"They tell a tale of the old Countess of Desmond, who lived until she was seven score years old; that she did _dentize_ twice or thrice, casting her old teeth, and others coming in their place." Horace Walpole, in his _Historic Doubts respecting Richard III._ (p. 102.), correcting the "misrepresentations regarding his person," says: "The _old_ Countess of Desmond, who had danced with Richard, declared he was the handsomest man in the room except his brother Edward, and was very well made." This last anecdote of Walpole's is taken from an account which I certainly have _seen_ and read, but the name of the authority I cannot now recollect, which stated that the Countess actually outlived the "trust term for securing her jointure" (a period generally of ninety-nine years from the date of marriage), "and was obliged in her old age to appear in a court of justice to establish her rights; and that it was _there_ and _then_ she delivered Walpole's anecdote to the judge and audience." All these different yet concurring testimonies seem satisfactorily to establish the fact that there _was_ a Countess of Desmond "passing old." Then, as to her celebrated _picture_, of which I have frequently seen the original on _wood_, in possession of the "Right Hon. Maurice Fitzgerald, Knight of Kerry," and have now a print before me, there are some particulars and questions which may interest your readers. The print (same size as the original) is a mezzo-tint, ten inches by seven inches and a half, and has under it the following inscription: "CATHERINE FITZGERALD (the long-lived) COUNTESS OF DESMOND, from an original Family Picture of the same size, painted on Board, in the possession of the Right Honorable Maurice Fitzgerald, Knight of Kerry, &c. &c. &c., to whom this plate is most respectfully dedicated by her very obedient and much obliged humble servant, HENRY PELHAM. "This illustrious lady was born about the year 1464, and was married in the reign of Edward IV., lived during the reigns of Edward V., Richard III., Henry VII., Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth, and died in the latter end of James I., or beginning of Charles I.'s reign, at the great age (as is generally supposed) of 162 years. Published as the Act directs, at Bear Island, June 4, 1806. By Henry Pelham, Esq." In this print the features are large and strongly marked; the forehead and upper part of the nose deeply wrinkled, the head covered with a large full black hood, showing no hair whatever about the face; the person wrapped in a dark cloak, held by a single button over the breast. As some of your correspondents speak of portraits of this lady at Knowle (Vol. iii., p. 341.), Bedgebury, and Penshurst, it may be useful to compare them with this description, for the following reason. Horace Walpole, whose "mission" seems to have been to raise "Historic Doubts," in a letter to Rev. Mr. Cole, dated May 28, 1774, has the following sentence: