The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-08-23
At PORTLAND PRICES.
Rassslls.

The noble family of Russeils. of uhieh
the Duke Of Bedford is the head orig;Ss.
ally belonged to Dorsetshire. on The
southern coast Of England One of them.
Sir Ralph Russell, Knight, was Constable
OF Corie Castle as early as 1921. wbieb
may be called respectable anfionifv
Passing over few generations we en,,,a
to John Russell, who, at the beginning IF
the sixteenth century, resided law
miles from Bridgeport, where he and his
descendants might have remained in the
rank of private gentlemen, but for q re-
markable chance circumstance, though it
Is evident that the chance would have
been unayailing had there not been
ability to take advantage or ii. No doubf
There is a tide In the affairs of men
which, at the time of the food, leads to
fortune;" but what signifies the highest
hood-times in human affairs ii people have
not mental culture and tact to make lhe
best of the opportunity? How beaf,fi-
fully this is illus trated in the story oftha
Russells. In 1909 Philip, Archduke Of
Austria, being on his passage from Flan-
ders to Spain, encountered the fury Of
sudden storm in the English Channel
and took refuge in Weymouth. There he
was Hospitality received by Sir Thomas
Trenchard, q gentleman of rank in the
neighborhood. Apprising the court of
Henry VII. of the circumstance. Sir
Thomas invited his relative. Mr.. Russell.
then recently returned from his trayelsto
visit the Archduke. The invitation being
accepted, the Prince was fascinated by
Mr.. Russeips 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 aiearued
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 eonse-
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, and church lands, in the hands of
Henry VIII. were given TO lay adherents
to the Grown with what may be called
reckless munificence. Lord Russell came
in for an uncommonly large share in the
general distribution. In 1910, when the
great monasteries 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, $780, In 1862,
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 seven acres called Long
Acre, of the yearly value of R6 6s. 3d..
part of the possessions of the late Duke
of Somerset. Covent Garden, or more
properly Convent Garden, was originally
the garden of the Abbey of Westminster.
Reckoned as OF very small value at the
time, the lands in and about Covenf Gar
den, stretching nortbward. and c5sesSSf
with streets and squares, nov realiz5 4
prinseiY ground rentaf-t tAdmber's jour
1a0f