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Drawn by Herbert H. Gilchrist, from the picture by George Romney at Colne Priory.

MRS. BUTLER-MISS CARWARDINE.

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MARY WALE.

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of Boulogne (doubtless in his capacity of Master of the King's Tents), where he was knighted by his sovereign." Alfred John Kemp, F.S.A., in his the Loseley Manuscripts, has more to say worthy knight; as William More was one of Sir Thomas's executors, so that most of Cawarden's papers have been preserved in the muniment-room at Loseley. His arms were-A bow between two pheons; Aubrey calls him bow-bender to Henry VIII.

But to return to Anne Gilchrist's grandfather, Thomas Carwardine. He was married to Ann Holgate at Earls Colne, Essex, July 9, 1771. During the first fifteen years of their married life, Ann Carwardine's aunt (Miss Wale) refused to leave Colne Priory. Thomas Carwardine possessed a legal friend in Lord Thurlow,-“ lose half your estate, rather than go to law," was the lawyer's advice to the young people.. Miss Wale died August 30, 1786; not, however, before burning a budget of Cromwell's letters, and a lock of the Protector's hair. Lord Thurlow's opinion had been previously sought for, as to a profession. Carwardine leaning towards art, the Chancellor reminded him that a friend can only have his portrait painted once. The Church was suggested, and a living spoken of, this suggestion was adopted.

The Rev. Thomas Carwardine was "a pleasant and good friend" of Romney's, says Allan Cunningham, and of Hayley's too: indeed, the three travelled together in Italy (1773); the divine being the only one of the trio unaccompanied by a fair but unwedded companion-noticeable rectitude in those days.

Hayley liked Carwardine: here is a passage taken from one of a pile of old letters, written by the "Hermit of Eartham" in 1815, and addressed care of Mrs. Butler, I, James Street, Buckingham Gate :"Come when you can! my very dear sympathetic Comrade, and we will hobble and laugh together, as gaily as a group of merry Beggars in a Barn, who have not met for years, and have a thousand curious adventures to relate for their reciprocal Diversion."

"The amiable Divine" knew through his sister, Mrs. Butler (a miniature painter second only to Ozias Humphrey) what Lord Thurlow called the other "faction in art "-Sir Joshua Reynolds-at whose studio Carwardine visited: the amateur was struck with the great artist's rapidity of execution, as contrasted with "old Phillips' slow fumbling!" Anne Gilchrist's grandfather (the Rev. Thomas Carwardine) was genuinely fond of art, and we trace the artist in sayings such as, "the most beautiful eye is of a colour impossible to name," and "green is nature's colour."

'Mistress' Carwardine's frugal care in saving a small fortune out of the entailed Priory estate, proved of service; and could her gentle soul have foreseen the premature widowhood of both daughter and granddaughter, Ann Carwardine would have felt some compensation for all the pains taken in the diligent administration of her affairs.

The good housewife was somewhat formal, never addressing her husband otherwise than as "Mr. Carwardine," though she would unbend in the nursery ; her rendering of "Auld Robin Gray," in a clear sweet

A CHARMING GRANDMAMMA.

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soprano, was listened to with breathless attention by the little ones.

Ann Carwardine died March 2, 1817, in the 66th year of her age, of the same cruel malady that sixtyeight years later carried off her grand-daughter. When Ann Carwardine's bier was placed in Colne Church, a robin redbreast flew in and perched upon her coffin, singing sweetly the while. As we look at Romney's portrait, the mother's arms encircling her eldest boy, one of twelve, cannot we believe all good things of this grandmamma, and say with Locker,—

"If Romney's art be true,
What a lucky dog were you,
Grandpapa!"

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