Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-20
THE STORY or MRS. FITZHER.
BERT'S MARRIAGE.
New YOrk sun.l

New York SUM-
We copied the other day from
the New Orleans Democrat a little
paragraph stating that Gen. Ord,
now in command of the United
States forces on the Rio Grande, is
a grandson of George ", and the
" actress" Mrs. Fitzherbert, to
whom he was married by a "Catho-
hc" priest, while he was prince re-
gent; that son was born of this
marriage, and was consigned to the
care Of a tutor named Ord, who
brought him to this country; that
his son, who took the name of his
tutor, married Virginia or Mary
land lady, by whom he had two
sons, one Of whom is Gen. Ord, the
other being judge in California.
There is only one factin this story
that is true, which is chat George
W., while Prince of Wales, married
Mrs. Fitzherbert. She was never
an actress, nor in any way connect.
ed with the stage. She was of a
Roman Catholic family named
Smythe; Of irreproachable charac-
ter, considerable beauty and very
amiable disposition. At the time
Of her first acquaintance with the
Prince of Wales she was a young
widow, sincerely attached to her
religion and not likely to change il
for worldly 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 contract any marriage without
the consent Of parliament, and he
could not marry a Roman Catholic
without forleiting his right to the
crown. To avoid the princes i'm.
portunities Mrs. Fitzherbert retired
to the continent aud remained
abroad a year. lie wrote to hel
constantly, and in December, 1885
she returned to London and con.
sented to marry him. The prince
to the great dissatisfaction of hi
father, King George III, had at
tached himself personally and po
litically to Charles James Fox, The
great Wing leader Hearing tha
Mrs. Fitzherbert had returned, anC
that the marriage was likely to taxi
place, Fox wrote to the prince {
manly and sensible letter, remon
strating against the marriage, point
, ing out its illegality, warning hin
t that if there were children from thu
marriage they would be illegitimate
t and that the country would be ex
t posed to the danger Of disputed
, sgccession to the throne. 1t is quit
certain that the prince could no
have shown this letter TO Mrs. Fitz
herbert, but he made the follqWini
answer to Mr.. Fox;
"CARLToN HOUSE, December II
l7S5, 2 o'clock Sunday morning
My Dear Charles: Your letter o
last night afforded me more tru
satisfaction than | can find word
to express, as it is an additions
proof to me, which assure you
did not want, of your having tina
true regard and affection for m
which it Is not only the wish bu
? the ambition Of my life 10 merit
Make yourself easy, my dear fFiend
believe me, the world will now 500
be convinced that there not only
= not, but never was, any ground fc
these reports, which of lste hay
been so maleYolently circulated"
While he was thus misleadin
!, Mr.. Fox, the prince was aeyisin
means of accomplishing the maj
Il riage. Mrs. Fitzherbert was a vii
tuouS woman, and any other relc
ton than marriage was out of Il
question. One day while M
" 5obnes, q clergyman, intimate Wit
n Fox and his friends, was dinip
with Lord North, lie received a
invitation to sup that evening wit
hs the Prince Of Wales. Lord Mort
took him aside and told him tn
the prince would probably ask hi
= to perform the marriage ceremon
8 ), This turned out to be true, b
~ Mr.. Johnes refused to comply wi