National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-11-13
ROMANCE OF THE PEERAGE.
How an EnrIdom was Lost to the Heir
and His Brothers. Generosity.

Town Topics.
The arrival in this country Of Lord Ours
lev, eldest son Of the Earl Of Berkeley, re-
calls one Of the most romantic stories OF
the English peerage. Ovtra hundred years
ago Frederick Augustus, the ftn earl Of
Berkeley, fell IN love with and married a
beautiful Miss Mary Cole. The marriage
was "A mesalliance, and the earl, knowing
how distasteful 1t would be to his proud
mother, carefully concealed II for many
wears. Indeed. So much did he dread its
being discovered that the marriage lines
we're either hidden SO that they could never
he found again or else they were destroyed.
Lord Berkeley even concealed his marriage
from his most intimate friends. one OF
these was the prince regent (ettcrward
George W. who frequently visited Berke-
lev Castle, where Lord Berkeley allowed
his wife to hold a IN 81 iuvldiOus position
for many years Four children had been
horn Of the alliance when, at the suggestion
Of the prince regent, and after having been
assured 10y the best legal authorities that a
srcOud marriage would not invuidate the
first II the marriage lines could he recov-
cred, Lord aud Lady Berkeley went through
Il second ceremony Of marriage five years
after the first.
Lady Berkeley was woman with won
lerful head for business. When she mar
rird the Berkeley est ties were heavily mort
gagged. for her husband was one of the most
pXtrayugtnt members Of the prince regeut'
rXtravagant set. She took the Who'll ,
management Of the states into her own
hands. aud her devoted husband was Will
ing to he guided hy her In everything. liz
even consented to keep his private eX
pensrs within the allowance made him by
his wife. The result was that Lady Berke
ley brought round the estates 50 that, If
am not mistaken, there was not a mortgage
on them when her husband died.
In time, the eldest son Of this union took
his place In society and In the House OF
Commons, as N.scuuut Durscy. When hi'
ia Der died, however, IL necame necessary
before he could take his seat in the house OF
lords, for him 10 prove his hirthright, The
missing register could not be found, and
the fact that u second marriage ceremony
had been gone through was used rs rVi
dpuce against the existence Of the first mar
rage. Although the necessary legal dOCu
unrut did not exist, there were many cor
rohurutcd proofs Of the first marriage,
\ long trial before the house Of lords re
suited In the decision that the first marriag
not hring satisfactorily proven, the eide
suunfirT the second marriage was To tax
the title Of Earl If Berkeley. That sol
whose name was Thomas MOrrtOn, uevt
assumed the title, Win true chivalry, an
believing the solemn assertions Of hi
parents, he refused, hy any act " his, I
throw di,uunur ON their memory, Frol
that day until he died, In lSS2, he lived
retirement, and was known only as II
Hon NprctOn Berkeley. At his death II
narouv, winch dates from li2l, descende
10 his uircr. the wife NJ Gen, MilG an, TT
eldest SON NJ the iirih Errl Of Bcrkeley,wl
was illrgjtimntrd hy the decision Of n
house of lords succeeded TO berkeley Cast
and 10 the estates. He was created Lon
Fitahardrgr. The Fitlhardngps sti
cliim the rurldom Of Bcrkrlcv, The eaI
dom descended to Il cousin Of the sixth cal