The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-03-24
A Descendant OF Kings.

For many years the inhabitants OF
Pimlico and Bulgravia had observed a
remarkable parsonage walking about
their streets, and attracting attention by
the strangeness of his garb, as wen as
his unusual appearance in other respects.
1t is not every day that metropolitan
youngsters have the the chance VI seeing
what used to be called a stylish looking
gentleman of distinctly foreign aspect.
perambulating the thoroughfares in
dark military cloak and variety of or
ders, medals and decorations displayed
in front. Irreverence might suggest
making fun OF the eccentric individual,
but there was something about the par
tcular parsonage in question which
commanded good deal of respect.
tall, thin figure, high and narrow
forehead, graceful and even ma
jestic peasonal bearing, belonged to
this much decorated and glittering
cavalier, who seemed to have stepped
straight out of the pages OF some romance
or novel on the London flags. To those
well-versed in historical portraiture, it
was easy to trace in that shapely nose,
oval face and peaked forehead and the
lineaments of kinely line famous in
English annals; for this was none other
than Charles Edward Stuart, direct de-
scendant, as he claimed, of the Young
and Old Pretenders, of James III, of
Charles I, and of that Robert of Scotland
who succeeded the royal line of Bruce
more than 800 years ago. A truly ro-
mantle life, at least in its beginning, be-
longed to this relic of the unfortunate
Stuart dynasty. He was arrayed against
us ut Waterloo, and there had the good
or ill luck to receive the Cross of the
Legion of Honor from the hands of the
great Napoleon for his marked bravery
on the field He married daughter of
the aristocratic honse Of BeersfOrd,
Mrs Colonel Osborne. early in this oentu-
nv, but after her death was reduced to COM
parative poverty, and the last years of his
| life were spent in rather straitened cir
cumstances in his South Belgravian
chambers This heir of the romantic
past has just ended his career in a very
sudden manner, having died on board
French steamer, coming from Biarritz to
Bordeaux, on Christmas eve. His title
was Count of Albany-borne, too, by his
sire before him, and the way in which
this descent is traced from the ancient
reigning house is simple, if not com
pletely trustworthy. The deceased no
bleman himself always upheld-though
it need hardly he said in a peaceful and
unobtrusive manner-his own claim to
the throne of Great Britain. His father,
James Stuart, was a supposed son OF the
young Pretender," as he was called, or
Prince Charlie, as his faithful adherents
preferred to dub him. and Prince Char
lie. the Inflated hero of Culluden, was
himself the direct randson of King
James III, who actually sat upon the
| British throne until forced to flee on the
arrival of William of Orange in Tor Bay.
So the poverty stricken, yet still proud
and chivalrous lodger in Pimlico, who
has Just died in his eighty second
year, could boast but four genera
tions off an ancestor who had welded the
scepter and worn the crown of Great
Britain. The uncertain link in the pedi-
gree is with regard to his father, James
Stuart, Count of Albany. Was he, in
deed, the son of the Young Pretender or
not? Be it remembered, he saw the
light so lately as 1873, and the hapless
Young Pretender by the time was fifty
three years old. The story goes that this
princely boy James Stuart, was born
amid circumstances of great mystery,
and was at once struggled off in the
charge of Admiral Allan, in order to pro-
tect him from supposed plots against
his life on the part of the English Gov
eminent. The child grew up to be
man. and was in due course informed of
his being the son of the vanquished hero
of Culloden, but presumably he took no
active steps to assert his very doubtful
rights to the throne of England, and set
tied down instead into quiet resident
abroad. His eldest son expired without
issue, but the younger, he who has just
died, left several children, all grown up
now, so that the Stuart line cannot be
said to be extinct, surprising it to be
granted that the deceased gentleman was
q veritable scion of that family Lon.
don Telegraph.
The farmer who let's all the liquids Of
his farm ward RIM To waste ia a Speu l.