Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-09-20
Lord Seymour.

noticed Though an English Lord he was born
in Paris, and had never set foot on British soil.
His estate was estimated at 100000 francs,
and he bequeathed to the Paris hospitals $l5,-
600. A sketch of this once noted Partisan says:
Lord Seymour was man of the world 10 the
full sense of the term, and a man of great deal
of talent. He was, in his youth, possessed OF
Herculean strength, and, like nearly all young
men was fond of abusing it. Sometimes he
would seek for opportunities to wrestle with the
strongest men in the market, with wagoners and
men who passed for the most robust and formi-
dable. He was very fond of pleasure, and, like
all young men, also, he pursued it with avidity,
his large fortune making it easier to him than
to Others He thus acquired the reputation OF
being passionate liver, which he did not seek,
and which he did not even deserve. - O.
Not folly could be perpetrated in Paris, nor
could there be noisy party, a masquerade, or
any orgie characterized BY an uproar and whip
ping of the watchmen, which was not all put
down to the account of Lord Seymour. This
afterwards became to him the source of real an
noyance.
The bad reputation of Lord Seymour once pre-
vented q great diplomatic complication in
France. 1t was in the year 1926, towards tho
end of January, NJ. de Rothschild gave a grand
the file of carriages so long, that for nearly nine
hours the passage in the Rue Lsfitte and on the
Boulevard was entirely intercepted. 5a5
Some young gentlemen, who had been dining
at the Maison dor, and who wished to 60 to
the Opera, vainly attempted to cross the street.
The carriages touched each other, and it was
found absolutely necessary to take @ very cir
cuitous route, or else to pass under the horses
bellies. s.rt 81 - sssEo3
One of our thoughtless young men then had
recourse to one of those comic expedients which
champagne inspires, and which do not suggest
themselves until after dinner. At that moment
the progress Of the carriages was stopped
Right before him was large and ancient coach
drawn BY two powerful German horses. Our
imprudenr youth very gravely approached, cigar
in mouth, opened the coach door, let down the
toot-board, entered the carriage, lowered the
glass of the next coach door, passed bis arm out
side, opened the other side, and leaped over in
to the other side of the street before the occu-
pants of the carriage, thrown into state of stu
pefaction, could have time to ask what be wsnt-
ed. l..p...s - M
The companions of the young man followed
him, and the whole of their society passed by
that means; then other persons, simply passing
that way, stopped on their march, or pressed
by their business or their pleasure, seeing that
carriage open--serviDg, so to speak, as bridge
for persons on toot-imitated our young mad
men, and more than two hundred persons thus
passed through that respectable coach.
But that coach belonged to German diplo-
matist, who was gravely seated at The side of
the baroness, his wife. You may judge of their
stupefaction. But the passage was effected be-
fore they could seek an explanation OF such
l,l "a -
until sometime afterwards and then German pa.
tience gave place to the most violent anger.
On entering the saloons of N. de Rothschild,
the diplomatist was as red as cocks comb
His grey eyes flashed like fire. He recounted
the adventure, and the insult which had been
shown towards him. His auditory laughed at
him which completed the exasperstion of the
German. The same evening he addressed d.
plomatic note TO the President OF the Council
concerning the violation of his coach. A great
many notes were exchanged. The diplomatist
demanded his passports. The President of the
Council feigned that he wished to do him jus.
tice. An enquiry was ordered for the discovery
of the name of the guilty party-tbat is, of him
who first crossed through the coach.
The inquiry was fully successful, and some
days afterwards the diplomatist was convinced
that the guilty party was none other than Lord
Seymour.
France was free from blame, and now it was
to England that he had to make bis complaints.
That changed the whole state of things. At
that period France did not know as at present
what to do, in order to cause herself to be res
pected abroad, and it was believed that people
were permitted to do as they pleased with her.
But In the case of England there was more res.
pect. The diplomatist, now satisfied, ceased to
importune the authorities with his troubles.
1t must be added that Lord Seymour was q
complete stranger to the whole of that affair;
that it was not he who had gone through the
carriage; and that the President of the Council
of Ministers had cleverly proited by his reputs-
ton to turn away the storm which menaced
France.