GRANT.

MRS. GRANT, whose maiden name was Campbell, was born at Glasgow, Scotland, on the 22d February, 1756. When a child, she accompanied her father to this country, and spent a considerable time in the interior of New York. She afterwards returned to Scotland, and in 1779 was married to the Rev. Mr. Grant of Laggan, by whom she had a numerous family. On the death of her husband, she was obliged to have recourse to her pen for a subsistence. In 1803, she published "The Highlanders, and other Poems;" in 1808, "Memoirs of an American Lady;" and shortly after "Letters from the Mountains," which has reached a fourth edition. In 1811, "Essays on the Superstitions of the Highlands of Scotland,” and aferwards," Popular Models, and Impressive Warnings, for the Sons and Daughters of Industry," 2 vols. All her works have merit, and have been well received.

GREY.

JANE GREY, a young and accomplished female of royal descent, eldest daughter of Henry Grey, marquis of Dorset, afterwards duke of Suffolk, was born at Broadgate, Leicestershire, in the year 1535. On the side of her mother, she was allied to the house of Tudor, but she was much more illustrious for her virtues, than elevated by her high descent. To a form the most lovely, and to features the most engaging, was united a mind replete with every attractive grace: her disposition was

mild, her heart susceptible, and she might, with justice, be called the admiration of the age. In very early life, she gave wonderful proofs of the greatness of her mind; and was regarded superior to her cousin, Edward the Sixth.

Her father, the marquis of Dorset, was a literary man. His chaplains, Harding and Aylmer, both eminent for learning, he employed as tutors to his daughter. Under their tuition, she made a wonderful proficiency; she wrote and spoke her own language elegantly, and with great correctness; and was a perfect mistress of the Italian, French, Latin and Greek tongues. She also acquired a perfect knowledge of the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Arabic. She reasoned and spoke upon subjects of the greatest importance, to a degree which surprised and delighted even the literati of the day. Her parents appear to have been, from her own statement, singularly severe in their behaviour towards her. This circumstance, united with the kindness of Aylmer, accelerated her progress in those branches of literature, for which she was so justly celebrated; as, whenever she was mortified by the unkind and unmerited correction of her parents, she returned with double alacrity to the lessons of her instructer, and sought her happiness in perusing the works of Demosthenes and Plato.

Her relationship to the crown, and the intimacy of the marquis of Dorset with Edward the Sixth, brought her sometimes to court, where the young king frequently bestowed on her marks of favour.

The greatest portion of her time, however, appears to have been spent at her father's seat, at Broadgate, whence she was summoned by the deaths of her uncles

Henry and Charles Brandon, when her father was cre ated duke of Suffolk, in October, 1551. The dukes of Northumberland and Suffolk, upon the fall of the duke of Somerset, and the decline of the health of Edward the Sixth, in 1553, endeavoured to prevent that change in their fortunes, which they foresaw must happen on his demise. To accomplish this end, no other method was considered effectual, but a total change in the suc cession to the crown, and the transferring of it into their own families. Lady Grey was destined to be the prominent character in such revolution. Those qualities which endeared her to all with whom she was acquainted, united to her relation to the king, necessitated her to become the tool of ambition; and, on that very account she was married in May, 1553, to lord Guildford Dudley, fourth son of the duke of Northumberland.

Edward became gradually so much worse, that the duke of Northumberland thought it adviseable to carry his projects into execution. He, therefore, made his communications to the king, who, after making several objections, as the affair would injure his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, Edward observed, that the lady Jane who was of the royal line, possessed surprising abili ties-that her zeal for the reformation was unquestioned -and that he was bound to set aside all partialities of blood and nearness of relation, which were minor considerations, and ought to be overruled by the public good.

The king at last yielded; overlooked his sisters, and set aside his father's will; agreeably to which, a deed of settlement was drawn up by the judges, and was signed by his majesty, and all the lords of the council.

Very

shortly afterwards the king expired, which event the dukes of Suffolk and Northumberland found it necessary to conceal, that more time might be allowed them to gain the city of London, and get the consent of lady Jane, who was ignorant of the measures taken to secure her the crown. Mary, at this time, asserted her right to the throne; but the privy council insisted on the undoubted right of lady Jane to become their queen. This being accomplished, the duke of Suffolk solemnly opened to his daughter, the disposition the late king had made of his crown by letters patent, and the consent of the privy council, and the city of London, and concluded by acknowledging her as queen of England, on his knees; at which she was much astonished at their discourse, but not at all moved by their reasons, or in the least elevated by such unexpected honours, returned them the following answer: "That the laws of the kingdom, and natural right, standing for the king's sisters, she would beware of burdening her weak conscience with a yoke which did belong to them; that she understood the infamy of those who had permitted the violation of right to gain a sceptre; that it were to mock God and deride justice, to scruple at the stealing of a shilling, and not at the usurpation of a crown. Besides," said she, "I am not so young, nor so little read in the guiles of fortune, to suffer myself to be taken by them. If she enrich any, it is but to make them the subject of her spoil; if she raise others, it is but to pleasure herself with their ruins; what she adored but yesterday, is to-day her pastime; and, if I now permit her to adorn and crown me, I must to-morrow suffer her to crush and tear me to pieces. Nay, with what crown does she present me? a

crown which hath been violently and shamefully wrested from Catharine of Arragon, made more unfortunate by the punishment of Anne Boleyn, and others that wore it after her: and why then should you have me add my blood to theirs, and be the third victim, from whom this fatal crown may be ravished, with the bead that wears it? But in case it should not prove fatal unto me; and that all its venom were consumed, if fortune should give me warranties of her constancy, should I be well advised to take upon me these thorns, which would dilacerate, though not kill me outright; to burthen myself with a yoke, which would not fail to torment me, though I were assured not to be strangled with it? My liberty is better than the chain you proffer me, with what precious stones soever it be adorned, or of what gold soever framed. I will not exchange my peace for honourable and precious jealousies, for magnificent and glorious fetters. And, if you love me sincerely, and in good earnest, you will rather wish me a secure and quiet fortune, though mean, than an exalted condition, exposed to the wind, and followed by some dismal fall.” She was at length, nevertheless, prevailed upon by the exhortations of her father, the intercession of her mother, the artful persuasions of Northumberland, and above all, the earnest desires of her husband, whom she tenderly loved, to yield her assent to what had been and was to be done. And thus, with a heavy heart, she suffered herself to be conveyed by water to the Tower, where she entered with all the state of a queen, attended by the principal nobility.

She was then proclaimed queen, but her reign was of short duration, for in nine days afterwards, Mary was