THE LAIRD OF WESTBURN'S DREAM.

GABRIEL HAMILTON, of Westburn, in the county of Lanark, was the representative of an ancient and distinguished branch of the Duke of Hamilton's family, viz., Hamilton of Torrance, a cadet of the great house of Raploch, which was immediately sprung from the Lords of Cadzow, the ancestors of the Earls of Arran and Dukes of Hamilton. The grandmother of this Hamilton of Westburn was a daughter of Sir Walter Stewart, of Allanton. And thus, Westburn and Allanton were near kinsmen, at a time when relationship and intimacy were synonymous; the death of Westburn took place about 1757 or

1758, and Allanton had pre-deceased him several years. Their estates, moreover, were situated in the same county, and they were on the most affectionate and familiar terms with each other.

Westburn, who was an elderly man, and not in very strong health, was in the habit of reposing during an hour after dinner, and his wife, the beautiful and estimable Agnes Dundas, heiress of Duddingston, usually sat by the side of the couch, reading to him or conversing until he fell asleep. One day, he slept longer and apparently more soundly than usual; and at length he suddenly awoke, and said he had been roused by the fluttering of the wings of doves. He then addressed his wife, and related to her the following remarkable dream:

"I was walking in the most lovely gardens and pleasure-grounds that I ever beheld, and SO struck was I with their extraordinary extent and romantic beauty, and with the bright and glorious colours of the flowers which sprung up around me on every side, that I exclaimed, This can be no other place than Paradise! this must be the Garden of the Lord!' I had hardly uttered these words, when a youth of radiant beauty and heavenly expression approached me, and smiling sweetly on me, he accosted me familiarly by name, giving me a cordial welcome to his happy home

I expressed my surprise at his friendly and familiar greeting, seeing that we were but strangers. 'And yet,' said I, there is that in your countenance which makes me feel as if you were my friend!' 'Seek not,' said he, to deny our old and intimate acquaintance. You are my near kinsman, and familiar neighbour and friend;' and observing that I looked astonished and incredulous, he said, 'Is it possible that you have forgotten me? Is it, even with you, so soon, out of sight out of mind? Do not you know me? I am your cousin, Stewart of Allanton.' 'Impossible,' said I, 'for my dear friend Allanton was old and plainlooking; whereas, you are the most beautiful youth that my eyes did ever behold.' Even so,' said the youth, all those who come here are made youthful and beautiful. There is here neither age nor plainness. I am no other than your dear cousin and old friend Allanton, and within twenty-four hours you will be here with me, and you will be young and beautiful like me.' Hereupon, I heard the loud fluttering of the wings of doves, and I suddenly awoke."

It may be imagined that Westburn's dream made a deep impression, not unmingled with awe, on his affectionate wife. She deemed it to be a warning that she must hold herself in readiness to resign him ere long, at the call of his heavenly

master and father; and even so it came to pass. On the following morning, Westburn was found dead in his bed. His spirit had departed during the night, and had gone to join his early friend and kinsman in the gardens of Paradise.

THE DEATH OF DUNDEE.

THE truth of the story we are about to narrate, has been denied by many; but it is enough for our purpose that it was, at one time, very generally received for truth, not to mention the great difficulty there is in distinguishing the false from the real upon such occasions.

Our tale opens at that remarkable epoch of English history, when, at least, three parts of the nation had fallen from James to welcome the Prince of Orange as their future monarch. Deserted by others, James was now ready to desert himself; and yet, if anything could have breathed spirit into him, it must been the gallant counsel of Dundee. "Sire," said he, "the question is,