New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-23
TWO ENGLISHMEN.
THE MARQUIS OF AILESBURY AND MIR.
SAMUEL LEWIS.
London, August IL.

ENcW-1Oihs Doing II SOCldDic ptiSoH, he N"5~SN~
the barkeeper in conversation and while this con-
versation going on there walked into the room
another young Englishman, clothed in wonder
full suit of light tweed checks, and with a manner
which seemed to combine the refinement OF the
dog fancier with the easy distinction OF the pro-
feSsonal bruiser. The barkeeper of the Holman
waS at that time, and for aught Know sthl iS
himself bruiser Of celebrity, but affable as the
really eminent so often are. He saw my friend
gazing with admiration at the radiant appsritloh
In the light tweed checks and said, VI course you
know him, with an emphasis on " him" which
your dislike 70 italics makes it difficult to Indicate
NO." was the answer, Il don't know him" " Not
know him." retorted the affable barkecper, why
that's the MARQUIS of Ailesbury, that is. He's
what call O real good un."
The real good 'un was born into this world eight
and twenty years ago, and succeeded his grand
father as Marquis of Ailesbury, fourth OF that
style and title in 1886 Before his accession 10
the title he had acquired very considerable
notoriety In his own country as Lord Savernake
His spendthrift habits, his taste for low life, his
performances on the urf, the circumstances OF
his marriage.-these and other things were known
20 great number OF people-to everybody IN
London, indeed There have beer of late years
a number of scandals about people of rank. One
has done one thing one another: each after his
own manner has brought discredt upon his order.
If there be one among them who has broken all
recent records it is Lord Aiesbury. He stands
alone. He has cOntrived TO unite in his single
person ALL or nearly ALL the qualities and traits
of character some one or two of which have been
sufficient to disgrace others. lie inherited great
name and great estate. He has dishonored the
one and dispersed the other, great part of it,
and his present temperance before the public Is
as petitioner the Court of Chancery to be allowed
70 soil tha Ga urODRrtV in Wiltshire
to Lord Iveagh, for a sum equivalent to nearly
four millions of dollars.
Had Lord Aiesbury been merely a spendthrift
public opinion would not in this country have been
very hard on him. The Englishman rather likes
@ young nobleman to be free with his money.
A man may climb outside Of every stick Of property
he ever possesSed-I use the phrase | once heard
used by q person of eminence-and still retain
good name, and perhaps be more popular than
while he was inside the property. There are
brilliant examples among living ornaments of the
English Peerage; men young and old and OF all
ages He might have worn loud clothes, and
talked ina loud voice, and broken many other
articles of the social cOde-even his marriage need
not quite have wrecked him. But he cheated on
the Turf in manner which is forbidden by that
very peculiar code Of Turf morals now in force.
This it which set the seal to his condemnation
Within about twelve months of his becoming
MARQUIS" SAWS one mOralist in his most pathetic
tone, he was warned off Newmarket Heath for
life. 1t is the social equivalent of penal servi-
tude; thenceforward you may well be dead
perhaps better. Lord Ailesbury had committed the
objectionable offence known as pulling horse and
had been found out, and was no longer company
for those who had not been found out; still less
for those who ignorant of this awful crime.
But it appears that To the disSOlute there are
other resources than the Turf; other means of
squandering fame and fortune, equally certain
though less expeditions. Though he may not
back horses at Newmarket or elsewhere within
the jurisdiction of that august tribunal the Jockey
Club, ne stin finds uses for the money he has not
got. Not only is almost million owing TO Mr..
Sam Lewis, but this hereditary legislator has
other necessities. He has got rid of the million
raised during his grandfather's lifetime by the
sale of the Yorkshire estates. The Wiltshire
estates have gross yearly rental Of $4,000;
net rental, after paying rates, taxes repairs, in
'surance, and general charges of less than $4,000.
Out of this net rental there remains still 10 be
paid ointures, and the interest of money on mort,
gage No less than three dowager Warehouses;
of Ailesbury are living, and it comes to this, that
the revenue available to Lord Ailesbury amounts
to less than $1,000. Well might Lord Henry
Bruce describe these 40 900 Savernale acres, with
their tllage and pasture, their woods and park
he had ever heard Of.
The property is in the hands of trustees: one
trustee is willing to sell; the other and the entire
body of persons who have remainder interests in
the Savernale estate, are not willing; 50 the court
has TO decide between them. IL has decided
against Lord Ailesbury on various grounds Mr..
Justice Stirling is OF opinion that not the tenant
for life-that means the Marquis-would benefit
by the sale, but his creditors; a curious reason
in the mouth of just judge, yet undoubtedly a
sound and right reason from the Chancery point
Of view. The court considers itself a third
trustee bound to act for the benefit of the owner
only The debts of Lord Ailesbury exceed
million and a quarter. Proceedings in bankruptcy
have been commenced; Mr. Samuel Lewis has
begun an action for foreclosure of his MORTGAGE
on Lord Aiesbury's life-interest: these and other
proceedings await the conclusion of tlas suit
The petition for leave TO sell being refused there
is every probability that this nobleman will be
adjudicated bankrupt. His financial condition is
hopeless there is nothing for it but sponge over
the slate. The next heir is well off under him
the estate will come round, and will be kept in
the family If the present Lord Aesbury had
O sense of the fitting, or even a sense Of humor
he would see that the hest thing he could do is To
take himself ont of the way. But that will
probably not be his view; nor perhaps that of his
creditors least of all that of the chief of Thorn
the renowned and redoubtable Mr.. Samuel Lewis
The GOODNESS of the judicial mind is appalling
Mr. Justice Strings recital of the material facts
Of this case is in the dispsssionate tone which
historian employs, or sometimes employs in deal
ing with tie events and people of bygone ages
But, at one portion of his Judgment, he has to
refer 10 the moneylender 20 whom Ailesbury is
chiefly indebted, and he refers TO him zone
Samuel Lewis" The great man thus careessy
mentioned by the occupant OF the Bench may
think he safely described as the Napoleon of
the moneylending fraternity of London lie has
no rival in the magnitude Of his operations. lie
is known to everybody who has money to boz
row. and not too much 10 borrow on To him it
is that the gided youth of England turn first