American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-09-08
From u late Loadon paper.
BIOGRAPHY

Thomas CoUTTs Thomas Coutts the banker,
was born in 1881, and died Feb. "A, 1922. This
gentleman adds TO the many instances oil good for
tune which attends the emigration OF Scottish youths
from their bleak ard mountainous country more
i southern and genial climate, MIR. Coutts rose from
4 junior partner, to be the head OF of the first
banking eonce' ms in Europe. and himself the most
opulent banker Of his day; he lett 10 his widow an
immense fortune, besides having po,ioDed his three
daughters by his FIRST marriage This vast sccumu
latlon OF property the result of industry and acute
ness, was obtained without any shade being up.
on his characters for 10 all Cou,ts' exensve trans
actions, during long life, his air and honorable
dealings with the public never called in ques-
tion The detail Of Coutts private life is full Of
romance: he was twice married but nothing could
be more dlssimilar than the moral result OF each.
When very young man, and living in the bansing-
house in the Strand, Couts became attached to a
handsome and deserving female. then residing in an
humble station, under the roof: she became
his wife; and from this disnterested union three
daughters sprung, who all formed honorable and
noble marriages-becamc women OF rank---and by
their alliances raised Couts above the station of
pebeian opulence: they joined the pride and pre-
tension OF blood the influence and power of wealth.
| IT Couts had possessed we'll regulated mind, he
could have had nothing more to wish for: ambition,
in its highest flight, had been amply grslifed, and
with the preservation Of every mora! principle.
period of existence, when the thoughts of most mea
turn from the present to future state not how
ever, with Coutts-a sudden and unlocked for change
took place. Many years after the settlement Of his
children, when this golden banker was advanced
beyond The usual life of man, he was suddenly
enamoured with young and lively actress, that
struck his fancy on the boards OF Drury Lane the
mutual temptation, though from contrary impulses,
was too powerful for these fra beings to resist;
Miss Melons charms subdued his principles, and
the rich mans overcame her scrupes 1t is a
melancholy task to pursue once honorable and up
right character uptil inhrmity, imbecility and old
age" sans eyes, sans teeth. sans every thing, Pr
sink into the dotng, the immoral, aud nauseous
debsuchee. Had it pleased death to have cast his
dart poor Coults at that period OF his life when
most OF us feel its fatal sting, it would have been
fortunate for the poshumous reputation OF this weak
old man. Ccutts took this young actress under his
protection settled ample fortune on her. and she
became his chere annie in public and private, until
the death OF his first wife when, shame to relate
for he pen hesitaes to record the fsc-ln eigh and
forty hours after. in defiance OF all drcency and de-
corum he led Miss Mellon to the altar, and she be-
came the second wife of Coutts. before the remains
of his first had received the last sacred earthly
duties. What ptable tale is this to be told Of
poor mortality Coutts lived seven years after,
placing his person, his fortune. and his tame, the
entire disposal of his liberal, open hearted, and CT
really belleve) grateful and attentive wife at his
death short will was produced, by which he be-
queathed the whole Of his vast property amounting
to near million sterling to the sole and uncontrot
led use OF Mrs. Cou.is THE Marchioness oil Butte,
Countess of Guildford, Lady Burdett, and his nu-
merous grand children, all omitted. This act must
IN itself be bad, which, if the example to be fol.
lowed by others would loosen all The social relations
in liie and disorganize the whole moral system OF
the world. In this man, wha. became OF The ties og
consang guiniyf the parental throbs and feelings for
his offspring and their issue, at The moment of
piring life i? The first law of nature, that which
binds blood to blood, in Cou,ts blank he
different from the OF his species, and turh
with horror from unnatural being.
Those men who destroy healshFul constitution
of body by intemperance, and an irregular life, d.
~ maniEestly kill themselves. as those who haag,as
noisun or drown .hemeelyrs St..fels