New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-11
THE DUKE OFPORTLANDSST SYRINGE HOME
Prom The SheMeld Ttlearoph.

From The Sheffield Telegraph
hydraulic shaft was constructed between the
Abbey, and by means Of this shaft wagons could be
raised from or lowered 10 the underground passages
Rails were laid in the passage. along which the
wagons ran TO and from a cupboard, which was also
stove where food could be kept hot until required
10 he hoisted TO the dnng-room. Extending IN all
directions from the Abbey are those lofty and
spacious passages which have been for so long the
wonder and admiration of the privileged visitor.
They are brilliantly lighted by means OF costly APP
paratns for attracting the sunlight and where sun
light cannot be admitted, by gaslights. The cele-
brated "ridingschO J." the Ike OF which is not to
be found in the world. is reached through one or
a trap-door which is opened by curously designed
crank III the passage. The gallery is lighted by
means OF four chandeliers, each weighing q ton
suspended from the roof. There are upward OF
1000 gas Jets ~ when all are illuminated the Ell
fecl must be bril- lant in the extreme. Mirrors adorn
tine walls and the ceiling of the gallery IL beauti-
iully decorated with design representing md
summer sky. The library well a. the picture
gallery rs underground. and IL the result OF many
years labor u is $50 feet in length and is DIVIDED
in five chambers which are 80 constructed as 10
form when desirable one very large chamber or nall
Another immense and superbly constructed apart.
nleni commenced seven years ago, but was not
compile ed before the late Dukes death, IL is
reached by spiral staircase ut one end aud by a
subcrranean passage 1T the other end. III was sup
posed ut one time that il was intended for church,
but there is nothing ecclesiastical about ITS appear
auce. ii looks more like ballroom. and what
magnificent ballroom IL would make! Its oaken
floor wonderful piece of work, so close ana nne
isit. The deep tone of the wood has been obtained
ly regular washing with rare old WelDeck ale:
The roof is supported by eight iron girders each Oh
w ioh weighs twenty-fOur tons. BY day Illuinlna-
ton Is obtained by twGnty-seven octagonal llghts
and at night from magnificent crystal chandehers,
each weighing n ton. The room, which covers
rood of ground has been dug out of the solid clay
There are many other underground chambers, and
all of them have been excayated at great cost Ihey
maculiccntly decorated, admirably lighted ana
.lr,,. - f..arl
miles of subterTanean passages all OF when are
peasant To walk in and wide enough 10 allow OF
threc persons walking abreast One OF the long
passages was exclusively used by the late Duke
himself, and the stranger found in 1t was deemed
mty of "A crave offence. Another extraordinary
wor, was commenced by the late Duke, ana re-
mans unfinished He spoke of il as The bachelors
hail. 1t occupies acre of ground, aud Is reached
by stone staircase. The Enclosure IS all walled
m with Roman cement mixed with sand On THESE
walls and excavations 100000 has already been
spent.
During the late Dukes lifetime Welbeck was
hike an Industrial village about 1000 workinen
usually being employed upon the works" Wood
Yards machine shops, manufactures and Rasworks
were 10 be found within the grounds. IL was ac-
kuOwledged that the Duke had refined taste and
skill In architecture, and he was ever builder OF
good work aud a puller down OF bad. There are
many 81 ries told of his iInpatience OF anything
nav and OF his tenderness toward those Responsible
iur IT, An architect at one time employed by him
built gateway which, when completed, became
abhorTont to las Grace, yet 80 eOnsideiate was ne
course One evening after the Duke had driven OIL,
ne set all his own men 20 work At double the OrdI-
mary rate OF va e., and By sunrise not vestige OF
inc hated ediiice remained. ON arriving III the
course Of the morning the architect looked III VAIN
for the gateway, but mel her he nor the Duke ever
iook the slightest notice of It's disappearance. IL
wa. under the Dukes supervision that the half
hundred LODGES scattered over the WelDeck estates
Tor the keepers and Other servants were erected, and
even with regard 10 them lac carried out hs passion
lor subtetrancan work, the kitchens, pantries and
oiner Offices being all under ground The dining
rooms auu bed chambers however, form the upper
poruon OF the house which IN each instance is bullt
nOhdly 0i marble.
AT Webock the late Duke also took great pride in
the garuens absorbing whole farms in his desire to
plant fruit trees. lie was what the world calls &c
cent L.. lie neither visited nor encouraged visitors.
Hating all ceremony it said the penalty OF dis
missal followed upon worknan lifting his hat or
specially noticing him as he passed. man who
wanted work could always OBTAIN II at Welbeck,
but his Grace held idIers in contempt and II he
found "A man dawdng over his task be wac instantly
discharged. According 20 the current talk about his
income he hal coming IN IA thousand poundsa day
aid TWO Tor SUNDAY 4 published estimate com
putes his rent-rol at something like tlOOOOO per
annum. For twenty-siX years the Duke Of Portland
nyed the life of q rcclu~e-at least from those ot his
own order. He had for his companions the men who
were carrying out his remarkable works. lie used
10 dine alone, no one approaching MN except ms
yniet There were drawn for himself every day two
ouaris OF beer and two of ale, but he never drank
lnem On the LIST of September, 1873, he IeIt wal
beck for LONDON lie drove to Wurksop IN ms own
carriage, which was put on truck at the railway
station and in that style lie was conveyed
to London, where he died on the 9Th of
December, 1879. THIS was his usual, way
of travelling. and the porers nj Welbeck
station who assisted in putting his carriage in ORDER
always received q gratuity OF a sovereign each All
the stories which have been told OF the late Duke
having physical reasons for secludlng hlnsell ana
rrceiying no company ut his princely homo are
purrly imaginary. He Represented by those who
nnA constantly to do with him as being remark
aUiy line Ian, with siugnla ly clear coinpleXi0u.
o walked erect as soldier. with swinging stride,
and was in every way noble specimen OF ms
oricr. OF his kindness to all around MIN there are
MANY Interesting instances. Deserving doinestlcs
when they were Ill were the object OF hls special
sOhctude.. Frequently they were sent to Matlock,
Buxton, the Isle OF Man. and kept there tor pro-
ionu,d periods nj HIS expense. HIS unusual manner
of lie was solely caused by an oyermaslerln8 ue-
Sire 10 carry into practical effect his great conStruc-
tive sklIl.