Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-30
THE LATE DUKE or PORTLAND.
The Eccentric Ways and Enormous
Forum. OF tile Owner OF Welbeck.
London Truth.

London Truth.
The late Duke of Portland's real and
personal estate was (roughly) AZ fol-
lows: His Welbeck property was worth
955,000 per annum, and he derived
10000 per annum from the royalties
on q coal-pit. This property, however,
contains coal, which, if worked, would
bring in, on an estimate made few
,r,fs ago, above 100000 per annum.
b sides this, q portion Of it, which is
NV let for agricultural purposes, is
close by Nottingham, and might be let
on building leases. His Northumber-
lard property was worth Gl2,000 per
aiuum. A great portion OF this was
derived from what are locally called
"way leaves" that IL to say tolls for the
right Of hauling coal over roads. In
Caithness he had property worth $4,000
per annum. He had originally bought
an estate there for f90, 900, and he had,
by subsequent purchases in the same
county, expended rs much more. He
had u Lease of his house in Cavendish
square which has still about fifty years
to run. In London his freehold prop
erty was worth about fl00,00 per an.
mum, and in Ayrshire no possessed en-
tates worth 100000 per anpum. Be-
sides this he had about .e1,000,000 in
vested IN good securities, and there was
G110000 AZ his bankers when he died.
BY the will OF his grandfather, Gen.
Scott, the London freehold property
passes to the three sisters OF the Duke
Lady Ossuton, Lady Harriet Ben
tinck. aud Lady Howard dc Valdez.
or these three ladies, the latter only
has children, and, Oh their death, the
whole will pass to Lord Howard de
Walden. All the rest OF tho property,
real and personal, with the exception
Of the balance at the bankers, goes
under o stringent entail and settlement
The Bentincks of the generation to
which the Duke Of Portland belonged
had many peculiarities; they were sell
dom on good terms with each other
A good many years ago u gentleman
went on visit TO Welbeck. All the
other guests were relations. AT dinner
time, on the day of his arrival, each re-
lation talked to him, and 10 no one else.
He could not understand the meaning
Of this until the next day, when he dis
covered that no one OF tho relations
was on speaking terms with any other.
The late duke was fine, handsome
old man, and his maain for the exist
ence Of recluse WIS not due, ~ used
TO DO asserted during his lifetime, to
any physical cause. Except that he
occasionally suffered from bols, he
seems to have been in the main healthy.
But this MANN grew upon him. At
Welheck he was attended almost solely
by u servant who had long been in his
employ. He died Of II general sinking
Of the system, but even To tho lust he
would not allow his doctor to enter his
room. In his way he was generous. A
little time ago ho told II forester to meet
him ON certain dry in plantation.
The forester snid that his daughter was
to BIO married on that day, and asked
whether the next day would do ~ well2
No, he must come on tina, day. On
finding himself, according to appoint
ment, with the duke in the plantation,
he received check for FL, 900 us n
marriage present for his daughter. On
another occasion ono of his tenants, IL
widow, who held farm rented nj 5000
per nnnum, wrote to implore him to
give her time to pay hor ront. No, she
must pay IL to tho hour. This she did,
and the next day II was returned to her.
OF his subterranean borings many
stories are told. His subterranean
chapel fell in yenr ago, but IL appears
that ho had also built himself new
house above ground in his park, in the
style of French chateau. On his
Caithness property he determined two
years ago to build u house. Workmen
were sen. from Welbook. The house,
which is entirely built of concrete, was
not completed on his death. The duke
had passion for precious stones and
for ancient bindings Of books. He has
left very valuable collection, both of
Jewels and books.
The present duke pleased every ono
nj the funeral by his tact and good feel
ings, He il n tall, manly-looking youth,
and is very popular with his brother
oiiicers. A few years ago he wrote to
the duke to ask him what he was to do
The duke replied by making him an
allowance Of 10000 per annum, two.
thirds Of which he gave to his step
mother. A little time after he caused
II to DO communicated To the duke that,
M he had never seen him he would be
glad to pay his respects to him. The
duke replied that he need not trouble
himself.
Official Salaries In France.
.l. A IA. IA lx.,I r.x..