The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-24
MARY ANDERsoN's FUTURE.
Report that She Will Marry the Duke of
Fortland-The Enormous Wealth of
the Prospective Bridegroom.


New York Herald.
1t is currently reported in London that
Miss Mary Anderson is engaged to be mar
ried to the Duke of Portland. There is good
authority for this statement The Duke of
Portland is a fine, manly young fellow Of
six-and-twenty. He was for a time in the
Coldstream Guards, where he was very pop
ular indeed among his brother officers. A
good shot, a genial good fellow, a capital
man in a canter across the country, he was a
general favorite. Every one wished him
hearty good luck when, in 1870 he succeeded
the late eccentric Duke of Portland, his first
cousin. For twenty-six years this last named
parsonage lived the life of a recluse For more
than quarter of Il century all he cared for
was the carrying out of his wonderful works
at Welbeck Abbey. He used to dine alone,
no one approaching him but his valet There
were drawn for him every day two quarts of
beer and two of ale, but he never drank
them. He was free from vice, and his I'M
usual manner of life was said to have BEEN
caused solely by an overmastering desire 20
carry into effect his rare constructive skill.
His "eccentricity" found employment for
thousands of hands, and his works at Wei
beck remain great monument to his
memory. The late Duke had refined tastein
architecture An archway was at one time
built for him by an architect which, when
completed, was an eyesore. Instead Of man.
ifesting his displeasure to the architect he
simply had it pulled down one evening, and
when the architect came next day he did not
even mention his work, and not word was
said about its disappearance On the death
of the Duke, Welbeck went into mourning,
and the multitude of people who looked for
bread to a tasteful and liberal nobemen
asked themselves how far the works at We'll
beck would be continued.
The present Duke though he did not
spend his money with the lavish hand of his
predecessor. still expended large amounts in
completing works at the Abbey. The work
of reconstruction was carried on in pru-
dent manner and the present owner seemed
to be imbued with the desire OF the late
Duke to make Webeck Abbey architect
urally perfect. The abbey will always be
famed for its underground passages. which
extend for miles, and for its subterranean
apartments, including spacious ballroom
and suits of rooms in the bosom of the earth.
The most striking feature in the buildings
above ground is the large Gothic hall, re-
stored in 1751 by the Countess of Oxford; and
the visitor cannot fail to be delighted with
the fan-like tracery of the ceiling the elab-
crate designs and the splendid decorations
devoted himself ardently to liberalization
of art, and the hundreds of paintings which
adorn the walls of the Abbey testify to the
good taste he must have possessed. Extend
ing 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 bril-
liantly lighted by means of costly apparatus
for attracting the sunlight, and, where sun
light cannot be admitted, by gas-lights. The
celebrated "riding-school,' the like OF which
is not to be found in the world, is reached
through one or two underground pas
sages Entrance is gained by IA trap-door
which is opened by curiously-de-
signed crank in the passage. The building
was used for the purposes of riding
school in the Duke of NewcastleS time. but
has since been converted into a magnificent
museum of art, $50 feet in length. Large
numbers of pictures are arranged in the gal
lery, and on the oak floor are thousands of
rare and valuable books, ancient and mod
ern. The gallery is lighted by means of
four chandeliers, each weighing ton, sus-
pended from the roof. There are upward of
1000 gas Jets, and when all are illuminated
the effect must be brilliant in the extreme
Mirrors adorn the walls, and the ceiling of
the gallery is beautifully decorated with a
design representing q midsummer sky. The
library as well as the picture gallery is under
ground and is the result of many years
into five chambers, which are so constructed
as to form, when desirable, one very large
chamber or hail.
A published estimate of the estates OF the
late Duke computed his rent-roll at some
thing like 9400, 900 per anuum. In addition
to the Welbeck estates he had landed prop
erty in Middesex, Norfolk, Derbyshire, Lin
colnshre. Nottinghamshire, Northumber
land, Ayrshire and Cathnessshire. The
ground rents of the valuable property in the
metropolis, consisting of houses in Great
Titchfed street, Great Portland street and
Portland place, helped to swell his princely
revenues. In the county of Nottingham the
lands extended to 35 200 acres, with gross
estimated rental o; ESQ, 555; in Northumber-
land, 10 500 acres. realizing a rental of fS, 462
in Derbyshire, 7,740 acres realizing f9,9l1
in Lincolnshire, 1914 acres, realizing f1.253
and in Norfolk, sol acres, realizing 1856
The Scotch estates are also very extensive
the acreage in the county of Caithness alone
amounting to 81, 609. There are four sea IS
namely: Welbeck Abbey; Fullerton House,
AYRSHIRE; Langwell, Golspie, Caithness, and
Bothal Castle, Northumberland, besides the
London mansion.