Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-18
THELATED DUKE OF PORTLAND
The Eccentric Ways and Enormous Fortune
Of the Owner of Welbeck.
London Truthl

The Eccentric Ways and Enormous Fortune
Of the Owner of Welbeck.
London Truth
The late Duke of Portland's real es-
tate was (roughly) as follows: His Wei
beck property was worth e55,OOO per
annum, and he derived 10000 per annum
from the royalties on a coal pit. This
property, contains coal which, if worked,
would bring in, on an estimate made a
few years ago, above 100000 per annum.
Besides this a portion of it, which is now
let for agricultural purposes, is close by
Nottingham, and might be let on build
Ing leases. His Northumberland prop
erty was worth e12,OOO per annum, A
great portion of this was derived from
what is locally called sway leaves" that
is to say, tolls for the right of hauling
coal over roads. In Calthness he had
property worth $4,000 per annum. He had
originally bought an estate there for 500,
900, and he had by subsequent purchases
in the same county, expended as much
more. He had lease Of his house in
Cavendish Square which has still about
fifty years to run. In London his Tree
hold property was worth about 100000
per annum, and in Ayrshire he possessed
estates worth 100000 per annum. Be-
sides this he had about 100000 in
vested in good securities, and there was
$4,000 at his bankers when he died.
By the will of his grandfather, Gener-
al Scott, the London freehold property
passes to the three sisters of the duke
Lady Ossulton, Lady Harriet Bentinck
and Lady Howard de Walden. Of these
three ladies the latter only has children,
and, on their death, the whole will pass
to lord Howard de Walden. All the rest
of the property, real and personal, with
the exception of the balance at the bank
ers, goes under a stringent entail and set
Element.
The Bentincks, of the generation to
which the Duke of Portland belonged,
had many peculiaritles; they were sell
dom On good terms with each other. A
good many years ago, a gentleman went
on visit to Welbeck. All the other
guests were relations. At dinner-time,
on the day of his arrival, each relation
talked to him, and to no one else. He
could not understand the meaning of this
until the next day, when he discovered
that not one of them were ON speaking
terms with each other.
The late Duke was fine, handsome
old man, and his mania for the existence
of recluse was not due, as used to be as
serted during his lifetime, to any physi-
cal cause. Except that he frequently
suffered from boils, he seems to have been
in the main healthy. But this mama
grew upon him. At Welbeck he was at
tended almost solely by servant who
had long been in his employ. He died
of general sinking of the system, but
even to the last he would not allow his
doctor to enter his room. In his way he
was generous. A little time ago he told
a forester to meet him on certain day in
a plantation. The forester said that his
daughter was to be married ON that day,
and asked him whether the next day
would do as well? No, he must come on
that day. On finding himself, according
to appointment, with the Duke in the
plantation, he received check of 81 900
as marriage present for his daughter.
On another occasion, one of his ten
ants, widow, who held farm rented at
5000 per annum, wrote to implore him to
give her time to pay her rent. No, she
must pay it to the hour. This she did,
and the next day 1t was returned to
her.
Of his subteranean borings many
stories are told. His subterarnean chapel
fell in year ago, but it appears that he
had also built himself a house above
ground in his park, in the style of
French chateau. On his Caithness pro-
perry he determined, two years ago, to
build house. Workmen were sent from
Welbeck. 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 one at
the funeral by his tact and good feel
ings. He is tall, manly looking youth,
and is very popular with his brother Of
ficers. A few years ago he wrote to the
Duke to ask him what to do. The Duke
replied by making him an allowance of
$4,000 per annum, two-thirds of which
he gave to his stepmother. A little time
afterward he caused it to he communica-
ted to the Duke that, as he had never
seen him, he would be glad to pay his
respects to him. The Duke replied that
he need not trouble himself.