The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-02-11
Some Interesting ..

Readers of the daily Graphic will
remember that short time ago m ar.
ticle appeared in these columns, the
object Of which was to show that the
book for which reward Of Gl, 600 has
recently been offered is the only re.
naming copy of work published in
London in 1870, and containing an 90
connt of the marriage of George ~.
to Mrs. Fitzherbert, and Of the issue OF
that marriage, who, if living. might
fairly pretend to the crown of England.
1t is known that such book was pub.
lished in that year and suppressed as
completely as possible, but that it must
have contained matter besides the ac.
count Of the marriage and issue-mat.
ter which, in connection with the pub
lcation of the "Greville Memoirs, " or
that part of them which was not pub.
lished, might do serious damage to the
present royal family-is evident from q
number Of considerations. In the first
place, that marriage has practically
been recognized by the English govern
ment. Mrs. Fitzherbert having re-.
ceived pension during her lifetime,
which was continued to her son, who is
now, and for number OF years has
been, resident of this city, in which
he is n musician in one of the the
ater orchestras. He bears striking
resemblance to George w., and his
exalted birth has long been known to a
few of his friends. Maria Fiizherbert
was born in July, 1866, of an old Cath
olic family of Hampshire, and wDs
married successfully to Il iward Weld,
of Dorset, and Thomas Fitzherbert, of
Stafford, being left widow second
time in 1881. Four years afterwards
George w., then prince of Wales, and
"the first gentleman of EUROPE" first
saw her, and in December, 1856, they
were privately married by Clergyman
of the Established Church in the pres
epce OF witnesses. This union was not
legally valid, for the English laws pro-
hibits marriage between subject and
a prince of the blood royal. The king
subsequently, married Queen Caroline,
quarreled with her, and returned to
Mrs. Fitzherbert. His excesses COM
PEELED her to leave him, and she retired
to Brighton, where she outlived both
George ~. and his successor, receiving
n large pension from the government.
Such is the scoonnt given in "The
American Cyclopndia" and in her
memoirs" by The Hon. Charles Lang.
dale G4ondon, 1866, and the continu.
alton Of part of the mothers pension to
the son is proof that the present gov
ernment recognizes the validity of his
claims as, at least, son by inorganic
marriage.
But how does this argue with the in
ference from the "History of the Fiiz.
herbert Letters" which was published
a few years ago by Bentley? According
to this book, Mrs. Fitzherbert contided
to her executors the Duke of Yelling
ton, Lord Albemarle and another-a
sealed packet. which was by them dc.
posted in Contts' bank, and was to re-
main unopened unless her character
should be assailed, when it was TO be
opened and published in vindication of
tho purity of her relations with George
". These relations were very we'll
known, and the fact that, after the vio-
lent attach on the character of Mrs. |
Fitzherbert was made in the Edinburgh |
Review, the packet was not allowed to
be published, shows that it contained
other documents than the marriage GER
tifcate which it would not do for the
reiening family to have brought to
light. The History of the Fitzherbert
Letters" shows very plsinly that power
full and royal Influences were used in |
suppressing the facts, and the govern
ment at once came down in very en-
phatic manner upon the publisher and
upon the book, OF which, however,
there is at least one copy now in this
city.
Therefore it seems impossible that
the lost book for which the large sum OF
Ell 900 is now offered and the packet
deposited in Coutts' bank merely con-
tain detailed account of the marriage
OF George Nv. with Mrs. Fitzherbert,
unless, indeed, the legal showing OF
fact which, though we'll known, had
never been proved in court, be dreaded.
And yet, with an all-powerful parlia-
ment, which may change the succession
at will, what harm could come from its
establishment During Qneen Caro-
lines trial for adultery public opinion
was so strongly in her favor that the
government abandoned the prosecution,
and popular opinion, expressed in par
Lament, is the British constitution.
Lord Brougham was the queens coun-
sci, and at the trial he limited, in way
not to be misunderstood, that if the
charge was pressed the defense could
and would prove the kings marriage
with Mrs. Fitzherbert, which by the
law would have excluded him from the
throne. This was then not to be
thought of. But how would such proof
be of service or harm to anybody now?
In no conceivable way. The case then
stands thus: The marriage, though
not legally valid. is well,known to have
been celebrated; the marriage has
never been legally established, but
should it now be legally established no
harm could come from il, It follows
that the lost book contains something
more than has commonly been supposed,
and something that, If generally known,
would work very serious injury to some.
body-some family or some interest
that can afford to pay largely for its
suppression. Taken in connection with
the suppression of part Of tho "Greville
Memoirs" at this time, with the pub
Usher of the lost book, and the general
sus picion, it seems very evident that
the royal family and interests have i'm.
portant matters here at stake.
Causes Of Insanity.
About fifty per cent. of the idiots OF
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