The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-04
HIGHLY INTERESTING SUIT IN PARIS COURT.
american Heirs to tho Succession Of a
French Duchess.
Chapter Of Revolutionary History
Inedited Letter Of Gen. Washington.
VALUE OF THE RECORDS IN FAMILY BIBLES.
Important to Families in Pennsylvania,

which has heen asi dscosi the Tribunal Of the
eiss, frp.a the Paris Ga-ae des Trbunduz received
yesterday by the Asia the fortunes OF IN
npcisat and hoDorable Phise slp.ia family aud ass
much tha. will be interesting TO tne general reader
dtnsicp Of the suoeeaioa OF the late puchessd do
Plaisance WAS TIE object OF suit brough. before the
Civil Trlbunsl OF the Seipe by Mrs. Elizabeth Chilling,
wife Of Mr.. Ragwsy, against the Dac de vAlmy aud
Mons Da Iery relatives OF the deceased by the paern
Line Mira Ridgwsy claimed ths portion Of tbs rich sue
cesson bsspging to the maternal line; and she ounied
hsr claim the following facts
The Marquis Barbe de Msrbos father to the Duchess
de Pisisance was bora at Metz in 1745. He came TO
America l779 in the quality of Secretary Of Legation
under the Chevalier de Luzrne and the departure
Of that Minister France he oe,uped the position Of
Charge dAfaires which ne retained till l7S6, At which
tne he promoted to the post o. Intsndant of He
PAMELA During his soj,urn at Phiadslphis he had
made the Acquaintance Of Elizabeth Moore. daughter OF
William Moore and Sarah Lloyd. This William Moore,
who \ simple coonist in bis youth, had dutnguish
% himself IN the Of the Revolution, had become
the frisns of Washington and had been invested with
the high dignity Of President OF tbs supreme Executive
Council Of Pennsylvania NJ Bar5e 90 Marbois welded
In 1854 Msa Eli zsbeth Moo,e Sle Dad two brothera
Thomas Loyd Moore, o. am, is the grandfather Of
the plaintiff who would be. -susequenJy second
sip 70 the Duchess dc Pa
From the statement OF tho plaintiff counsel gather
the following facts:-
sance cied 1t Athens the 1ath May 1854, ntesta.e
ee sft ntiier p,ogenitors Ior dsscenaants nor bro
theirs sisters phews peces to inherit ths
large property which shs held In FRI nee. The
sion berefofe sevovsd upon the nearost collateral re-
latyes 10 the paternal and matrnai nes Toe former
BY the Defendants Msssrs Do Vslmy and
De hr! the latter By the plaintiffs Am srcsns, and !v
ing IN ire United States On the 2ls July, thsy pro-
cssoes to the inventory Of ths property Without calling
IN the maternal branch. although the exstence Of rs
istises belonging to that branch was perfectly well
known; The family papers couls leave doubt in that
regard. The division was ELECTED vita great pcecip
standing The observations Of Rigauit provisional sd
rratcr of toe succession. On the Both October 1854
the maternal hen presented their de acd for shares
The advocate coutinued:-In that state OF AZ
affirs, gentlemen, the oaly question that you have
to decide is, Ns the plaintiffs justified in their
quality Of hshsS The defendants respond "No," and
Affirm that tho whole of the succession belongs 10 them
by right Of devolvement. Our justlfcat.ons crit
red three points only You do not prove SAY they
ous-the marriage Of William Moore with sarah Lloyd
the 18th Of december 1857. You do not prove the
alison Of ihoroas Lloyd Moore your pretended grand
f~shsr In ane you do not prove the Citation Of Eliza
beth Msore, VIE Of N. Bsiba do Marbos, mother Of
the Duchess de Paisance The justi6c stons ths
naming par OF the gensaogy recognized as regular
and plets II is that my client does not prove
her the registry e msrrsge of VIM. Moore with SA-
rah Lloyd, or the registry Of brta OF Ezabeth Moore
and her brother Thomas Lloyd Moore. What sgoi6ss
decsvs manner in fact and in law, by the other docu
msnts Produced 1t is sought TO compel US to put in
evidence the registry OF marriage OF Mr. Moore and
Sarah lloyd This demand would BIZ admissible IL the
marriage lad been celebrated 10 france, where the
keepnx OF registers OF the civil state prescribed and
regulated BY legal in perous dispositiops to which
eoAform But when marriage celebrated in foreign
country is in question, it is different matter, for
In such q Gaze We must b content with the
aritt al in fha utr IN auha fla ata
marriages. We vii by and by what the
nsases this matter In the United States,
and particularly in Pennsylvania. Besidss, even in
France and under the French law article 1e nakes
exception article 1914 But precisely in point Is the
hypothesis Of astcie 197 for 1t relates to two persons
constantly holding the position Of legitimate spouses.
VII BE- told that article 1877 not applicable to To-
reisnsr,: That would b wrong for tbs law makes
distinction and besides. there In each identity
Of motives yather article 1877 is applicable orori
10 foreigners belonging country where the rsgistra
ons Of civil condition not prescribed by law de-
slAred obligatory upon the citzsns We hold multiplied
psoofa q the marriage Of William Moore, celebrated
13rh December 1851 ard OF the continuous holding of
the married condition and documents leave
no doubt on the rules and usages Of the county in
Auoh matters.
Oar advaries pretend that the date OF the rriage
has great importance, becauss compared with the
date Of the birth, renders the children legitimate
Wegdnate according as they bora before after
marrage-egi limitation by subsequent marriage not
existing in The United st tes Bot the docu nents which
produce prove rot only the fact but also the date OF
The marriage and besides IT sucss for the certainty
the marriage that tee chdren uted Legitimate be.
sause sppareny person win admit that there In bs.
tween spouses legal presum pton Of concubinags and
ssainst children . legal presumption OF bastardy.
This quite gratutous presumption would be much
the more ocious in this case ss it Is besd by the
poston Of the parties William Moore, President Of the
Supreme Executive Council, aud mmander.i Ia chief
of the troops Of Pcnnsy yvaniaBarbc do Msrbo coun-
seOor TO the Parliament OF Metz Consul Sensrvl Of
France, and charge d. snsires OF his Majesty to the
United States Of America. IL Ia also bened by the
quality cf the Witnesses who assisted the marriage OF
N Barrie do Msrbois and Miss Elizabeth Mcors And
now is not ths iesitimaey OF Elizabeth Moore becoms
Madame Barbe dc darbos. highly improbable IL there
smother proof wanting fso, ustsn this letter wn
ten by the great Washington to William Moore;
II Is with the CREATES, pies,nre tha, asve learned
pb c6 Jou ere on The poLi oi forming Tor Mas Moore
ANhouga you have given nfous proofs of your pre-
affection and alta sbmeLt for this conpry this act
Eay be considered not only as grand ana tender evi.
deuce Of II, bnt 70 the most satisfactory and most
cur1bls 1hs qualities and the connections " this per
scpsse canine. ia 20 reDdsr such ON the subject OF
Ais hsp!y event please TO accept the falic stiops Of
spste in svsrytens w8h coar su.s 70 yoar ts1e
ness snc that Of Jour tmsasls sp,uSe whom, well
br & fam y We have the pleasure Of kno-lne, and 70
snoua ve oeI YOU 70 PRESENT our eomphments.
Ptneuasd With the greatest estesrn AMI - highest
con, tceration and animated by IveIes dsti-e or
srowtng M Isf worthy of ynur Friendship,
have the honor TO be &c a.
GEORGE wAsiISsroS
You understand, gent sssn. hov oiioas "a the
surpostltn which the csfend,nts dr.-s against tos
neither Of the Duchess &c paisspcs tns parDoss o
eoublrs ttsr hereditary emtlumsst, sod Of adding
,vo nllions Of haocs TO the tTo nsllons which thsy
bsye tlresdy collected. no We or do We not ensstsh
TIE narriege In = Iessl msnacsg We prove the docn.
nsru which 10 the United etstss, snd especially ia
Pennsylysris, are al suficent - such uat'ers The
sdvecAts here cited extracts froo documeuts showing
TIA. ihe marsges blftts atd sea'hs progss sithsr
b tle perish register noranda written Ia The
family BILE and wteie tbs Bible scd tis ragistsfs fail
~ n-.t-..n nj n ~.