The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-22
THE DAILY, EVENING Observation-Disclosures

Mrs. Coutts had not relative in the world
and ct her death it was found that she had
left her fortune-agreeably it was supposed
to the privately expressed wishes of her first
husbhnd-to his granddaughter, the child of
the celebrated Sir Francis Burdett The
LADY, wealth was then computed at nine nail
lions of dollars gold, equal TO 13 tons, cwt.
qrs. IL lbs; it is much more, and it must
be owned, could not have fallen into better
hands. The Duchess, by life annuity, am
ply provided for her ducal husband, but it
would seem she had been previously offended
by some of his relatives and the codicil to
her will contained a remarkable clause to the
effect that all the Dukes interest in the pro-
perty was to ceaseif he permitted various speci-
fed members of his family to reside with him
for the space of one week, either at one time
or at several distinct times in any one year
The present Duke is poor man for his posi-
ton, and it is not unlikely that he cherishes
hope that his little heirs wealthy godmother
will prove mindful of the former family con-
nection. ..,
The Duchess, who was Miss Mellon, was a
remarkable woman, and the present occasion
will revive an interest in now almost for
gotten celebrity. Although in later life the
wealthiest woman in the world, her early days
were passed in penury, and, at times, almost
want. Her elevation to wealth and rank had
no hardening effect upon her. She was always
mindful of those who had befriended her in
less fortunate days, and eager to do chari-
ties and kindnesses. The following pas
sages in ''Lockhart's Life of Scott refer
ring to her, will probably even now be read
with Interest,"
The much talked-of lady who began life as
Miss Mellon, and died Duchess of ST. Adams,
was then making tour in Scotland as Mrs.
Coutts No person of consequence could, in
these days, have thought Scotch progress
complete unless it included reception at
Abbotsford; and Mrs. Coutts had been pre-
viously acquainted with Sir Walter. Although
she was considerate enough not to come on
with all her retinue-leaving four OF the
seven carriages with which she travelled
to Edinburgh-the appearance of only three
coaches, each drawn by four horses, was
rather trying topoor Lady Scott; they contained
Mrs. Coutts, her future lord, the Duke of St.
Albans, one of his sisters, dGnle dc c0nepGgieie
vulgarly called ''toady, brace of physi-
cians-for it had been considered that the
doctor might himself be disabled in the course
of an expedition so adventurous; and besides
other menials of every grade, two bedcham-
Der women for Mrs. Coutts' own person, she
requiring to have this article also in dupli-
cate, because in her widowed condition she
was fearful of ghosts; and there must be one
Abigail for the services of the toilet, second
to keep watch by night. Lockhart proceeds
to tell that it happened that there were
already in the house several ladies of high
birth who were disposed to hold ''Mrs.
Million," as Disraei calls her in ''Viyian
Grey, rather cheap. .
Now, SirWalter Scott, besides being thor
ough gentleman, with high sense of hospi-
tality which made him most anxious for the
comfort of every guest beneath his roof,
entertained a genuine respect for Mrs Coutts,
and knew full we'll that under her foibles Law
large fund of genuine kindness and excel
lence. He therefore seized an opportunity,
as soon as he got into the drawing room after
dinner on the first day of the visit, to take
aside lovely young marchioness and frankly
tell his apprehensons lest his wealthy guests
visit to Abbotsford would not prove as plea
SAINT as he and Lady Scott could wish He
pointed out that he could not conceal his con-
tempt for those fine ladies who would 90 and
eat Mrs. Coutts' dinners and disport them
selves at her splendid dejeU1aerS at Highgate,
and then laugh at her, and give her the cold
shoulder when they met her elsewhere, and
ended by begging his fair friend to help him
in the difficulty. She replied: Sir Walter,
you have spoken to me as you would to your
own daughter, and thank you most sincerely
for the honor you have done me-" Presently
the Marchioness was seen deep in converse
tlon with the great bankeress; in little while
the other fine folk followed suit; the sequel
was that the visit passed off most agreeably.
and Mrs. Coutts left delighted with every-
body and everything. Indeed, it must be
said that she was not one of those whom it
was ever hard to please, enjoying as she did
unfailing health and spirits, which even the
most untoward circumstances could but mo-
mentarily cloud.