of her brother unavailing, addressed the following letter to
Mr. Pelham, then Secretary of State:--

"SIR,--If I meant to importune you I should ill deserve the
generous compassion which I was informed some months ago you
expressed upon being acquainted with my distress. I take
this as the least troublesome way of thanking you, and
desiring you to lay my application before the king in such
a light as your own humanity will suggest. I cannot tell my
story without seeming to complain of one of whom I never
will complain. I am persuaded my brother wishes me well,
but, from a mistaken resentment, upon a creditor of mine
demanding from him a trifling sum, he has stopped the
annuity which he had always paid me--my father having left
me, his only younger child, in a manner unprovided for. Till
the Duke of Douglas is set right--which I am confident he
will be--I am destitute. Presumptive heiress of a great
estate and family, with two children, I want bread. Your own
nobleness of mind will make you feel how much it costs me to
beg, though from the king. My birth, and the attachment of
my family, I flatter myself his Majesty is not unacquainted
with. Should he think me an object of his royal bounty, my
heart won't suffer any bounds to be set to my gratitude;
and, give me leave to say, my spirit won't suffer me to be
burdensome to his Majesty longer than my cruel necessity
compels me.

"I little thought of ever being reduced to petition in this
way; your goodness will therefore excuse me if I have
mistaken the manner, or said anything improper. Though
personally unknown to you, I rely upon your intercession.
The consciousness of your own mind in having done so good
and charitable a deed will be a better return than the
thanks of
JANE DOUGLAS STEWART."

The result was that the king granted the distressed lady a pension of
L300 a-year; but Lady Jane seems to have been little relieved thereby.
The Douglas' notions of economy were perhaps eccentric, but, at all
events, not only did Mr. Stewart still remain in prison, but his wife
was frequently compelled to sell the contents of her wardrobe to
supply him with suitable food during his prolonged residence in the
custody of the officers of the Court of King's Bench. During the
course of his i