. She placed herself at length under the medical treatment of Sir James Clark, her Majesty's physician, and was by him ordered strong tonics with a very generous diet. A slight external swelling had become perceptible, of which, if any one noticed it, Sir James could satisfactorily state the cause, and explain the appearance. On one occasion, never to be forgotten, he entered the apartment of his patient, and without circumlocution addressed her in these words, It is supposed you are with child.'

Astounded, shocked, at an announcement, the grossness of which could only be paralleled by its frightful injuriousness, the noble lady warmly repelled the charge; adding that her accuser would not have ventured to address such language to a woman in the streets. The assertion was, however, re-iterated; and she was told that the ladies of the

court would not be satisfied without a medical examination. Leaving this shaft to rankle in the bosom of the victim, the messenger departed; and a communication was forthwith made to the Duchess of Kent, in the name of the Sovereign, forbidding the appearance of Lady Flora Hastings in public, until the step alluded to should have been taken. The Duchess warmly vindicated her young friend, and protested that no such degradation should be inflicted on her; but this objection was overruled by the Lady Flora herself.

Immediately on being left alone, she had betaken herself to most fervent prayer; and while humbled before God, had reviewed the position in which her own reputation was placed, together with the solemn duty which she owed to a noble brother, to a family of beloved sisters, to a widowed mother, to whom such an aspersion on her child would be a deathblow, and to the memory of a father whose gallant deeds had given him a claim of no common magnitude on England, and on England's monarch; and above all to the honour of that Name which many knew that she devoutly professed. Like a frightened dove she looked around for shelter, but found none: her mother's bosom was the earthly resting-place she would have flown to; but far away in her native north that dear mother abode, unconscious of her child's piercing distress: her brother was nigh, but she trembled to arouse the spirit of a Hastings with such an appeal: her sisters-she was the elder, and to her they looked for the continuance of all that they had hitherto revered in her. No, she had no refuge, poor trembler! no refuge below: so she cast her burden on the Lord, and with a magnanimity,

before which every vaunt of female heroism shrinks into nothingness, this maintainer of a family's honour declared herself ready for the degrading, disgusting, infamous outrage which she was informed must be submitted to on the following day.

Mothers! I would appeal to you; but what mother's heart could brook the bare idea, as she looks on her own gentle, modest, girl, shrinking even from the eye of man, and pictures such a proceeding, enforced far from her sheltering arm, among strangers and enemies; ay, and with that very person appointed to officiate, whose coarse address had so wantonly harrowed the feelings, while it aimed a mortal stab at the fair fame of the maiden! No, I will make no appeal; but there is an awful declaration in God's own word-may those who have exposed themselves to its menace, by timely repentance avert the impending blow! "Ye shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in anywise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry: and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless."

Lady Flora passed, as she afterwards declared, the whole of the intervening time in prayer to her covenant God. The terrible hour approached; and who do my readers think was chosen by her to be present as a female companion? Did she ask to lay her agonized head on the kind bosom of her maternal friend, the royal Duchess? Did she seek the comforting and soothing presence of her dear brother's wife of a married sister of her own-or of any among the hundreds of noble British matrons who would at a word have flown to supply the place of

the absent mother? No, this consistent lady, receiving strength from on high to offer up self in every shape on the altar of duty, selected as a witness one of the two ladies of the Queen's court, who were already identified as the originators of this inhuman calumny-one of the ladies who had expressly demanded what no female can think of without shrinking with horror-she chose Lady Portman; and Lady Portman was an eye-witness of the insulting degradation to which they had among them doomed the innocent Lady Flora.

Another titled physician of the same name was associated with Sir James Clark, who strongly protested against carrying the test beyond verbal inquiry, and who was deeply affected and agitated throughout the scene which followed. This was the death-blow: all the bursts of public sympathy, respect, and warm approval that greeted Lady Flora from that day forward were agony to her delicate mind; she secretly connected them, as perhaps no other did, with the barbarous indignity she had suffered, to enable the Queen's doctor to certify to her Majesty, that the Lady Flora Hastings was not, nor ever had been, enciente.' And so the well-meant acclamations that burst from manly hearts and honest lips served ever- . more to open afresh the wound her modesty had sustained. A most heart-rending proof was given towards the close of the tragedy, how deeply this had rankled within, though in words she never had alluded to it until then. For two days before her departure, Lady Flora suffered under a degree of mental wandering, not amounting to delirium, but approaching it: while in this state she saw the medical men who anxiously attended her dying bed en

tering the room; and in a hurried, alarmed manner exclaimed,' Here come the doctors to see whether I am a married lady.'

She is married now; and the heavenly Bridegroom rejoices over the rescued soul. There never was a tale so calculated to burn out the blushes of modest shame with the far deeper blushes of wrathful indignation. There never was such a blot on the heraldic honours of England's nobility since England's nobles emblazoned a crest, as must for ever cleave to the escutcheons of those who perpetrated this fearful deed. Who they were it belongs not to me to decide: Lady Flora forgave them all, on the occasion of her receiving the sacrament from the Bishop of London. She authorized that excellent prelate to declare how fully and freely she forgave them, even as God for Christ's sake had forgiven her: and we too must look compassionately on the offenders, while we loathe the offence. Most pitiable, indeed, are they! From her happy mind every cloud was dispelled; she had glorified God in the fires, and on a retrospection she yielded Him redoubled thanksgiving for the humbling, purifying effect of the furnace. She observed that, had it been the divine pleasure to prolong her life, she had hoped, by an open unreserved devotion of herself to his service, to honour her heavenly Father before men; adding, 'His will be done: it is better to depart, and to be with Christ.' When life was ebbing fast away, she stretched out her hand, saying, Lord, I am coming;' but the latest breath that left her lips was fashioned into the tender word-' Mother.'

Well, the bereaved mother has strewn flowers over her darling's bier, and has seen her laid in the lowly resting-place of a spot rendered doubly sacred by