Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-02-02
SKELETON OF THE ROYAL FAMILY
The New York Graphic has the following ro

SKELETON OF THE ROYAL FAMILY.
The New York Graphic has the following ro-
ma otic story
IA rather startling placard has been posted
10 various public places Offering, 10 huge BLACK
letters, reward OF tl 900 for one copy OF a
certain book published III London lu 1880, and
Suppressed at that time by the Lord Chancel-
]or At the instance OF the royal family, because,
as the pacard mildly puts it, it contains certain
statements regarding certain member VI the
roval family. The name of the book is not
mentioned, but from the names OF tue publish
er and printer, which are given, the book 10
recopnized as sort of scandalous chronicle
which was published in the year named, and
which gave what purpOrted to be an accurate
account of the secret marriage OF klDg George
IV.wth Mrs. Ezherbrrt, and OF the issue OF that
marrase-a son. who was either kept 10 con-
cealment or spirited out OF the country, out
who, il this story be true. could COW make very
strong pretenSioos to the British throne and
the title Of George V.
This story has been told, mere or less 10
detail, in two or three books which have az
pearcd since 1880, aud that sumo degree 81
impor.an.e attached TO it by the present roy.l
family is shown 10y The fact that every one oi
these publications have, without exception,
been suppressed by the government by the ln-
Fiction of severe punish ments and the payment
of large rewards for the possession OF stray
copies. The book now advertised for was pub
lished by NJ. Lindsell, PaterGoster row, and
printed by I. Jackson, Neweate street, and
both publisher and printer suffered long terms
of i'm prisoumen, for disobeying the Injunction
OF the Lord Chancellor.
About three years ago the scandal threaten
ed to burst forth again, tor single copy OF the
book, which had survived the destruction OF
the original edition, came iuto the possession OF
the editor Of the London Standard, who
threatened 10 publish it serlaly 10 his paper.
This came to the ears Of the government, which
at once offered the editor the choice OF two al
tcrnatives-eilhcr to publish the story aud go
to prison for contempt of the Lord Chancellor,
or 10 refrain from publishing it and accept
50 900 for his copy of the book. The editor
looked upon the latter alternative as the most
desirable Of the two aud pocketed the $4,000,
turning over the book to be burned. With
the destruction Of this copy the government
supposed that the work Was extinct, but 1t has
lately been rumored that one more copy OF the
book remains aud is somewhere 10 America.
The pacard does not bear any evidence OF
being issued or authorized by the government,
and is perhaps unknown to the British authorl-
ties
Another publication of the story was made
some years ago By Reynolds, London publish
or, under the title of the Mysteries Of the
Court of George w." but this work was 10
the form OF fiction, and being so evidently over
drawn as to convey but little impression that
it was founded on facts, it did not so seriously
attract the attention of the government.
Another book which the authorities have
zcalously endeavored to SUPPRESS but with only
partial success is History Of the Fltzherbcrt
Letters, published within few years by Beut-
ley, of which at least one copy is now IN this
city 1t is matter of history that King
George ". had au atfalre du occur W.,h Mrs.
Fizherbcrt, and it is said that he was private
" married TO her, but the legall y oi this mar
rage is seriously questioned, as she was de-
vout Catholic and the clergyman who per-
formed the ceromouy was Protes ant EplScu-
paIian.
Mrs. Fzherbert survived the King, and
also his successor. Kug William w., Tor the
Greville Memoirs, just published, mention the
fact OF her coming when an old lady to look at
the remains of the last named monarch. She
died at an advanced age ln the early part
of the present reign, and, according to tie
Bently story, she con6led to her executors
sealed packet, which was to be deposited
in bank, aud to remain unopened unless
her character was assailed, when it was to
be opened and published In vindicatlon OF
the purity of her relations with George
lV. The executors, who were the Duke
of Wellington, Lord AIbemare and another, de-
posted the packet 10 Coutts' 5 bank, but lew
years after her death highly offensive attack
upon her memory was made in the Edinburgh
Review. Upon this the third execut or request
ed the consent OF his colleagues to have the
packet 10 Coutts' bank opened and its contents
which were believed to include the marriage
certificate. published 10 accordance with the
wish OF the deceased The Duke and Albemarle
opposed this motion, and the other executor
went to the bank and made a personal appllca-
tlon for the pncket.
"At this time, however, the Queen was
keeping her own account at Coutts uauk, aud
the officials seemed afraid Of displea>ing so
powerful customer, aud threw various obsta-
cles 10 the way of getting the papers. The
executor again appealed to Wellington and
Abcmarbc, but they, too, seemed afraid of
royal Influences and would not move 10 the mat
ter. After while the three executors died,
but the executors of the one who had 50 long
endeavored to get possession of the documents
renewed these eudcavors by application to the
executors of thr Duke of Welliogton and Lord
Albemarle The latter, however, were also in
exorable, and, as last recourse, tie first
named set of executors published detailed
history of all the efforts to get the facts
contained ia these documents before the world.
This history showed very plainly that powerful
aud royal Influences had been active ln suppress
ing the facts, and the government at once came
down in very emphatic manner upon the pub
Usher aud upon the book.
''Tbe story is at all events curious and ro-
mantle one, aud there are those who prophesy
that its most important chapter remains to be
enacted when Queen Victoria passes away and
the question OF the succession comes TO the
'front.'"
LOUISVILLE Jan. 3l.-The book for which
cl,OO0 in gold have been offered by MIR. &.
Golbourne, OF London, and stated in a circular
extensively distributed by him, to relate to
member of the roye family Of England, against