A Distinguished Orcadian.

obert Strange, an eminent engraver who flourished in the middle of the last century, was a Scotchman, and was born at Pomona, the principal of the Orkney Islands, in 1721. Although his infancy was passed on his native islet, against whose rocky sides the restless ocean unceasingly beats, and among whoso quiet people political strife rarely entered, no sooner had he attained early manhood than he threw himself heart and soul into the Jacobite movement, and, crossing to the mainland of Scotland, joined himself to the insurgent forces. The collapse of the rebellion of '45 would have proved fatal to young Strange but for the more than presence of mind of a young lady, for the Duke of Cumberland mercilessly shot all rebels caught with arms in their hands. Strange after the battle of Culloden, which was fought on the 16th of April, 1746, was fleeing from the close pursuit of the royal troops, when an open door presented itself, and he rushed upstairs to the first floor. There a girl, young and handsome, was sitting sewing, enlivening her task by singing. The handsome young rebel, in pathetic words, besought her to save his life, and she, with woman's ready wit, and casting all scruples aside, lifted her ample hoop—which, something like the crinoline of the present day, it was the fashion to wear—and concealed him under the folds of her skirt. A moment later, and the soldiers entered to search the house; but only finding Miss Lonsdale, still sewing and singing, retired. This romantic narrative would not have been complete if it had not been recorded that Strange fell in love with his fair preserver—and this he did, and afterwards married her. She made him a good wife, and cheerfully shared the early struggles which subsequently led him to fame. He, in turn, became a loyal subject, and worked earnestly at his trade, in which he soon arrived at eminence. His skill attracted royal attention and favour, and on the 12th of October, 1787, he was knighted by George III. The foreign academies also recognised his merits, and he was elected an honorary member of almost all of them. His works are still universally admired; and instead of dying on the scaffold, as did eighty or ninety others who had participated in the rebellion, Strange lived to secure for himself the title of the "prince of British line engravers," and died in the year 1792.