The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-08
A SINGULAR STORY.


And then measureless despair.
A SINGULAR STORY.
George, fifth Earl of Wintoun, posses
sed excellent abilities, but from his early
years he displayed strange eccentrici-
ties Of character. Some family misun-
derstandings caused him to leave home
while a mere youth, and to spend several
years in France, where ne hired himself
as blower in the workshop of a
blacksmith. 1t was queer whim; but
such oddities occur in the aristocracy.
A late Earl of Aberdeen, it will be recol-
lected, sank his high rank and princely
fortune and became an obscure and toll
ing sailor in IA merchant vessel, in which
position he was unhappily drowned.
Young Seton was OF this sort. His 1oibie
was love Of bellows blowing, in which
he eXcelled. 1t Is a poor art, hut requires
tact to- blow slowly, firmly and with regu-
larity. With this Overpowering fancy,
the young nobleman did not disdain TO
take hand at the hammer and file, and
occasionally welding these imple mehts,
under the instruction of the blacksmith,
he worked with might and main, as ii
his means of existence depended on his
physical eXertions. We expect that &C.
arse from the pleasure Of battling the
researches of perpleXed and almost
heart-broken relations. Tho family at
home, in the palace at Seton, mourned
over the loss Of George, and hearing
nothing Of him gave him up as lost, van-
ished from the face OF the earth. On the
death of his father, the next heir, taking
for granted that the young earl was dead,
was proceeding to take possession OF the
wnen he suddenly appeared,
claimed and made good his rights. II
was afterwaru ascertained that con1i-
dential servant in the family kept him
acquainted with what was taking place,
and had sent him intelligence OF his
fathers death.
The Seton family had always been no.
led tor their loyalty and their attach
ment to the old church, and George, the
fifth earl, inclined firmly to the political
leanings of his ancestors. He was living
peacefully at Seton Palace when the re-
bellion in 1Tl5 broke out. Probably he
would in any circumstances have taken
part in the insurrection, but his doing
50 was fastened, not absolutely caused,
by body OF the Lothian militia, who for
chilly entered and rifled his house, as al
legged, through private piquc and re-
venge. Inc most sacred places, as he
sentiment. They broke into his chapel,
defaced the monuments of his ancestors,
desecrated their sepulchres, tore out Lhe
remains Of the bodies, and treated them
in barbarcus manner. This unpro-
voked brutality, which met with no check
from the authorities, determined the
Earl to throw himself into the cause OF
the insurgents. 1t was from the first a
hopeless adventure and badly carried out.
The Earl of Wintoun and other rebel
lords rendered themselves prisoners at
Preston, and were carried to London for
trial for high treason.
The trial OF the Earl of Wintoun. took
place at the bar OF the House of Lords,
and, with tedious formalities, lasted
from the 10Th to the 10Th of March, 1116.
His lordship pleaded not guilty, and in
his defense urged certain eXtenuating
ayailing. The principal witness against
him was Rev. Robert Patten, who, as a
chaplain, had taken part in the insurrec.
tion, and lived to write its history. AT
| the trial of the Earl of Wintoun he cut a
| poor figure as kings evidence.
1t was clear from what he stated that
although the earl only took what might
| be called mild part OF the rebellion, the
| fact OF being present with a drawn sword
on several occasions when the Pretender
was proclaimed was sufficient to prove
his completely in the affair. Being found
guilty, he was condemned to return to
the Tower, and thence taken to the place
of execution to be hanged, beheaded, and
! quartered. He was accordingly removed
I to an apartment in the Tower, with the
prospect of having only short time tC
live.
The period of his confinement, however
limited, was not spent in idleness
Through the ingenuity of his wife the
| Earl OF Nithsdale was smuggled out o.
the Tower ON the night previous to the
morning assigned for his execution. Th.
Earl of Wintoun was equally fortunate
lin escaping his doom through the me
chanical skill which he had acquired
while working as a blacksmith in France
Being secretly furnished with files ant
other Instruments by trusty servant
he sawed through u iron bars Of hil
window, and dropping to the ground
managed to make his escape to the Con
tiuent. His titles, SO far as concerned
himself, and any issue he might have
were attainted, his estates were forfeited
to the crown, and there was PRACTICAL!
an end of the ancient house of Seton
The earl died at Rome, December IS
| 1749.