Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-05-27

wife, she accepted from them as the rich
est dowager in England. She sent each
of the daughters chequc on the banking
house for 100000 AS she had no chill
dren, and remote possibility existed that
the vast estate might eventually come
back to the family, superficial friend
ship grew up. Unlike the French histo-
rian, who having received an official ac-
count of a siege opposite to that he had
written, exclaimed, "Tant pis; mon siege
est fait," they found reasons to change the
record they had once unanimously made
For three years, Lady Burdett, Lady Gull
ford and Lady Butte. were the devoted
friends of their bereaved step-mother.
Mrs. Coutts was now forty seven years
old The banking house grew in pros
perity. She was the sole owner. If she
had not the genius to increase her vast
wealth, neither had she the weakness to
diminish it, She was everywhere known
as the wealthiest widow in England, pos
sessing more than the ordinary attractions
of middle life, fond Of society. and cultl-
yated in the arts akin to theatrical educa-
ton. The Duke of St. Adams appeared
on the stage, and new scene opened on
The Duke of St. Albans had rank He
was the head of noble family. His per-
son and manners and habits were in his
favor. But he was poor. What estates
/ had descended with his titles were mort
gagged to the brim. In years he was
scarcely half the age of the millionaire
widow. In brains there was greater
difference even. But station iu society
was the chief aspiration of the whiloai ac
tress, already the marked favorite OF for
tune, and the unequal union took place
In the fourth year Of her widowhood
Mrs. Coutts divested herself of Grape ant
dressed her hair with orange-blossoms.
The marriage was perhaps not unhap
lpy. The wits of the day made bon msots
A carricature, representing the Duke as
chiid: cryidg I'll Il : II l q ! = :
ed nurse, because be had eaten too mucl
naezon, became famous. All sorts of scan
dal we're talked. But the parties livet
together-in amity, so far as the worle
knew; appeared without variance Of ten
per in public, travelled on the continent
purchased large landed estate, relieved
the St. Adams entail of it's embarrassment
and to all appearance, either to the par.
ties interested or to others, had diverted
the great estate of the banker forever frou
his family.
Meanwhile, Sir Francis Burdett, hus
band of the youngest daug hter of the de-
ceased banker, was becoming famous
He was the champion Of the people. Fol.
lowing the extreme course of radical poll
tics, opposing the Government and the
war, and setting on foot inquiries into
long standing abuses, he was brought for.
ward as the candidate for Parliament o
the great constituency of Middlesex. The
history of his election, protracted through
five years, costing him and his opponents
an aggregate Of more than half million
pounds sterling, involving sentences Of
transportation for bribery to several Of the
electors, and occasioning duel between
Sir Francis and Mr.. PAUL, in which both
the combatants were wounded, makes per-
haps the most interesting page of party
conflict of the present century. His COM
initial subsequently to the Tower, added
fuel to popular enthusiasm in his favor
All this brought forward Lady Burdett
old Coutts's youngest daughter. Between
her and the Duchess Of St. Albins, an in
timacy grew up. Sir Francis continued
in Parliament for more than thirty years
Angela Georgiana, his youngest daught
er, became a favorite of the Duchess
All through the years of 1884, '35 ano
'36, when the girl was ripening into wo.
manhood, the step-grandmother found, in
her attentions, resources against failing
health and worldly safety. She would
not be parted from her. The childless
old lady had found better than wealth iu
the portionless maiden, and in grateful
appreciation of it, after providing hand
somely for her husband, made the girl
sole legatee of the vast wealth of her
grandfather.
The Duchess of St. Adams died in
1887. Miss Burdett, or as she has since
been known, Miss Burdett Coutts, be-
came, then, at the age of twenty three,
the richest heiress in England There is
no doubt she is so still, for the business
at Coutts's ever increases She has per-
sistently declined all offers of marriage,