Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-11-30
n. Y. Times.

The PREMIER PEER OF ENGLAND
There are few families in Europe
whose fame is worldwide, and no edu-
Gated American is stranger to that oi
Howard, SO that the announcement OF
the marriage OF the first peer Of the
realm Of England to the daughter of a
house scarcely less historic has some
thing more than local interest for those
familiar with the history and literature
of England. This is specially true Of
those who belong to that ancient faith
to which the house Of Howard has, for
the most part, so tenaciously clung: for
the young Duke Of Norfolk is the head
and front of the ancient Catholic
families of England.
His bride, Lady Flora Hastings, is
The great-granddaughter Of the celebra-
ted Marquis OF thatilk, who, as Francis
Rawdon. fought at Bunker Hill, and
was afterward Governor General Of In
dia, and who. in common with his pa
rents, Lord and Lady MORA, showed a
patriotism and devotion to the true in.
terests OF Ireland, which, had others of
their order equally displayed, would
have given no cause for a cry Of home
rule to-day.
In fact, both the Duke Of Norfolk and
his Duchess can point to ancestors who
gave proof of a willingness to suffer in
the cause Of the people. Lord Moi
ra's house in Downshire was considered
in SO much danger from the Govern
ment party, in consequence OF his sym
pathy with the oppression under which
the people labored. that he had to re-
move his library and to endure all sorts
of sights and snubs; and about the same
time Duke Of Norfolk's liberal views
brought upon him yet severer treat
ment.
Six years from this the Howards will
have enjoyed the Dukedom of Norfolk
400 years, but the family shows no
signs of decay. In the heart of the
venerable city Of Norwich, the birth
place ofso many celebrities, NAV be
seen the remains Of a palace which,
Macaulay tells US, was once the largest
town-house outside of London. There
The Dukes of Norfolk kept a state re-
sembling that Of petty sovercigns.-
Wine was served IN goblets of pure
gold, and a magnificent hospitality was
maintained. ....
When the Duke came to Norwich
the cathedral bells rang, the castle guns
were fired, and the Mayor and corpo-
ration received him in their robes. THIS
house was dismantled- in the seven
teenth century by the then Duke for a
reason which curiouslv points to the
decline Of feudalism, viz: "For the I'll
behavior of Thomas Havers Then MAY
or toward him in not permitting his
the Dukes comedians to enter the
city with their trumpets," SC. The
Duke. however, TO this dav holds his
Norfolk property, although that is mere
" trifle compared with his Sussex,
still less with his Yorkshire estate.
In the modern "Doomsdav Book" his
rent-roll figures as the largest in the
land-e269, 900 a year: but he is not in
receipt Of so colossal an income, much
Of the property being in building leases
at Sheffield, Of which he is chief own
er. Yet he has princely revenue.
fully adequate for the maintenance OF
Arundel Castle and Norfolk House, his
fine old London mansion. the same in
which King George iii frst saw
light.
OF late years a remarkable change has
taken place in England as regards the
Roman Catholic aristocraey. Former.
ly they lived almost entirely among
themselves. both in town and country,
but now they mix almost as much in
Protestant as in Catholic .ociety. The
change has probably arisen in part from
Catholic emancipation. but is, We are
inclined TO think, considerably due "a
the tolerance and GENIAL disposition oi
the late Cardinal Wiseman.