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fering, on condition of receiving a certain proportion of the sum recovered, to carry on the law-suit at their own risk and expence; in full confidence that the decision would be favourable, from the circumstance that the act of parliament settling the joiuture had assigned as security for its payment royal demesnes of a yearly income more than equal to the amount. But neither Charles nor Henry (for the proposal was made to each separately) would agree to it. Henry was a studious and well-informed prince, and a sincerely pious prelate. His purse was always open to suffering humanity; and British travellers particularly, whether ruined by misfortune or by imprudence, found in him, on all occasions, a compassionate benefactor. He possessed, before 1798, a very valuable collection of curiosities at his villa, where many scarce tracts and interesting manuscripts concerning the unfortunate house of Stuart were among the ornaments of his library. In his will, made in January, 1789, he had left the latter to his relation, count Stuarton; but they were all, in 1798, either plundered by the French and Italian jacobins at Rome, or confiscated by French commissaries for the libraries or museums at Paris. The cardinal of York returned to Rome in 1801, and died the Doyen of the sacred college, after being one of its most virtuous and disinterested members upwards of 60 years. He was also bishop of Ostie and Velletri, vice-chancellor of the holy Roman church, and arch-priest of the basilique patriarchal of St. Peter of the Vatican. Thus has died, at the age of 82 years and some months, the last, in a direct line, of the royal house of Stuart; and his death is of some importance; for, it is understood, an act with respect to

attainder of blood was to expire at the death of this last of the Stuart family. The statements in the French papers, concerning cardinal York's bequests to the king of Sardinia, are void of all truth.

Some doubts having been expressed as to the truth of the report of the cardinal having received a considerable pension during the latter years of his life, from our monarch, the following letters on that subject will be found interesting:

From Lord Minto to Cardinal York.

"De Vienne, 9 Feb. 1800.

"Monseigneur,

"J'ai recu les ordres de la majesté, le roi de la Grande Bretagne, de faire remettre a votre eminence la somme de deux mille livres sterling, et d'assurer V. E. qu'en acceptant cette marque de l'interet et de l'estime de S. M. elle lui sera un sensible plaisir. Il m'est en meme tems ordonné de faire part a V. E. des intention de S. M. de lui transmettre une pareille somme de 20001. sterling au mois de Juillet, si les circonstances demeuroient telles que V. E. continuat a la desirer.

"J'ai donc l'honneur de la prévenir que la somme de 20001. sterling, est disposée à la maison de Messrs. Coutts et Compagnie, banquiers, a Londres, à la disposition de votre eminence. En executant les ordres du roi mon Maitre, V. E. me rendra la justice de croie que je suis infiniment sensible à l'honneur d'etre l' organe des sentimens nobles et touchans,qui ont dicte á S.M.la dimanche dout elle a daigné me charger, el qui lui ont été inspirés, d'un coté par ses propres vertus et de l'autre tant par les qualities eminantes de la personne

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auguste qui en est l'objet que par son letter iswritten in so extremely genteel desir de reparer par tout ou il est pos- and obliging manner, and with exsible les desastres dans lesquels le pressions of singular regard and conBeau universal de nos jours a paru sideration for me, that I assure you vouloir entrainer par préférence, tout excited in me most particular and ce qui est le plus digne de veneration lively sentiments, not only of satiset de respect.

faction for the delicacy with which Je prie V. E. d'agreer les assur- the affair has been managed, but also ances de mes hommages respectueux of gratitude for the generosity which et de la veneration profonde avec la- bas, provided for my necessity. quelle

“ I have answered Lord Minto's “ J'ai l'honneur d'étré

letter, and gave it Saturday last to “ De votre Eminence Mr. Oakley, who was to send it by “ Le tres humble et tres that evening's post to Vienna: I have

“obeissant Serviteur, written in a manner that I hope will

(Signed) “ MINTO. be to bis lorılship’s satisfaction. I « Env. Ex. & Min. Plen. de S. M. B. own to you that the succour granted “ A la Cour de Vienne." to me could not be more timely; for

without it, it would have been inpossible for me to subsist, on account

of the absolutely irreparable loss of From Cardinal York to Sir John all my income, the very funds being Hippesley, Bart.

also destroyed, so that I should other

wise have been reduced for the short “Your letters fully convince me of remainder of my life, to languish in the cordial interest you take in all misery and indigence. that regards my persoņ, and am hap- “I could not lose a monient's py to ackuowledge that principally time to apprize you of all this, and I owe to your friendly efforts, and to am very certain that your experithem of your friends, the succour ge- mented good heart will tind proper nerously granted to relieve the ex- means to make known, in an energetreme necessities into which I have tical and proper manner, these sentibeen driven by the present dismal ments of my grateful acknowledgcircumstances. I caunot sufficiently ment. express, how sensible I am to your “ The signal obligations I am good heart; and write these few lines under to Mr. Andrew Stuart for all in the first place to confess to you that he has, with so much cordiality these my most sincere and grateful on this occasion, done to assist me, sentiments, and then to inform you, render it for me indispensable to that by means of Mr. Oakley, an desire, that you may return him my English gentleman arrived here last most sincere thanks, assuring him that week, I have received a letter from his health and welfare interest me lord Minto from Vienna, advising me extremely: and that I have with great that he had orders from his court pleasure received from gen. Acton to remit to me at present the sum of the genealogical history of our fa20001.; and that in the month of mily, which he was so kind as to send July next, I may again draw, if Ide- me; I liope that he will, from that sired it, for another equal sum. This gentleman, bave already received my

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"Sir, I trust your Eminence will do me the justice to believe that I was not insensible to the honour of receiving so flattering a proof of your gracious consideration as that which I was favoured with, dated 26th of last month, from the bosom of the Conclave.

"The merciless scourge of the present age (as my friend lord Minto has so justly observed) has singled out as the first object of its vengeance, every thing that is most worthy, and best entitled to our veneration and respect.' The Infidels in Religion, but Zealots in Anarchy, whose maLignity pursued the sacred remains of Pius the Great even beyond the grave, assuredly would not exempt from their remorseless persecution the venerable person of the cardinal York!

"Severe as have been your eminence's sufferings, they will, nevertheless, find some alleviation in the general sympathy of the British na tion: with all distinction of parties, with all differences of communion,

among all conditions of men, but one voice is heard: all breathe one applauding sentiment; all bless the gracious act of the sovereign in favour of his illustrious but unfortunate relation.

"Your eminence greatly overvalues the humble part which has fallen to my lot, in common with my worthy friend Mr. Stewart. The cause of suffering humanity never wants supporters in the country with which I know, sir, you feel a generous pride in being connected. The sacred ministers of religion, exiled and driven from their altars, find refuge and security in Britain. The unfortunate princes of the house of Bourbon here too found an asylum under the hospitable roof of the Royal Ancestors of cardinal York: and when every dignified virtue that can stamp worth on human nature is outraged in the venerable person of the cardinal York himself against such cruelties, with inward consolations recompensed'-here also an inviolable sanctuary is unfolded in the kindred bosom of our beloved sovereign.

"It is incumbent on me to attest, that in the frequent communication Mr. Stuart and myself bave had with the king's ministers on this subject, they have uniformly expressed their firm opinion, that his majesty will think himself happy in repeating the same gracious attention to his royal relation, and in the same proportion, as long as his unfortunate circumstances have a claim to them. I can also, with equal confidence, assure your eminence, that your reply to my lord Minto has given as much satisfaction to the king's ministers, as it doubtless has excited in the benevo lent mind of his majesty himself.

"Mr. Stuart unites with me in every heartfelt wish for your emi

nence's

nence's health and happiness, equally flattered with myself by your eminence's condescension and gracious acceptance of our humble attentions. "With the most perfect consideration and profound respect,

"I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) "J. C. HIPPESLEY. "Grosvenor street, London, March 31."

"I am much obliged to you to have indicated to me the way I may write unto Coutts, the court banker, and shall follow your friendly insinuations. In the mean time, I am very desirous that you should be convinced of my sentiments of sincere esteem and friendship, with which, my dear lord, with all my heart I embrace you. (Signed)" HENRY CARDINAL."

From the Cardinal York, to Lord From the Cardinal York to Sir John

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Minto.

"With the arrival of Mr. Oakly, who has been this morning with me, I have received by his discourses, and much more by your letters, so many tokens of your regard, singular consideration and attention for my person, as obliges me to abandon all sort of ceremony, and to begin abruptly to assure you, my dear lord, that your letters have been most acceptable to me in all shapes and regards. I did not in the least doubt of the noble way of thinking of your generous and beneficent sovereign: but I did not expect to see, in writing, so many and so obliging expressions, that well calculated for the persons with receive them and understand their force, impress in their minds a most lively sense of tenderness and gratitude; which I own to you oblige me more than the generosity spontaneously imparted. I am, in reality, at a loss to express, in writing, all the sentiments of my heart; and, for that reason, leave it entirely to, the interests you take in all that regards my person, to make known in an energetical and convenient manner all I fain would say to express my thankfulness, which may easily be by you comprehended, after having perused the contents of this letter,

Cox Hippesley, Bart.

"Dear Sir Jolin,

"I have not words to explain the deep impression your very obliging favour of March 31 made on me. Your and Mr. Andrew Stuart's most friendly and warm exertions in my behalf, the humane and benevolent conduct of your ministers, your gracious sovereign's noble and spontaneous generosity, the continuance of which you certify me depends upon my need of it, were all ideas which crowded together on my mind, and filled me with the most lively sensations of tenderness and heartfelt gratitude. What return can I make for so many and so signal proofs of disinterested benevolence? Dear sir John, I confess I am at a loss how to express my feelings. I am sure, however, and very happy that your good heart will make you fully conceive the sentiments of mine, and induce you to make known, in an adequate and convenient manner, to all such as you shall think proper, my most sincere acknowledg ment.

"With pleasure I have presented your compliments to the cardinals and others persons you mention, who all return you their sincere thanks, the canon in particular, now Monsignore, being also a domestic pre

Late

late of his holiness, begs you be pursuaded of his constant respect and attachment to you.

"My wishes would be completely gratified, should I have the pleasure, as I most earnestly desire,, to see you again at Frescati, and be able to assure you, by word of mouth, of my

most sincere esteem, and affectionate, indelible gratitude.

"Your best of friends,

"HENRY CARDINAL. "Venice, 7th May, 1800. "To Sir J. C. Hippesley, Bart. Grosvenor-street, London."

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