Curious fatality in the Hartpole family—Characteristic sketch of
the last of the name—Description of Shrewl Castle—The chapel and
cemetery—Strictures on Epitaph writing—Eccentricities of the Earl
of Aldborough—His lordship proposes his sister, Lady Hannah
Stratford, as _returning officer_ for the borough of
Baltinglass—Consequent disturbances—The North-Briton put on his
mettle, but out-manœuvred—“Lending to _the Lord_”—Successful
conspiracy to marry Hartpole to the daughter of a village
inn-keeper—He is stabbed by his wife, and deserts her in
consequence—He forms an attachment to Miss Maria Otway, whom he
marries, under the plea of his previous connexion being
illegal—Unfortunate nature of this union—Separation of the
parties—Hartpole’s voyage to Portugal, his return and
death—Sundry other anecdotes of the Stratford family 59