Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1869-08-24

The recent morganatic marriage of Dom Fer
nando, King Consort of the late Queen Marie
H., and father of the reigning King of Portugal,
with an American lady named Hensler, has
attracted much attention in this country, and
been widely noticed in the journals of the me
tropolis, and as consequence widely copied
elsewhere. Some Western journals have glow
ingy exulted over the great success achieved
by this American bride, and alluded to Similar
instances, as the marriage of Prince Louis dc
Bourbon, &C., all of which are calculated to
set the susceptible hearts and ambitious aspi-
rations of our American bellies in fever Of
emulation. Morganatic marriages are a pc
culiarity exclusively pertaining to Princes OF
the blood, heirs apparent to the thrones Of Eu-
rope, or like the latest one, of ex Kings in re-
tirement, and waiting for employment.
The present Emperor of France is said to
have been morganatcally married. The Fitz
Clarences Of England are the issue of NOR
ganatic marriage of the Duke of Clarence, af-
terward William ". And it is a matter of
gossip in London that the Prince of Wales was
in that manner married to the daughter Of an
Irish clergyman prior to his alliance with the
House of Denmark, and that the issue OF the
marriage was son. But in all these instances
these morganatic wives have been set aside for
those who had noble blood flowing through
their veins.
The writer of this artitle being on tour oil
observation and nleasure through Eurnpe snmf
two years since visited Lisbon. One OF the
most attractive spots for the tourist is Cintra
elowingly described in Childe Harold's Pill
grimage:
,'LoI Cintra's glorious Eden intervenes,
In variegated maze of mount and gleni
Behold the hall whore chiefs were late convened
So party was made up to visit Cintra. W.
were informed that the ex-King Dom Fernando
was occupying the castle, and that Miss L
Hensler was living there under his protection
T Armed with letter of introduction from al
American official at Lisbon, we iourneyet
thther.
Arrived at the castle, we sent our letter IN
and permission was accorded to us to visit til
chanel aud view the grounds. The cause @
the lady not receiving us in person was 500
made apparent, for on emerging through Tn
great gate to descend the mountain into til
beautiful grounds, lady passed us runnin
:, toward gentleman whom we had passed O
. the road. She was dressed in Knickerbocke
costume of velvet, and in boots. Alarge mas
tiif, black and shaggy, bounded alongside; IN
lady was Miss Hensler, and, with tine hlhe
was about to take her usual dali exercise an
ramble through the grounds. Dom Fernand
is pleasant and mid-looking gentleman, ap
parently about forty eight years of age. Mis-
Hensler is a blonde, and rather good looking
without being handsome. She appeared to
IL twenty.eight or thirty years of age.
A night or two afterward we attended I'll
X Grand Opera House. The royal box was OF
> cupied by the King, his younger brother, an
by Dom Fernando. Next to the royal box WI
10 that Of the ministers Of the crown, several
whom were present in their uniform. The Xii
was in the uniform of Field Marshal
IN IN Dom Fernando had no eyes for the oper
he but his glances, aside of his glass, were direc
he ed continuously to a box nearly opposite, b.
d "a in higher tier. Here was seated Miss Hensle
to. the ex-King's chere annie. Between the tN
ies constant signs communicated their thought
Sit Si which were laughable to behold. This co
be tinued during most of the performance, al
IT'S was noticed by most of the audience.
r'- 1t appears that Miss Hensler had been
1b opera singer, and while performing at Lisb
65 had attracted the attention of the lonely e
King, and mutual arrangement soon followt
1t is altogether probable that the court scf
IL dal attending this lidtson for the past three
rs. four years, and desire on the part of M
rs; Hensler TO mix in court society from which s
wS has hitherto been excluded, has impelled
ex-royal debauchee to enact the farce OF m
IT'S ganatic marriage.
ON There has been a rumor of late that d
her Fernando might be called to the throne
= Spain, in which event his morganatio br
il would be as ruthlessly thrust aside
DDS marriage 'dEtdt, for which there are mi
rs aIs precedents.
!, We are inclined to the opinion that
American bellies will not be much attracted
II. go in ecstacies over this messalliance, or, 9
is conveniently termed, morganatic maria