Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-25
THE BAR SINISTER.
AN EarPs Ilegitimats Son Cutting q
FiRnre In EnEliah society.

asoftTuM tsCthlf 70 tNt oNN NfftifIfo"V - A"f't
One OF the most amusing spectacles II
society at present, and one which Is a
the same time as pitiabe as it is absurd
is that afforded by the unblushing effront
cry and grotesque antics Of young MAJ
who goes by the name Of "Capt. Wal
pole" His position in society would b.
n far more creditable position did he pos
sess a name Ofhis own, put he doesn't. II
short he is what, in the delightful pages
nfBlackstone, is described as nullus flins.
Instead of feeling his namelessness with q
keen sense Of shame, and showing .by
modest demeanor and retiring ways NJ"
own proper appreciation OF his awkMard
condition, not only does this capt al
pole" apparently not care a ne ABOUT u,
but he actually seems TO glory IN the Iact'
You see, his case is that of no ordinary
young man. His father is the Earl Oh "
lord mot Oxford }, and his mother is inc
Countess of Lincoln. This dOesnt sound
so badly OF itself, until 1t is added that AT
the time OF the Captains birth, about rs
wears AGO. and for some years previous
thereto. his father WAS another wOman's
husband and his mother another mans
wife. So marriage, don't you see, be-
tween them in time to legitimatize the re-
suit of their liaisOn was out OF the ques-
ton. They, however, knew this when
their laisOn began. The Countess OF
Lincoln was a very beautiful woman.
She was Lady Susan Douglas Hamilton,
daughter OF the tenth Duke of Hamilton,
and as the wife of the Earl of Lin
coin would, had she remained faithful to
him, have become in due time the Duchess
Of Newcastle. Between 80 and 81 years
ago it was that Lord Lincoln had reason
10 suspect his wife OF infidellty. They
had been separated for over year, and
she was living upon a separate mainten-
Rnce at Homburg. The Earl OF Oxford
Che was then Lord Walpole was also at
HOmburg. He was a very handsome
young man, tall and graceful, and a fine
dancer. it was suspected that things
were not going on quite as they should
between him and Lady Lincoln; so Lord
Lincoln got a couple Of friends, one of
whom was no less a person than Mr..
Gladstone, TO go over TO Homburg and see
for themselves If his suspicious were well
grounded. The result Of their ObserVa-
lions was that Lord Oxford and Lady Lin
coin were living together as man and
wife, and that the Countess figure, as
seen daily and nightly in the gam bling
halls, bore unmistakable signs of APP
preaching maternity. The case was a
good deal like that of the Countess of
Aylesford and the Duke Of Marlborough.
Not knowing that the eyes Of MIR. Glad
stone and his partner had been upon her,
Lady Lincoln, after the birth of "Capt.
Walpole," tried to foist him upon her hus-
band as his, and for a short time l believe
the bar sinister young gentleman's
name appeared in the peerage
as Clinton, under the title OF
Newcastle. But Lord Lincoln took
immediate steps to prove the LEGITIMACY.
The proceedings were had, as 1 under
stand, in the House of Lords by the eX-
animation OF witnesses before a special
committee. Those were the days before
the Divorce Court and its pioneer Judge.
Sir Cresswell Cresswell, and all divorces
had to be granted by special and private
act Of Parliament. The legal presump-
tion OF legitimacy from being born in
wedlock was easily Tebutted as in the
kylesford case by proof of nOn-acoess TO
Lady Lincoln by her husband for year,
and Mr.. Gladstone's testimony { to this
day preserved in 'sHansard" overcome
any doubt that might have arisen.
So, Aug. 10, 1850, the act OF divorce was
passed, and you e Mr.. Clinton became
Mr.. Blank. Lord Oxford, pink of chivalry
that be was. threw of his paramount, but
took their offspring under his protection.
He had him educated in Germany, and at
the proper age, competitive "exams.0 be-
ing then comparatively light, purchased
q commission for him in the Rifles.
What name the youth went by abroad l
know not. But, at any rate, when he en-
tered the army he did so as "Mr. Wal
pole'-W alpole being Lord OrfOrd's
family name. Until then he had been for
gotten, but the story was at once re-
vIved, and every one soon knew who
the young man really was. When his
leave came he would 20 to WOlter-
ton park, Lord Orford's hall, and stay for
the shooting or hunting, as regularly as
though it were his own home. He had no
other home or place TO go tO--no family,
relatives, or 'speOple" Of any sort or de-
BcriptiOn. He soon got TO calling Lord
Oxford s'father' when he spoke of him,
and people WHO knew that Lord Oxford
had no son "a fact which both Burke and
De Brett clearly show didn't exactly
know how to reply or what to say to cover
their awkward looks. But people have
got accustomed TO all that now. Strange
TO say, there are people who don't seem
10 know the real position OF the young
man. He has left the army now with
the rank Of Captain, and he lives
with Lord Oxford, is supported by
MIN, and travels about with him
when he goes abroad IN search OF health,
for be is now growing old and broken.
Meanwhile "Capt. Walpole" gets invited
about here, there and everywhere, and
goes. The best people receive him out Of
regard for the rank and position of his
father and motheri IL you say word TO
some peOplet rank tories as rule-they
VIII tell you who his father and mother
were, with a flourish of trumpets as
though il were thing to be proud OF.
The snObs positively run after the young
man. Generally ignorant OF the family
rules and regulations Of the nobility,
they fancy that he really is the legitimate
son OF AN Earl. They do not know that
were be 50 he would be Lord WalpOle,
as Lord Oxford has no other sou. In any
event he would be the Hon. Mr.. WalpOle.
A glance at peerage would show them
this, as also that "Capt. Walpole's" name
wouldn't be found therein. But still they
go on running after him, and toadying
him, and trying to get him for their
daughters.
The gallant Captain accepts all their
1nvitations and attentions, eats their dir
ners, spoons with their girls, stays in their
houses, and keeps up the game in very
dishonorable way, some people are decent
minded enough TO think. We're he the ro-
mantle son Of Mr.. Jenkins or Mr.. Thomp-
son no one would notice him: he would
get the cold shoulder from society, you
may be sure. He is a most common
place-looking chap; tall, thin, narrow
shouldered, and long-legged, with tow
hair and Whiskers and an expression
Ike a cat. He talks with a drawl
through his nose that would do credit 10
"A true "stage" Yankee, and combines N
with the Dundrearyish inability 10 pro-
nOunce an ''r." All his Verys are ssyewvs,'