Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-02-18
MRS. FITZHERBERT.

meuts aud beauty, and was some years older
than the Prince. She was unquestllonably,
most beautiful woman, but perhaps too much
inclined to fullness Of figure; aud yet it may be
said that she was indebted to that prominence
or habit for great portion of her personal
lovriiucss and attraction. Her comes an ac-
connt of her family aud marriages previous 10
her making the acquaintance of the Prince.
The dowers and legacies Of her different mar
riapes qualified her to command all the elegan-
ces of q fashionable life; and therefore 1t be-
came the public opinion that the relation IN
which she stood with the Prince OF Wales
could only be justified to herself by the solem.
nity of some engagement, or the sanction OF
some ceremony, whatever the nature OF that
ceremony may have beea The hrst time that
the Prince of Wales saw Mrs. Fltzherbert was
in Lady Settou's box at the opera; and the
novelty of her face moro than the brilliancy of
her charms, had the usual effect of enamoring
the Prince. But 10 this Instance he had not
to do with a raw, inexperienced girl, but With
an experienced dame who had twice been
widow, aud who, consequently, was not likely
to surrender upon common terms. She looked
forward to more brilliant prospect, which her
ambition might artfully suggest, founded upon
the feeble character OF an amorous young
Prince; and when his Royal Highness first de-
clared himself her admirer she gave him lot
the slightest hope OF success, but, 10 the true
spirit of a finished coquette, she turned away
from his p1otesations, and, in order to avoid
his importunities, Quilted the Kingdom and
took up her residence at Plombiers, in Lor-
raine France
The residence of Mrs Fitzherbert at Plom-
bers was not Of long duration, aud in destr.b-
ing the cause Of her removal, as 1t duplicates
the character of the lady 10 most serious
manner, we shall give it without any comment,
exactly as it appeared in pamphlet contained
in the above mentioned Institution lbrltlsb
Museum the writer of which processes to be
intimately acquainted with all the proceedings
of Mrs. Etzherbert during her residence on
the continent
At Plombiers Mrs. Fllzherbert contracted
an intimacy with the Marquis de Bellois, ac-
knowedged to be one OF the handsomest men
in France, with whom she withdrew for some
time and lived 10 the greatest familiarity. The
consequence of this intercourse was the neces-
sty of retiring to Paris, where, by means OF
two of her friends, the scandalous transaction
was indusrlously concealed.
It was now known that the Prince had gent
his emissares to discover the residence OF Mrs.
Fitzherbert, and in order to prevent the above
circumstance coming to the ears OF the Prince,
she was recommended by MIR. Bouverie, and Mr..
Erringtou, her cousin, both Of whom were at.
terward present at her marriage, to return
without loss of time to England
Soon after her return Mrs. Fitzberbert
began to live openly with the Prince, and as
she was frequently addressed as Princess OF
Wales, it began TO be reported that mar
riage had been solemnized between Il eD.
Under the Royal marriage act passed in the
reign of George III, the descendants of George
Ii, were made incapable OF contracting mar
rage till after the age of FIVE and twenty with
out the Kings consent, or even attcrward, IN
the event of his Majesty's refusal, without the
there was marriage between the Prince and
Mrs. Fi,zherbert, it was contracted 10 violation
of law, and would give children issuing from
it no claim to the succession. Horn Tooke de-
clared 10 pamphlet published at the time
that there actually was marriage and that
he was acquainted with the name of the priest
who performed the ceremony. Mr.. Fox con-
tradicted the story iu the House of Commons,
but it was generally credited, and caused
great deal OF discussion. A, the lady was
Catholic, that fact become an important ele
ment in the affair. The marriage, if one there
was may have been valid as a religious cere
mony, but it was not valid 10 law. 1t served
to quiet the scruples of the lady, however, and
that was all the Prince intended.
Hoop SKIRTS AND THE TELEGRAPH
Lately, while the operators in the Western
Union Telegraph Office, at the Central VIII arf
in Buffalo, were busily engaged transmitting
gold and stock quotations from the Office to
the different banks 10 that city, the instru.
ments suddenly, and without warning or ap-
parent cause, refused to work. CONSERVATION