The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-12
The Lofty AriStCcracy of the United
Kingdoms.
THE MIGHTY OLEGARCHY.
Somerset, 81. Adams, Grafton, Leeds, Norfolk,
Marlborough, Rutland, Portland, New
castle, Hamilton, Beaufort
aud Buckingham.
Do THE DUKES DICTATE TO THE BENCH A?
What a Good Thing It Is 10
Be a Duke!
PARIS, July 26. 1873.


BIG PEERS.
the existing type of English Duke is not a very
exalted specimen OF nobility. The Dukes OF BUG
cleucD, DeVonshire, sutherland, Bedford and
Northumperland are indeed petty kings, having
immense iaaded estates and looking down upon
politics from the heishth OF their grandeur. They
condescend to put their younger sons into Parla-
ment and their poor relations into the government
onleeS. SCOTS, LeyesOn-G0w ers, Cavendishes
Russels and few percys, who ought to be Smith
sons, may be found occupying lucrative posts In
the public service; but these
GREAT DUKES
themselves Will accept nothing but lord lieuten-
ancies and ribbons of the garter They are very
little seen or heard of beyon the limits OF their
own property, whore they are regarded as demi-
gods; put they have scarcely any active influence
on society," They come up to their big houses in
London for few weeks after Easter vote upon
one or two broad-bottomed questions very eau
tiously never trust themselves to speak more than
Q few words in Parliament and call round them
their family lawyers, doctors and the ancient
dependents OF their race to few solemn
dinners, In which tue conversation is ex-
tremely homely and prosy. They avoid all ap-
pearance OF state or display in London, and appear
forever ON their guard, though they were al
ready fortiiyng their abodes and strengthening
their positions against coming siege. They take
care never to interfere with popular caprice to
come in contact with the strong current of opin-
len. Ihey have, however, policy OF their own,
and any one who penetrates into their recesses
and strs them up with fighting purposes soon fnds
out how strong they are. Behind them starts up
q whole host of
HENCHMEN AND TOADIEs,
who are connected with them by the
ties OF interest relationship, generally
beth and who "manage" the press and
the law courts for them very artfllly.
No paragraph in any way dlsagreeable to one OF
these dukes could obtain insertion in newspaper,
for there is not q print of any character or i'm.
portance In Great Britain which Is not directly or
indirectly, in the hands OF this
MIGHTY OLIGARCHY.
The Duke OF Norfolk stands apart. He Is not
rich he is not clever, but he Is supported by the
powerful body Of the English Catholics and, per-
haps no individual Englishman has 80 much per-
s0nal importance.
THE DUKE OF SOMERSET
is rather a hot-headed man, without much money
or authority, who has many OF the qualities of a
government clerk high up in his department. He
mismanaged the navy very grossly, and on the for
nation OF the Gladstone Ministry he was left out in
the cold on account Of his impracticable temper.
Yet in recent lawsuit, brought against him by
Mr. Williams an eminent London physician, IL was
found impossible to obtain a legal decision against
him, and the present Attorney General, a time
serving and INSCRIPTIONS lawyer, who was re-
tanned for the paintn, threatened to throw up his
briei II the matter was pressed against the Duke.
The Duke OF Richmond, who is nomnally con.
servative leader OF the House of Lords is gentle
man and good man OF business. He has a great
deal OF influence In the army and on the turf but IL
not person OF much consequence in politics, and
his intellect is rather below the avnraUa
THE DUKES OF GRAFTON AND LEEDS
are social and political nonentties. The Duke OF
Manchester is an honest, laundering and rather
ridiculous man, who has somewhat equivocal
position in the Vice Court at Marlborough House.
The Duke Of ST. Adams has done one or two popu-
lar things. He has refused to sell small church
living which he might have sold, and he has offered
to resign his sinecure as hereditary registrar OF
the Court Of Chancery; but he has also left
OF his relations IN London workhouse In
spite Of some public appeals from the local rate
payers, and seems to have more show than 60 in
him. He has a small place about the Court, and is
very poor The
DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH
is dull, civil man, much beloved by the benenced
clergy. and shares ecclesiastical power In England
with Lord Shaltesbury
THE DUKE OF RUTLAND,
who was formerly q remarkably handsome man
and OF the first sutors Of the Princess Mary OF
Cambridge Is an exquisite Of the first water, with
many chivalrc qualities but he has been little seen
in society for some years, and reigns over
his woods OF Bevoir giving his heart to horses
aud to hounds. He cannot be said TO count at all
in public life. though his brother, Lord John
Manners, VINO was once thought q riing man
among the tories, still takes part in politics and
looks after the parks and statues when his party
are in power
The Duke OF Portland is another OF the great
territorial magnates who holds himself aloof frem
Court and city. He Is immensely rich, and very
strong on his own ground. He never travels be-
yond 1t. He showed, however that he could and
would have MS way ia a recent law suit and got
it. The Dukes OF Newcastle and Hamilton and
Beaufort may be classed together, except that the
Duke Of Newcastle has ruined himself on
the turf and the Dukes OF Hamilton
and Beaufort have not The Duke OF
Hamilton, too, has considerable influence
in society, and especially in the sporting world OF
Europe, and may be called cosmopolitan among
turf men, having running horse in most Of tue
great events; whereas the Duke Of Newcastle is
nowhere and wiped altogether out Of mems memo.
ries.
THE DUkE OF BUCKINGHAM
Is a very queer figure --commercal, fussy and with
much OF the p0mpousness OF q chief clerk In bank
ing house. lie is said to be the sharpest common
lawyer in England. He is very rich, having not
only the stowe property and all the estates Of the
last Duke of Chandos, but likewise the savings Of
snrewd Scotch uncle, the last Marquis Of Bresdal-
bane, who left much ready money. Nevertheless,
the "Buckingham debts,n which exceed
half a million sterling, remain unpaid, and
are one Of the queerest Of all the
queer scandals Of the time In the present state Of
the English law creditors have no real remedy
against a repudlating duke who chooses to set
them at defiance, as the Duke of Buckingham has
done. Nevertheless, this honest person, SO wise
and clever in his generation has been secretary OF
state for the Colonies President OK the Council and
is stu Lord Lieutenant and "Ma'Aer Of the Morals
of hs county ex-o1scto. He could order q YER
dict in Westminster Hail. or the Court o.
| Equity as easily as he could order