The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-18
GEORGE Tvs WIFE.
The story of Mrs. Fitzherbrri'. Marriage.

The story of Mrs. FitzI,erbert's Marriage.
IN. Y. Sup.1
| We copied the other day from the New Or
leans democrat q little paragraph stating that
Gen. Ord, now In command of the United
States forces on the Rio Grande, is grand
son of George ~, and the actress" Mrs.
Fitzherbert, to whom he was married by a
Catholic, priest, while he was Prince Re
gent; that a son was born of this marriage,
named Ord, who, brought him to this country
that this son, who took the name of his tutor.
married Virginia or Maryland lady, by
whom he had two sons, one Of whom is Gen
ora, the other being now judge In Caifor-
mia.
There Is only one fact in this story that is
truo, which is that George ~ Lwhilc Prince
of Wales, married Mrs. Fitzherbert. She was
never ,,, , an actress, nor in any way connected
with the stage. She was of a Roman Catholic
family named Smythe; of irreproachable
character, considerable beauty and q very
amiable disposition. At the time of her first
acquaintance with the Prince of Wales she
was young widow, sincerely attached to her
religion, and not likely to change It for wol id
ly advancement. In 1884 the Prince then
under twenty-five, fell desperately in love
with her. He was not at that time Prince
Regent, BY the law of England he could not
Parliament, and he could not marry d Roman
Catholic without forfelting his right to the
crown, To avoid the Princes importunities
Mrs. Fitzherbert retired to the continent and
constantly, and in December, 1885, she re-
turned to London and consented to marry
him: The Prince, to the great dissatisfaction
OF his father. King George LII, had attached
ams FPox thn and wRR wRRGtcay to Charles
that Mrs. Fitzherbert had returned and that
the marriage was likely to take plpce Fox
wrote to the Prince manly and sensible
letter, demonstrating against the marriage.
pointing out its illegalty, warning him t6ai
If there were children from the marriage thev
would be Legitimate, and that the country
would be exposed to the danger of q disp,ted
succession to the throne. 1t is quite certain
tnat 1l., the prlnce e., could not have. shown this
following answer to Mr.. Fox
CARLETON HOUSE, Dec If, 1875.
O'Clock Sunday morning. {
Ny Dear Charles Your letter of last night
afforded me more true satisfaction than ! can
1lnds words to express, as it is an additional
of your having that true regard and affection
for me which it Is not only the wish, but the
ambition of my life to merit. Make Yourself
easy, my, dear friend; believe me, that the
world VIII now soon be convinced that there
not only is not, but never was any ground for
these reports which Of late have been SO NAL
evidently circulated"
While he was thus misleading Mr. Fox. the
Prince was devising means of accompIisbjng
the marriage Mrs Fitzherbert was q
vlrtuous woman, and any other relation than
marriage was out of the question. One day,
while Mr.. Johnes, a clergyman, intimate
with Fox and his friends, was dining with
Lord North, he received an invitation to sun
that evening with the Prince of Wales Lord
North took him aside and told him that the
Prince would probably ask him to perform
the marriage ceremony. This turned out to
DE true, but Mr.. Johnes refused tocomply with
the Princes request. Nevertheless the mar
Tnago TOOK Place very secretly on the 21st
performed by q Roman Catholic priest, but
by a Protestant Clergyman. Six gentlemen
We're present, and two of them signed the
marriage certificate as witnesses. One of
Them VI m was the uncle and the other the brother
OF Mrs: Fitzherbert. Any scruples which she
or i her friends might have felt were overcome
Trent, which are the law of the Roman Cath |
one Church, marriage is valid in countries |
where the authority of the Council of Trent
Is not acknowledged, even If it is not ner-
formed by Roman Catholic priest. This |
marriage, utterly void by the English law
was sanctioned BY the law of Mrs Fitzher,
bert .t SCI church, and she believed that she could,
as her husband; and she did SO privately,
But it is certain that there never was anv
issue of the marriage
In the spring OF 1887 1t was announced in
would be made to Parliament to nav the
Prince of Wales debts. A member (Mr
folle) rose and said that if such a motion was
made he would move the previous question,
IS the proposal involved matter by which
,he constitution, both in church and State
night be injuriously affected" Everybody
Understood this to allude to the rumors of the
,rlnceS private marriage On succeeding
lay, Fox denied the marriage in the House,
IN point Of fact as well as law "The
m
happened legally, but never did happen in
my way whatsoever, and had been from
he beginning, base and malicious false
rood. On being questioned, he de-
Jared that 'he had direct authority
Gentleman of Fox's acquaintance said to him
= \. BTookes club house, Il see by the papers,
ar. Fox, you have denied the fact of the mar
lage OF the Prince with Mrs Fitzherbert.
oh tbat nane 9een msinormed TO was present
Ar. ROLES; threat and Mr.. Fox's declaration
he Prince had told Fox a deliberate lie. Fox
llndlng that he had been duped renowned |
ne n IN Irlnces acquaintance, and did not speak
ftnrmard ,.r iof more than year, and although he
mo n acted with him and for him politically'' !
le s never again trusted the word of the Prince
i i a.es. !" ales. MRS. Fitzherbert, who was made
= shfa GeLeve I've that Fox had denied her marriage
nnke tn th,bbimng bin ali about it, never afterward
laratlon ara ION q ne had made in the House of Com c
noIs WlCnout exposing the Prince to the dan. V
er OF losing the crown. e' =" 'i'o ''''ii- ,
J niai t ,ase, VI course, never was acknowl-
hat no one in England ever donhted Ia,t tbnt Is
ad taken place. Mrs. Fitzherbert was s"I raO a. +
arded, as long as she lived. bv some mono-
ers OF the royal family as LADY, who had in
lct been married to the Prince of Wales, and r
ne was treated with certain respect on that t
count. The SIlhSpuuAnf m II,