The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-22
MISS BURDETT-COUTTS.
How She Game Into Possession Of Her Vast
Fortune Her Magnificent Charities.
Boston Herald

| MISS Burdett-COIttS known as the richest
| single woman In England, and as person OF
such liberality in the distribution of her vast
wealth as to commend her to the admiration
OF the civilized world, came into possession Of
| her fortune In a very interesting manner. She
seems to prefer the simple title OF Miss Coutte
to that of Baroness Coutts, conferred upon
her by Queen Victoria in 1871, In considera-
| ton OF her munticent public charities. Miss
Coutts lived In rather Strengthened circum-
stances during her early years, inherting no
property from her rich grandfather, Thomas
| Coutts, the eminent banker, born In 1741.
At the death Of his brother Peter, Mr.. Coutts
assumed the entire direction OF the firm,
| which,. under his control, rose to it's highest
prosperity. He was q gentleman l@mannerB,
hospitality, and beneyoIence, add counted
| among his friends some OF the first literary
men and actors OF his day. Soon after his
settlement in London he married Elisabeth
4 Starkey, a girl OF humble origin They lived
| happily together, and had three daughters
Susan, who married the Earl OF Gullford;
Francis who married the Marquis OF Butte,
and Sophia, mother Of the subject OF this
the member OF Parliament, who proposed
the celebrated inquiry into the state of Cold
| bath Fields Prison, which resulted In the
dismissal Of the keeper and the complete
| reformation OF the regulations OF that prison.
He doubtless transmitted to his celebrated
daughter many Of his benevolent virtues.
Soon after the death Of Mrs. COuttS, lii
| 1916. Mr. Coutts fell In love with the beau
| llIut HnD HccOIUpltSHSI MISS HArTl6C Mel
Ion, very popular actress In comedy
in the early part Of this century. This
lady was born in 1775 and was so much
younger than her opuent sutton that she de-
| allned the match, representing that the forty
four years difference In their ages made too
great a barrier to be surmounted. The enam-
oreh millionaire, however, successfully per-
sisted in his suit and Miss Mellon became
the happy wife Of Mr.. Contts. In conse-
quence Of the violent opposition OF his three
InI U n MisaM Mr.
Coutts disinherted them, ana made his wife
sole mistress Of his colossal fortune at his
decease About five years after the death OF
Mr.. Coutts his widow married the Duke or
was much younger than Mrs. Coutts. At her
death she left the Duke IN income Of $4,000
o year, and O life Interest tn some landed eS-
tate With this exception she, from a delicate
sense of justice begueathed the entire for
tune which she derived from Mr.. Coutts to
his granddaughter, Angela Burdett, youngest
daughter Of Sir Francis Burdett.
The Duchess Of St. Adams, In bequeathing
her fortune to Miss Angela Burdett desired
her to take the name Of Coutts. This lady
was born In 1914. received the vast legacy OF
S2o0Oo,ooO In 1887, since which time she has
been conspicuous for her charitable deeds and
humanitarian schemes. Her liberality In
establishing the corps OF nurses under Flor
ence Nightingale, In the Crmean war, is IA
miliar to every one She Is said to spend her
entire income, $looo0o0 or ST. 200. 900 year.
liz Hti pulAuIuIUplC pIoltCL5. OIl6 10 I'LL ull~
falling friend to the poor, q protector Of
dumb animals, and founder Of churches and
schools. In 1917, ten years after obtaining
her fortune, she endowed church, with par
sonage and schools attached, In Rochester
Row, one of the most neglected parts OF Lon
den. She also established the drinking foun-
tins which are such blessing to weary pc
destrlans; also the coffee saloons, which are
such aids to the temperance movement. She
Is 80 much revered and beloved by
all classes that the very pop
uace, when exasperated by poverty
to extreme measures OF violence, protected
the home OF Miss Coutts, and declared that
no hand should be raised against the peace OF
their benefactor. This lbeneficent lady, who
has spent her wealth so freely for the inn
provement of human welfare, Is by no means
adverse to the pleasures OF life. She has just
been seeking a little healthy recreation In q
yacht voyage up the Mediterranean with q
party Of distinguished guests one OF whom.
Mr.. Henry Irving, Of the Lyceum, had an OPP
portunity thus given him OF surveying the
Identical scenes which he so forcibly portrayB
In enacting the part OF Shylock Ia the Mer-
chant OF Venice. After returning from the
sunny south and re-entering the Thames her
ladyshlps commodious steamer lay a week
off Gravesend, where she and her companions
had leisure to study the vast maritime coast
ing and river traffic OF the port OF London,
which had great interest to Miss Coutts, as
the condition OF those employed In 1t had
long engaged her kindly attention.