The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-17

OHaima Of the "Prinoess olive" 60 Roy
alty--An Historical ROmaB ee-AIleged
Marriage OF George III with Hannah
Rhtfoot-COnsequence Of the Royal
d Blgamy lf Proved - Marriage Of Dr.
wlImet = Marriage OF His Daughter
olive with the Duke Of Cumberland-
Birth and Rap tism of their Daughter,
Olive--Orders of the Ktng-rhe Duke Of
Cumberland Contracts BigamOus
Marriage with Lady Horton - the
Kings Indignation and Protection
Motherhood OF fOllve-IgnOranc Of n Her
ParentaEe Her Talents = Marriage
with the Marine Painter, serres -Ohve
BECOMES an Arttst, and II Appointed
Landscape Painter 60 George III-Dr.
VytImet Proved 40 be Ibe Author OF th Q
Letters Of Juntus-HIs Motive for
writing Them-Ssatement Of the Lord
Chief fBarOn-Verdict Of the Jury.
LONDON, June 30.--We mentioned in former
letter the decision of the jury denying The
claims TO royalty OF the so.called princess
Olive,n and the convection OF q large portion of
the lpubhc that the verdict was dictated by
expediency and not justified by the facts brought
forward The narrative OF "Princess Olive" is
an historical romance which can hardly fail to
interest our readers.
Mrs Ryves petltioned toprove that her mother
was the legitimate daughter OF Henry Frederick,
Duke OF Cumberland, who was lawfully married
TO Olive Wlmot, and prayed that such provision
the station in society which the circumstances
ol her birth Justify. To us the internal evil
dence that the Duke OF Cumberland was legally
married to Olive Wllmot, and that he afterwards
committed bgamy, is very strong. There is less
reason 10 believe that his brother, George III,
was guilty OF the same onense when he married
Princess Charlotte; and yet there is sufficient
testimony OF his previous union with Hannah
IighttOot TO claim, at least investigation. To
establish, beyond a doubt, the existence of this
first union would be to prove that mis- successors
were not legitimate heirs to the throne, and
Queen Victoria was not rightful Sovereign of
Great Britain. However startling and terrible
in its effects would be such areveation, the his
torian has only to deal with facts, irrespective
of sequences.
An attempt was made by Mrs. Ryves, at the
recent trial, to prove that George III, when
Prince of Wales, contracted secret marriage
with Hannah Llghttoot in 1853. DR.. Wlmot
was the officiating clergyman. Papers of DR..
Wilmot's were produced in court, certifying to
the marriage of which two sons and a daughter
were the issue. Apaper, supposed to be written
by Hannah Lightloot, signed Hannah Regina"
bequeaths her children to the protection OF their
roy al father. And to Olive Wilmot, daughter of
Or. Wilmot, her best friend, she leaves all the
property 10 which she may be entitled
This paper is dated 1862. The marriage of
George III with Princess Charlotte took place
176l.
The Rev. James Wilmot, D. D., of Baron-on-the-
Heath, Warwlckshire, was privately married to
Olive, daughter OF Stanislaus, the last King OF
Poland. They had one daughter, also named
Olive, who grew up 10 be exceedingly beautiful
and accomplished. She was nineteen when his
Royal Highness, Henry Frederick, Duke of
Cumberland, brother to George III, became SO
deeply enamored Tat he offered her his hand.
The marriage ceremony was performed by her
father DR.. Wilmot, according to the rites of the
Church OF England, on the 4th of March, 1867,
at the house of Lord Archer, in Grosvenor
street, Grosvenor Square, in the presence of
LORD Warwick, and is attested by the written
declaration OF Lord Chatham and j. DunDing,
Esq, afterwards Lord Ashourton. The certii-
cate is verified by the sign-manual of King
George III.
For importantI family reasons, the King or
dered the marriage to be Kept secret until after
his death.
The Royal Marriage act, by which members
of the Royal Family we're prevented marrying
except with the consent of the reigniug sove-
reign, was not passed until the year l772
Olive Wilmot, Duchess OF Cumberland, gave
birth 10 daughter on the Sd of April, l772 at
Warwick. The child was privately baptized as
Olive, daughter of the Duke of Cumberland and
OhVe his wife, by DR.. Wlmot, at the residence
OF his mother. The King, however com.
manded that this child should be rebaptized, at
the Church of st. Nicholas, in Warwick. in order
that she M ghr pass as the child OF DIR. Wllmots
brother, Robert WlmOt, and Anna Maria, his
wife. She was there entered In the register
book as Olive Wilmot only.
The Duke OF Cum berIand had already become
tiTel of his lovely young wife, and in l77l,
shortly before the birth OF Olive, he conceived
the project of ignoring his private marriage,
and contracting a second union. His nupt ais
with Lady Horton daughter of the first Earl OF
Corhamptou, and widow of Christopher Horton,
Esq, were publicly solemnized.
George III, 1t is said, was so indignant at the
conduct of mis- brother, that he refused to re-
Ceive him or Lady Horton at Court, and "took
every precaution that while he shielded the
Duke OF Cumberland from the legal conse-
quences of his crime, he should in no way i'm
pugn the reputation of the lawful Duchess
Olive, or the Legitimacy of her infant daughter
One OF the documents produced in court runs
ae tollOws:-"George r. We declare the birth
of Olive, the infant of the Duke of Cumberland
by Olive, his Duchess, to be legitimate, who Is
condemned to privacy by the act of bigamy
committed by her royal father"
(Slgned) WARWICK, CHATHAM,
j. WILMoT, J. DUNNING.
Kew Palace, May l, l777.
Olive grew up under the care of Dr. Wilmot
and in total ignorance OF her parentage. Sh,
bore very strong likeness to the royal family
as her portrait testiHes. At an early age she ex
hlblted decided literary tastes, and talent 70
drawing. She was taken to London to receiv
instruction in this art, which she passionatel
loved, and there became acquainted with JON
Thomas Series, marine painter to the Admiralty
TO this gentleman she was united in 1892, b
her grandfather, DR.. Wlmot. She must hav
acquired some proficiency as an artist, for sh
was ultimately appointed landscape palnter4
George III, and exhibited some OF her works 8
the British Institution 1906.
Among the many singular revelations mad
during the recent trial is one which, If it be true
clears up the long disputed point as to the al
thorshIp of the letters of Junius. They WeT
written by Dr. Wilmot his granddaughter a.
serts to obtain redress from George III, who