The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-18
THE DUKE OF ARGYLL.
The Families Involved in the Present Scandal
-Aristocratic Tale-Bearing.

I OdTHpDE1I3
| newspapers of two continents to-day, and is
| talked of in half the households OF New York.
| Every one must regret to see respectable name
| dragged in the mre of scandal, and the Camp
bells have always been one of the most respecta-
bic families in Great Britain; not only long de-
| scended and of the highest rank below royalty,
| but as we'll behaved as any in the kingdom Of
| any degree. They have been earls of Argyll
for $50 years and dukes since
the Northumberland and Sutherlands
and Devonshires and Westminsters-all ducal
| houses-to say nothing of earls and barons by
| the score. They have married time after time
the sons and daughters of sovereigns and the
| Marquis Of Lorne, the eldest of the present
| duke, has kept up the custom In our own day
| The head of the family is chief of a clan as well
| as Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland; and the
ottiness OF his connections and adherents, to say
| nothing OF his own is something prepos-
| ferrous, even to an Engshman. When Lord
| Lorne was married to the Princess Louise the
London Punch declard that one of the Camp
| bells exclaimed: "'Tis a proud woman the
| Queen will be this day!" It is safe to say that
| her Majesty is not proud of her connection now.
Americans may we'll feel special pity for the
great Scottish chief, for the Duke of Argyll. the
| MaeCallum More, was almost the only well-wish-
er this Union had in the time of its peril among
| the heightened British aristocracy. He was not
| only stanch throughout all troubles, but
| has been the constant friend of America and
| Americans ever since. He was intimate with
Mr. Motley long before Motley dreamed of being
minister to England. and was one of the earliest
to greet the historian on his arrival in London
| as envoy. So, also, he was ready to welcome
| Motleys successor
| This recalls story that has seldom been told
| about Mrs. Gladstone renowned in her own
country for her forgetfulness of etiquette.
| When General Schenck arrived in London after
the negotiation of the treaty Of Washington, the
| government wished to receive him with peculiar
| cordially, and Mr.. Gladstone, then Prime Minis
&Aw tod Ia ~
Argylls, for the Duke was in the Cabinet. The
| only evening, however, that Gladstone had un
| engaged was Saturday. the House of Commons
| requires the presence of it's important members
on so many nightsin the week that the leader is
unable to dine out or to receive
at dinner except on Wednesdays and
| Saturdays But General Schenck had a
reception at his own house for Saturday. Still,
| it was very desirable that he should meet the
| Argylls, and he agreed to delay his presence at
his own reception for an hour in order to dine
with the Prime Minister. He left two of his I'M
married daughters to receive for him at home,
departing thus from English custom. and took
the third with him to Mr.. Gladstones house. to
meet the Argylls. When he arrived it dis
covered that Mrs. Gladstone had forgot to invite
the Argylls
However his acquaintance was made with this
and every subsequent minister of the United
States, and not only with ministers Many
the representatives of American literature, poll
tics science and society who have been welcomed
at Argyll Lodge In London at Inverary Cas-
tie, on Loeb Fyne When the widow of Nathan
lei Hawthorne made the English capital her
home persuaded a friend to ask the Duchess
to call on Mrs. Hawthorne, and the first i'm
portant English woman the stranger received
was the mother of the present Lord Colin
Campbell. Mrs Hawthorne was living more
than simply at the time, almost obscurely, but
the ducal carriage was often at her door, and
when the American lady suddenly died, leaving
two daughters young and unused to the world,
without protector, in a foreign land, for their
brother was a boy the good hearted Duchess
was a friend, and said aud did many kind
things for them-more, perhaps, than they ever
heard of.
While General Grant was in London he and
Mrs. Grant were asked to a garden party at
Argyll Lodge, but we're unable to attend.
/ was present, however, and made
their excuses, and the Duke then
asked me to be sure to let him know when
General Grant visited Scotland, so that he might
receive the ex-Presdent at Inverary. A month
or two later General Grant was at Dunrobin,
and wrote from there to the Duke of Argyll,
and the visited was arranged The General al
ways declared 1t was enc OF the most agreeable
| that he made in England. The unaffected and
comparatively simple hospitality of Inverary
pleased him better than the more elaborate cere-
mony with which he was sometimes entertained
There was no one invited to meet him but the
family, and he really made the acquaintance of
his host There was a directness and plainness
about the Duke with which General Grant could
sympathize. The Duchess died suddenly at
dinner party few mon tbs afterwards, and Gen
Grant did not forget the courtesies he had
ceived. but wrote at once to the Duke from the
continent, though he seldom offered condolences
The Duke visited the United States during the
presidency of Mr. Hayes, and the American
minister of that day in London, Mr. Welsh. Of
fered him a letter to the President, but he de-
clined the civiity, remaining only few days in
New York, and passing direct to Canada, where
his sou was then Governor general. No British
nobleman ever visited America who deserved, or
would have received, a warmer welcome from
our citizens.
The family, however, is not popular in En-
gllsh society. They not rich, as ducal
fortunes go, and seldom entertain the plain lit
tie Argyll Lodge, their residence in the out
skirts of London, is eclipsed by the grandeur
of many city merchants establishment.
The Duke has eleven children, and two
or three of his sons have been in trade,
one of them in America; and though one
daughter is married to the future Duke of
Northumberland, and one to the daughter of
the Queen, two at least of his other children
made matches with people of far inferior grade,
in British eyes. The connection of the Camp
bells with the royal family was entirely disap-
proved by the English nobiliry they did not like
that of themselves should become, in
this lefthanded way, a relative of the Queen.
The Duke is not affable in manners, but what
the English call 'cocky;" he is short and stout,
and struts about like a little bantam cock who
thinks very we'll of himself; one almost expects
to hear him crow; and, though the first Duchess
was gracious, none of her children inherit their
mothers charm.
The Duke once Liberal He has been a
member of several Of Gladstone's governments,
but he deserted the great champion of the peo-
pie on the question of Irish land, and became the
avowed enemy of his former chief when home
rule was the cry. Yet heard him make vio-
lent speech in favor of the disestablishment of
the Irish Church, about eighteen years ago.
remember the occasion because of a faux pas of
my own. was in the diplomatic corps at the
time, as secretary of legation, and stood on the
steps of the throne, listening to the debate but
the discussion was long, and / left
the chamber for while to dine
with Dean Stanley, whose residence
was next door to Westminster Hail. During
our absence the Duke made another speech. as
vehement, as was afterwards told, as any ever
heard in the House of Lords. After our return
he came up to the railing that incloses the