The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-12-10
THE BEAUTIFUL DUCHESS
Ana the Curious Reason For The Duke
0rDeyOnshirc's Ccltbncy.

The best sketch of her when she was in all
the bloom Of beauty in 170 Is given 10y the yNacous
Fanny iurney, whose admirable and lively and most
dramatic scenes and portraits scarcely appreciated
as they deserve to he. She was paying 4 visit to
Lady Spencer, then living In Bath during the season.
- Presently followed two ladies'. Lady Spencer,
with n look and manner warmly announcing pleasure
IN what she was doing, then introduced me to the
first oi them, saying: Duchess of Devonshire, Miss
Burney.' She made me u very civll compliment
upon hoping my health recovering; and Lady
Spencer then slightly and as if nnavoiiaby said
Lady Elizabeth Forster I did not find 10 much
beauty In her as expected, Notwithstanding tho
rintious of accounts but found far Of manner,
politeneSS, aud gentle quiet. She by nature to
possess the highest animal spirits but She appeared
To me not happy. I thought she looked oppressed
anu thi though there Is native choeriuneSs about
her which fancy scarce ever deserts her. There Is
In her face, especially when she speaks sweetness
of good-humor and obligiugness that to he the
natural aud distinctive qualities of her disposition,
joined TO an opcnncss of Countcnauce that announces
her endowed by nature with character Intended
wholly Tor honesty, fairness, and rood purposcs
She now conycrsed with wholly aud In Sobcrly,
sensible and quiet a manner, rs had Imagined in
compatible with her powers. Too much and too lit
tie credit have variously been given her. We talked
over my late tour, Bath waters, aud the King i'll
| ness. This, which led to by accident was here
tender subject considering her heading tho regency
squadron. She was extremely well. bred In all she
said herself and seemed willing to keep up the sub
lect fancy no one has Just In the same way treated
1t with Her Grace before; however, she took all in
good part, though to have found me retired In dis
content had perhaps been more congenial to her -
The lady who was with her, and her bosom friend,
was person OF no ordinary attractions. Indeed she
was so alufing that Mrs. GbbOn declared that
could withstand ber that she could make the Iur IL
chancellor come down from oil his woolsack. Thl g
lady was destined to take place, aud to succee
her rs Duchess ot DcvOnshire. The poor beauty
NJ one time drawn into strange infringement which
had will-niGh produced the most rlous family
fusion. She had two little girls and was eager for n
son aud heir, and IL has been often repeated, and
there seems little 10 doubt the story that she
arranged with her friend to exchange children, aud
that the Duchess received her friends boy. That
some such story was connected with the late Duke
Devonshire Is well known. II is public property
that the perpetual ccibaCy at His Grace the re-
suit Of an arrangement by wlCb-he to wear the
title by consent for his He IL then passing to his
cousin, the rglItful heir. Lady Charlotte Campbell
learned: 1.-The present Duke Of Devonshir0 appeared
Tor length OF time TO have strong aversion to his
mother-in-iaw, the sometime Lady Dover, and ono
day, when she hung over him and kissed his fore
head, the Duke turned away though he had been
touched by basilisk. But subsequently, after his
repeated visits 10 hor when she resided chiefly ut
Rome, his manner entirely changed and he evinced
the utmost pleasure In her society and the greatest
affection for her person. II said that this change
In his feelings toward her wrought by tho
Duchess having declared To him the secret OF his
birth, and his being her own child. II Is also said
that this great man cannot marry. Humor says the
Duke Is only suffered by the rightful heir enjoy
the title and estates for his lifetime, In order
disgrace tho family by disclosure of tho TRUTH
hut possibly the whole of these suggestions are
false, aud perhaps the Duke has married he
cause no would not bc eSpoused for the sake of his
great name aud fortune. This romance In real life
was once dramatiZed under the tito OF 'Tle False
Friends, and that by friend of the Gaycndis ll
did not incur their displeaSure. r--.iH the Year
ROHIi,