The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-08-05
EulNer and his Wife.

The recent diSgraceful and mean conduct
of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton towards his
wife, must sink him infinitely in the esti-
nation and regard of all honorable men;
and by losing his personal popularity, he
has impaired his future successful career in
political life. In this country such an ex-
hibition of character would inevitably ruin
the most eminent and popular man. The
Philadelphia Press gives a sketch of Bull
wers domestic relations, from which we
gather the following history:
Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, then only
known as the third SON of rich widow in
flertfOrdshire, was plain Mr.. Bulwer in 1927,
and, though only 22 years old, had already
made some reputation as a writer. His role
at that time, however, was that of man of
fashion, which he performed admirably,
with the adjuncts of youth, high spirits,
handsome person, numerous accomplish
mentS, and good pecuniary allowance
from his mother, whose youngest and favor
ite child he was. From her, in childhood,
he derived taste for poetry which tinged
his whole course of future life, and she loved
to thinkywth matronly complacency, that
she had tr;fned him, from the first, for that
career in which he has become so eminent.
( In that same 1857, ON the 10th of August,
Mr. Lytton Bulwer married an Irish lady,
very beautiful and somewhat blue, named
ROsina Wheeler. She was "a Limerick
lass" and there is belief (among Irish
men) that every specimen of this genus is
! peculiarly lovely. Mr.. and Mrs. Bulwer
/ were considered, at the time of their mar
riage, as handsome young couple as any
in London. Their ages, too, assimilated-
| he was twenty-one, and she was just year
younger. At present, therefore, the lady is
I fifty-two years old.
Their matrimonial life went on very hap
PLY and prosperously, to all appearance, for
a number of years. Bulwer published
"Pelham," and "The Disowned," the year
after his marriage, and these Immediately
placed him high among living noveists.
/ Other works in various departments of let
tiers, followed in rapid succession, each in
creaSing their authors reputation. Aspiring
in public life, his mother supplied funds for
. the purchase of scat in Parliament-it
was just before the Reform Bill, which
abolished the Tory rotten boroughs-and
Bulwer became VI. p. for st. Ives. lie
/ spoke and voted on the liberal side, and so
thoroughly made his mark in Parliament
that, on the passing of the Reform Bill, in
1882, he solicited the votes of the electors
of Lincoln, and SO well succeeded that they
made him colleague TO the eccentric Colonel
Sibthorpe, until 1S41. Meanwhile, he pur-
sued his career of man of letters, edited the
Nev Monthly Magazine, after the retirement
of Thomas Campbell, during the Reform
excitement, produced variety of original
works of great beauty and power, wrote
pamphlets 10 support the Melbourne Minis
try, The wG.s decided Liberal in those days I
and was created baronet in 1S3S-his
mother, to enable him to maintain "the dig
nity,' as it is called, promising TO settle her
large estate upon him. She died in 1874,
when he assumed her maiden name of Lyt-
ton, by Royal License, and succeeded To the
kncbwOrth estates, near StenOrge, HcrtS,
considered rs worth 10000 to fl5, 900
year. In 1851, time and pecuniary indie
pcndence having modified his opinions, he
returned to political life after an intermis-
sion of ten years, published Tory pamph-
let, re-entered Parliament during Lord Der
byS first administration, steadily voted with
him, and became IA member of the Cabinet
as Colonial Secretary, only fewWecks ago
All this time Bulwer'S pecuniary position
was good. His mother is said to have al
lowed him e2,OOO year, and his writing.
yielded him at least an equal amount
: Now, even upon $4,000 year, IA Young
Parliamentary man and his wife can liv,
very creditably in the West End of London
We find it stated that Mrs. Bulwer had an
hereditary property of some e4OO IA year.
I.,1 . ,1.,,., tl,.,4 81,
much difference between Irish and EngliSl
property" as between a Scotch and Eng
lish "pOund the former being only 4t
cents, while the latter is 4SO I'm reek
oning up the fortune of an Irish heircSs, tn,
rule is to divide the reputed amount by two
and add five to the quotient. This woul,
make the ci-ferdnt Miss Wheelcrs fortun,
about e2O5 per annum--a nice pin-money
annuity for "a lady, but very little to hus
band with e4,000 year, at the lowest
Since 1Si1, we understand, it has almos
wholly ceased. Irish tenants have an ob
! lection to paying rent to absentees and tn
Wheeler property passed through the cruel
bic of the Encumbered Estates Court, whicl
separates the alloy of debt and mortgage
: and leaves very small amount of sterlin
( gold behind.
, In 1886 the world of fashion in Englan
= learned that Mr. and Mrs. Lytton Bulwel
agreeing to disagree" had formally scpa
: rated. Many conjectures were hazarled, O
e course, as to the cause, but nothing yer
r certain is known to this hour. We are afra
r =. that there is truth in the report, current il
y England at the time, that a casual intrigu
= of Bulwer's coming to his wife's knowledge
they quarrclled so bitterly that reconcilia
tion was impossible.
D 1t was believed, also, and much confrme
by the ladys Satirical novels, in which sh
showed up" her husbands family, tina
Mrs. T.. l.. Bulwer was no favorite with he
- over-rehned mOther-in-law, whose husband
= ancestors ''came in with the Conqueror,
i while in her own person were repreSente
= the house of Lytton, of Knebworth, an
h Norreys, of Gwersylt and Monachdy.
= was said that the young wife had ridicule
the prim manner of the stately dowager-i
a word, that she exercised her wit again:
=. the whole Bulwer and Lytton race, and ws
p paid off by being made uncomfortable
Of The nOveliStS wife was ga strong minded
~ young lady when she was married, and la
= rcceiveda boy s education, las far as classics
under the auspices of an eccentric individ
- ual, known rs philosopher Thompson
I. lf fnl +. l. 4 Il