elevated; that on the dexter side arg., the sinister" sa motto -- virtus sibi munus -- Another family of that name in Holland bears for a crest "the arms or wings of a wind-mill. -- The helmet of a King or Prince of the Blood Royal proves beyond a doubt the descent of this family from the old reigning Dukes of Courland. The estoile or star may be a mark of cadence borne by the third son, during the lifetime of his father. -- [Editor.]

Ducal Arms of Courland.

The Ducal arms of Courland or Cortlandt are: -- "arg, a lion, rampant, gu. ducally crowned or, for Courland, charged on the breast with an escutcheon, on which are placed the arms of the reigning Duke. Supporters.-- Two lions ducally crowned, or, the whole within a mantle lined ermine, surmounted with a ducal crown.

The ancient Dukes of Courland appear to have been represented in 1610 by the Right Hon. Stevensen Van Courland or Cortlandt, then residing at Courland or Cortlandt, in South Holland, whose son Oloff Stephensen or Oloff Stevens Van Kortlandt, as he subsequently signed his name; was Burgomaster, or, chief magistrate of Wyck Duurstede* or Wyck by Durstede one of the five principal towns in the Province or Lordship of Utrecht in the Netherlands, 1635-6. The latter was bom at Cortlandt in South Holland about 1600.

Like his illustrious ancestors, Oloff Stephensen Van Cortlandt chose the military profession ; as early as 1637 we find him attached to the military service of the Dutch West India Company. " He is said to have been also a privy councillor of the States General of Holland and acted as secretary of this Government to the Governor of New Amsterdam."