sumed that title) was, at the duke's leaving her, found overwhelmed in tears, and in the highest agony imaginable. Whatever there was of all this, it is a notorious truth, that when the news of the duke's murther (which happened within a few months after) was brought to his mother, she seemed not in the least degree surprised, but received it as if she had foreseen it; nor did afterwards express such a degree of sorrow as was expected from such a mother for the loss of such a son."

To the truth of an account so fully and circumstantially given, and on such authority, it may be thought an unreasonable attachment to system to refuse assent; and it must be admitted, that if we could suppose departed shades to be allowed to appear, the message which Sir George Villiers is represented to have instructed the officer to deliver to his son, was such as argued a parental solicitude, and was calculated to produce that change in the conduct of the duke which might have averted his impending fate. The author, however, though

he presumes not to reject the account, has only to remark, that it should be remembered, that the death of the Duke of Buckingham was a subject of great national importance. That his distinguished character and influence, - and the impressive circumstances under which he was assassinated, rendered it a subject of universal conversation. The imagination of men was set on float, and every one was, doubtless, eager to communicate what might interest attention. The noble historian tells us, that there were many stories scattered abroad at that time, of several prophecies and predictions of the duke's untimely and violent death. Omens of this kind were easily fabricated, and believed, in an age not free from superstition. The affection of relations is disposed to collect and exaggerate every particular connected with the death of those on whom their happiness and prosperity may have depended. It may be considered also, that it is by no means impossible that the dream and message might have been contrived by the countess, with design to produce an impression on the duke,

and a reformation, that might secure him from the effect of the unpopularity to which she saw that he was exposed. She was probably the person mentioned by the duke, as the possessor of the secrets which were disclosed; and the duke's anger might proceed from the suspicion that she had betrayed them. It may be observed, that the name of the officer is not mentioned by Lord Clarendon, though other writers indeed call him Towerson, and others Towse*.

Upon the whole, the author is inclined to consider the dream as the invention of affectionate credulity; as also that of the Countess of Denbigh, the duke's sister, who is reported to have dreamed, that as she passed through a field with her brother in his coach, she heard a sudden shout of the people, and on

* Vid. Peck in Desid. Curios. Nichol's Leicestershire, vol. iii. p. 208, and Gent. Magaz. for Dec. 1801. The narrative was first mentioned in Lilly's Monarchy or No Monarchy,

inquiring the reason, was told that it was for joy that the Duke of Buckingham was sick. She had scarcely related this dream, it is added, to her gentlewoman, than the Bishop of Ely came to inform her of the duke's death.

There is a remarkable relation in Burnet's Account of the Life and Death of John Earl of Rochester. The chaplain, we are told, of the Lady Warre, the mother-in-law of the Earl, had a dream which informed him that on such a day he should die, but being by all the family put out of the belief of it, he had almost forgotten it; until the evening before the day which had been mentioned, there being at supper thirteen at table, according to a fond conceit that one of them must die, one of the young ladies pointed to him that he was to be the person; he remembering his dream fell into some disorder, and the Lady Warre reproving him for his superstition, he said that he was confident that he was to die before morning, but he being in perfect health it was

not much minded. It was on Saturday night, and he was to preach next day, he went up to his chamber and sat up late, as appeared by the burning of his candle, and he had been preparing his notes for his sermon, but was found dead in his bed the next morning. There can be no doubt that the earl, conversing under very serious sentiments, believed the relation which he gave to its reporter; but it is possible that he might have heard the story from friends more solicitous for his reformation, than for a scrupulous adherence to truth. There is, certainly, some slight appearance of inconsistency in the story; but admitting it to be strictly true, it only seems to furnish one among many instances of the danger of exciting or yielding to superstitious impressions. The chaplain having dreamt that he should die, and been led by the inconsiderate remark of the young lady to be struck a second time with that conviction, probably fell a victim to his terrors. If it were a divine dream, it seems not to have had any adequate object, unless indeed we suppose it to have been designed to awaken