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THE LAST OF "THE UMFREVILLES." 



He was the last of a noble race 



Bearing a name the envied boast 



Of Border Chivalry in olden day, 



Whose power had pass'd and not a place 



Remain'd for him on either coast 



Of Scotland or Northumbria : 



Yet he felt strongly drying the tears that came 



To the sad mockery that time had wrote 



On human greatness nor spurn'd a name 



That gave him honour, while it smote 



His power to yield it back to Fame, 



For he died young 'twas not upon the deep 



In battle's fierce array, wherein he bore 



The prowess of his lineage Disease did reap 



The green unripen'd harvest thence to spring 



No more! E. W. G. 



[The family of^'Uirfranville," or " Umfreville," Lords of Redesdalein North- 

 umberland, and Earls of Angus, in Scotland, was introduced by] William the 

 Conqueror, and held the Castles of Harbottle, Warkworth, Prudhoe, and others 

 now chiefly in the possession of the Duke of Northumberland. " Robert with the 

 beard," the first Earl, received all Redesdale, with the Castle of Harbottle, which 

 stands on the Coquet, from the Conqueror, upon the condition of defending that 

 part of the country from enemies and wolves. Gilbert, styled " The famous Baron, 

 the flower and keeper of the northern parts of England," was in the reign of 

 Henry III., in right of his wife, created Earl of Angus. John Brand Umfreville, 

 the last lineal descendant of this ancient family, the son of William Umfreville, a 

 chandler in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was born in May, 1784. He was one of three 

 children, two of whom were daughters Margaret and Eleanor, the last of whom only 

 survives unmarried, and is at present an inmate of the Freemen's Hospital in New- 

 castle. When he was about the age of fourteen, the late Duke of Northumberland 

 having heard of his lineage, sent for, and provided him a place in the Royal Navy. 

 He served under the late LordExmouth in the East Indies, and from being first lieu- 

 tenant in the " Ranger" sloop of war, rose to the rank of captain. Being placed on 

 half-pay, he resided for some time before his death amidst scenes rendered famous 

 by his warlike ancestors. He was of a frank and generous disposition, and died on 

 the 6th of April, 1820, at Broomhaugh, near Hexham, at the age of 36 , a bachelor, 

 universally regretted, and was interred in the south aisle of Hexham Church, in 

 the tomb of the Umfrevilles.] 



EVENING. 



THE sunbeams sink behind yon purple hill, 

 Where sheep-bells toll the dying day's decay ; 

 Crowned Vesper trims her lamp, the fickle ray 



Pours from the azure arch so faint and chill ; 



The leaf-hung trees, with mournful music thrill, 

 Woke by the winds, or some sad night bird's lay ; 



And soft notes quiver from the murm'ring rill, 

 As o'er the pebbles bursts each wave away. 



Dame Nature curtains in her misty vest, 



And weary cattle court their coming guest. 



Now fairies sport, grim ghost-formed shadows roam, 

 Lone " ploughmen whistle as they hurry home ;" 



And the young fond wife, with her sweetest smile, 



Welcomes the son of Britain's peaceful isle ! U. 



