Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 7.djvu/202

338 prefixed to an "Inquiry into the Rise and Establishment of the Royal Academy at London," which was provoked from his pen by a law of that institution against the admission of engravings into the exhibitions. After a life spent in the active exercise of his professional talents, he died of an astlunatical complaint on the 5th of July, 1792, leaving, besides his lady, a daughter and three sons. Sir Robert has been described by his surviving friends, as one of the most amiable and virtuous of men, as he was unquestionably among the most able in his own peculiar walk. He was unassuming, benevolent, and liberal. His industry was equally remarkable with his talent. In the coldest seasons, when health permitted him, he went to workwith the dawn, and the longest day was too short to fatigue his hand. Even the most mechanical parts of his labours he would generally perform himself, choosing rather to undergo a drudgery so unsuitable to his talents than trust to others. His remains were interred in Covent Garden church-yard.

STUART,, Queen of Scots, daughter of James V., and Mary of Guise, was born in the palace of Linlithgow, December 7, 1542. Her father was on his death-bed at Falkland, when her birth was announced to him; and in seven days after that event, he expired, bitterly regretting, in his dying moments, that it was a female, and not a male child, that had been born to him. The young queen having been removed to Stirling, was there solemnly crowned by cardinal Beaton, on the 9th of September, 1543, while she was yet only nine months old. The two first years of the infant princess's life were spent at Linlithgow, under the immediate charge of her mother, and, more remotely, under that of commissioners appointed by parliament, on the part of the nation, to watch over the tender years of their future sovereign. During her residence here, she was attacked with small pox; but the disease was of so mild a nature, as to leave no trace behind.

The three following years, she spent at Stirling, under the superintendence of the lords Erskine and Livingstone. At the end of this period, she was removed to Inchmahome, a small island in the lake of Menteith, in Perthshire. The disturbed state of the country had rendered this measure necessary, as a precaution against any attempts which might be made to get possession of her person; and it was thought, that the remote and sequestered isle to which she was now sent, offered a greater degree of security than could be found, even from the wards and defences of a fortress.

To divert the young princess in her solitary residence, four young ladies of rank were chosen by her mother, the queen dowager, to accompany her. These ladies were, Mary Beaton, niece of cardinal Beaton; Mary Fleming, daughter of lord Fleming; Mary Livingstone, daughter of one of the young queen's guardians; and Mary Seaton, daughter of lord Seaton. Whether it was by chance or by design, that these four ladies bore the same surname with the queen, is not now known; but they have since been distinguished by the conjunctive appellation of the, and as such are celebrated in history.

In this island, Mary resided for upwards of four years; when, agreeably to an intention which had been early entertained regarding her, she was sent to France, to receive the refined education which that country then, above all others, was capable of affording. The young queen, now in her sixth year, embarked at Dumbarton on board of a French ship, which, accompanied by several other vessels of that nation, had been sent to the Clyde to receive her.

On her arrival at Brest, which she reached on the 14th of August, 1548, after a tempestuous and tedious voyage of nearly three weeks' duration, she was received, by the orders of the French monarch, Henry II., with all the marks