New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-16
LORD CLANRICARDs'S DEFENSE.

To ne EGiso, Of II. Daily NsDs.
SIR: have seen the article in your impression OF
Tuesday last upon q late trial in the Irish Court OF
Chapcery. protesting to give "a plain unvarnshed
tale OF the Handbook family" The substance OF II,
40 far az il concerns me- almoet entirely unrue ana
when you say the statement you give mas NOT osen
contradicted you ought to know, ana 10 aad nst %
7 was not made party In the cause could not, even
II I would have anticipated such calumnes or have
appeared by counsel IN refnts them Neither wa; J.
nor could be, any party to the compromise by winch
the suit is ended.
The main allegation upon which the story you re-
late upon the authority Of the Irish Attorney General
seems to rect is that in the year 1871, In conse-
"quence Of suspicion Of too Ereat intimacy between
. Lord Clauricarde and Mrs. Handbook q separation
" took place, and Mr.. Handbook went to France
This is wholly and VIGOROUSLY false and cannot
learn that any attempt was made to sustain saen a
ststement by particle OF evidence In fact, II per.
fecty well known that Mrs Handbook left her husband
on account of bis conduct with her French maid who
thenceforth lived openly with him until his death.
This was happily concealed from the daughters, and
Mics Handbook in her diary, attributes the sepsra-
ton TO the Vaccinations Of persons IN her father en-
ploymebt My affidavit was not rs you say it was,
inaccurate In dates upon this matter. II states that
saw Mr.. and Mrs. Handbook in the autumn OF 1910,
and having passed the rinter OF ls4o IN Russia l
which took place in the spring Of l5il, while was
still abroad. All this is indisputsbe out OF the irish
Court of Chancery. MY affidavit, however, was not
made to explain or defend my conduct in any respect
but it was made upon the application OF one OF the
Itoants that should bear testimony TO facts within
nv owr knowledge, to contradict statements sworn 70
made by the opposite party az having been J" heard
(" ard believed" If no other evidence existed TO
show that Mr. Handbook entertained no sucn suspl-
cion as is attributed to him. his own conduct when
met him in Paris and in his last illness affords good
proof Of it.
That man, when told that an old acquaintance,
of whose hospitality he had frequently partaken ana
with whom be hsd enjoyed field sports, was dying
without decent attention or companions, should visit
tina. person. and should advise him TO remove 70 tne
best air within reach consult an eminent ply scisn
TO call in the clergyman of the parish and to see ns
cbld-thst man should DO tnis wi,nouI Dee a9
sign, seems beyond the comprehension OF the Iran
Attorney General, and not TO have occurred 70 the
writer Of your article.
I. however. do not wonder that when had acted
thus to Mr.. Handbook, his daughters, who had known
me from their childhood, should recur 10 me Tor aid
and advice. And whenever was 80 called upoo, my
interference was uniformly not in furherance o. bat
in opposition to the views OF Mrs. Hancock, "ho
was determined 10 for herself IN any way sae
cou,d the fortune of each Of her daughters amer
their deaths. Persons who knew her are well aware
that che wA highly incensed against me Tor aloinx
Mrs Handbook to m axe will, whereby she iet "
her mother In pursuance OF her own and nef oeceeo
sisters wishes 900, instead Of her entire prop
erty When the youngest daughter communicated 10
me her intention TO convey her estate TO her mother
prevented her executing any deed 10 tnat euecI
which should not contain the power Oh re'ocsusa
thereupon Inserted, and delayed the execution OF
any such deed for some months. Mr.. Bskeney, Mira.
Handbook 8 late collector, was thoroughly aware o.
this. These seem to Do the main points upon wnica
have been falsely accused aid vilihef There are
other minor points, quite unfounded, which you re-
late uDon the authority of the Attorney General YET
no man ought TO be more cautious than the irish
Attorne, Generai uttering and circulsting scandals
and csluunies "heard and believed, or founded
upon inferences wrongly dedaced from testaaentAry
disposition Of property.
ihsye to reauest you TO give the same p1ohcity 70
this letter which you gave % your article
have the honor b. sir your obeaient servss,
Louehrsa. Feb 10, 1856. CLAIN~ieADL'