The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-08-29
RHssells.

The noble family of Russells. of which
the Duke of Bedford is the head, origin
| ally belonged to Dorsetshire, on the
southern coast of England One of them
Sir Ralph Russell, Knight, was Constable
of Corte Castle as early as 1921, which
/ may be called a respectable antiquity.
Passing over few generations we come
to John Russell, who, at the beginning of
the sixteenth century, resided a few
miles from Bridgeport, where he and his
descendants might have remained in the
rank OF private gentlemen, but for a re-
! markable chance circumstance though it
| is evident that the chance would have
| been unavailing had there not been
ability to take advantage of it. No doubt
| There is tide in the affairs of men
which, at the time of the flood, leads to
fortune;" but what signifies the highest
Hood-tlmeS in human affairs if people have
not mental culture and tact to make the
| best OF the opportunity? How beauti-
fully this is illu> trated in the story of the
Russells. In 1905 Philip, Archduke of
Austria, being on his passage from Flan-
ders to Spain, encountered the fury of a
sudden storm in the English Channel.
and took refuge in Weymouth. There he
was Hospitality received by Sir Thomas
neighborhood. Apprising the court of
Henry VII. of the circumstance, Sir
Thomas invited his relative, Mr.. Russell.
then recently returned from his travels.to
visit the Archduke. The invitation being
accepted, the Prince was fascinated by
Mr.. RusselPs intelligence and companion
able qualities, and requested that he
should accompany him to Windsor
whittier the King had invited him to re-
pair. On the journey the Archduke be-
came still more pleased with his "Iearned
discourse and generous department" for.
as he was able to converse in French and
German, there was no difficulty on ac-
count of language. So pleased was the
Archduke that he strongly recommended
Mr.. Russell to the King. AS a conse-
quence, he was taken Immediately into
royal favor, and appointed one of the
gentlemen of the Privy Chamber. Sub
sequently he became the favorite of
Henry VIII. and a companion of that
monarch in the French wars. Now on
the high road to fortune, he was appoint
ed to several high and confidential |
offices. Finally, in 1889, he was created |
Baron Russell, of Cheneys, in the county |
of Bucks, which estate he afterwards ac- |
quired by marriage. To make the good |
luck of the first Lord Russell something |
beyond precedent, he lived at the out |
break of the Reformation in England,
when monastic institutions were dis
solved, anG church lands, in the hands of |
Henry VIII. were given to lay adherents
to the Crown with what may be called |
reckless munifcence. Lord Russell came
in for an uncommonly large share in the
general distribution. In 154O, when the
great nonasteries were dissolved, his
lordship obtained grant for himself and
his wife, and their heirs, in the site ofthe
Abby of Tavistock, and of extensive pos
sessions belonging thereto. There was
much more to come. After the accession
of Edward VI, Lord Russell had grant
Of the monastery of Woburn, and was
created Earl of Bedford, 1850. In 1852, a
patent was granted to John, Earl of Bed
ford, of Covent Garden, lying in the Met
ropolitan parish of st. Martin-in-the-
fields, with sev1z acres called Long
Acre, of the yearly value of a6 6s. 3d.,
part of the possessions of the late Duke
If Somerset. Covent Garden, or more
properly Convent Garden, was originally
he garden of the Abbey of Westminister.
2eckoned as of very small value at the
ime, the lands in and about Covent Gar
len, stretching north ward, and covered
With streets and squares. now realize a
'rincely ground rental.-Chamber's.