GRANGE HOUSE. 11 



fusion of paintings. Sir Thomas and Mr Black were 

 standing beside the fire, discussing the change in the 

 ministry ; * Lady Lauder was seated at a work table a 

 little away. I was received by the lady very kindly, by 

 Mr Black very politely, by Sir Thomas as if we had 

 been friends and companions for twenty years. The 

 political conversation was then resumed. Sir Thomas 

 remarked that if the Duke of Wellington calculated on the 

 soldiery, and he could not well see what else he could 

 calculate upon, he trusted he had mistaken their spirit. 

 For the army, said he, is composed of the people, and 

 in a time of peace like the present must be imbibing 

 their opinions. I stated to him, in proof of what he 

 remarked, that I had crossed the ferry of Fort George 

 last summer with a party of soldiers, and was interested 

 to learn, from their conversation, that many of them 

 were acquainted with the periodicals, and fond of read- 

 ing. And I question, I said, whether a reading soldiery 

 be the best for doing everything they are bid. Sir 

 Thomas deemed the remark of some value, simple as it 

 may seem . . . Sir Thomas showed us a highly-interest- 

 ing relic of Queen Mary, a watch, formed like a human 

 skull, which was presented by her to that Lady Seaton 

 whom Scott has made the heroine of his Abbot. The 

 upper part of the skull is richly embossed with figures ; 

 there is the crucifixion, the adoration of the shepherds, 

 and several other Scripture scenes connected with the 

 history of our Saviour ; on the sides there is a series of 

 vignettes, the frock without a seam, the nails, the 

 scourge, the crown of thorns, and the spear. The 

 workmanship is evidently French. 



* The attempt made by Peel and Wellington, in the end of 1834, 

 to take the reins out of the hands of the Whigs. It broke down in a 

 few months. 



