The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-01-15
A BIT OF SECRET HISTORY.


From the Washington Patriot, Dec. Isl |
His Majesty. Don Fernando, father
Of the King of Portugal, somewhat
surprised European Courts, rs well
as his immediate friends, by sud
den marriage eighteen months ago
with Miss T.. Hensler, to whom he
had been much attached during nine
previous years. She was born in
Boston, of respectable German pa
rents in humble life, and educated
in Italy for the operatic stage by the
aid of a few liberal patrons of art
who had discovered her precocious
talent for music and her fine voice.
After completing her studies abroad
she returned to the United States,
but failed to reach the eminence of
which her early youth had given
cheerful promise. Seeking another
field for professional success she
went again to Europe, and in 1850
became attached to the opera at
Lisbon, where the widowed King
Consort was first attracted by
HER BEAUTY, yIvACITY AND OTHER
Then began the acquaintance which
terminated in her becoming the wife
of a Coburg, who had shared the
throne of Portugal with Donna Maria
III. Just previous to the marriage,
the Duke of Sake -Coburg conferred
upon her the title of Countess d'Elda,
so as to obliterate even a nominal
connection with the past, or with
her American nativity. Although
the Court and society of Lisbon were
at first inclined to rebel against the
MEsALLIANCE,
As it was called, they have since be-
come fully reconcilled, and the
Countess to-day occupies a position
only second to that of the actual
Queen. Her husband, naturally
enough, exerted all his influence L
accomplish this result, and he ha.
been well seconded by the tact ant
talent Of the person most immedi
ately concerned in establishing socia
distinction. That repeated overture
were made by Prim and his col
leagues to induce Don Fernando {.
accept the throne of Spain is no Sc
cret. They were urged with unusua
zeal, and were seconded by the sup
port Of the British and French Gov
ernments. He refused to give an
encouragement to these proposals
and an effort in that direction, mad
in the early part of 1869, only fe,
months before his marriage, was rt
PEELED with so much decision as [
be considered even rude to the Spar
ish people. There is the bestreaso
for believing that his decision on thi
subject conceded with the opinio
il not with the direct counsel of I'll
present Countess. His connectio
with the Spanish throne was consi,
cred concluded by that emphatic r,
fusal. But after the marriage can
social embarrassment and new idea
which the Government at Madri
was prompt to seize upon, in Il
hope of overcoming the prejudice
Don Fernando, by
THE TEMPTATION
OF rich honors to his wife, who,
transition to the Court of Madri
would become the equal, if not Il
superior, of those who had welcom,
her with coldness, and not fro
choice. The Spanish Minister
Lisbon was instructed to appoa,
His Majesty with delicate sugge
tions, and found him willing
entertain the subject; so that info
NAL negotiations were opened, al
made considerable progress la
Spring. Don Fernando propos,
certain conditions, pehaps with
view of ultimately debating II
terms for matter which W
much nearer his heart. as will a
pear in the sequel. For exampl
he required that the crowns of Spa
and Portugal should never be unit,
on the same head, seeking by tI
means to preserve the throne
PoYtu0al for his son and b;s daeno,,