The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-29
QUEEN vICTORIA's FATHER.
The Woman Who Shared His For
tunes While He Was a Bachelor.

Quebec Letter in New York Sun.
The preparations for the celebration of
the longest reign in British history have
the Canadian career of Queen Victoria s
father, when, as gay bachelor his
household both at Halifax and at Quebec,
was presided over by the beautiful and fas-
cinating Nine. de St Laurent She was, in
reality, the Baroness Fortisson. She is de-
scribed as a most charming and fascinat-
ing woman, and she accompanied the Duke
to Canada in 1871, when he landed in Que
bee commander of the British forces
He Immediately took up his residence at
Haldimand House at the Falls of MCntmo-
rency, the large manor house still visible to
tourists the west side of the falls. His
town house still remains, under the name
of Kent House, upon St. Louis street, in
this city, nearly opposite the courthouse
At both these residences Nine. ST Laurent
was installed mistress, as well as at his
lodge near Halifax, which. out of compli
mass of the correspondence of the De
Salaberry family has been published which
includes many letters from both the Duke
of Kent and his mistress. The De Sala-
berrys one of whom commanded the Cana
dian forces at the battle of Chateauguay,
lived at BEAUFORT. close to Montmorency.
In one of the Dukes letters to this family
from Halifax this postscript occurs:
write by this mail, being engaged in prepa-
rations for our journey. She proposes to
make amends our return.
Edward De Salaberry who fell at the
storming of Badaios in 1872, wrote to his
royal Highness just before the encounter
that was destined to be fatal to him: Be
leve me. sir. that my last moments shall
be to wish you all the happiness which
you. as well as Madame, eminently de-
serve.
The Duke was undoubtedly sincerely at
tached to Madame" and she remained his
death, the final cause of their separation
having been the Dukes approaching mar
riage which was dGta tee, by by th n of
married to Queen Victoria's mother,
though as late as June Is, 1914. he wrote to
Colonel De Salaberry from Kensirgton Pal
ace, after his return to England
Nine. De st. Laurent unites with me in
best remembrance and on the 18th or
letter to the same correspondent as fol-
lows: Thank God. we are both quite Well
My life continues to be very do
nestle and see as little of the great world
as possible, and having said this to you. !
am sure you will be pleased to learn that
you, it has continued during the twenty
years that have passed since we left Can
ada, and | love to think that twenty years
hence it may be the same.
Little more than four years had elapsed
however. when, in March. 1919. the year
weeks only before the birth of his daugh-
ter Queen Victoria. Nine. ST. Laurent re-
tired into a convent. The parents of many
of the present generation of Quebecers; and
of the residents of BEAUFORT and Mont
morency were full Of anecdotes OF the life
in Canada of the Queens father, and to
them the picture was a familiar one. of
the Duke and the beautiful Nine ST. Lau-
rent driving from the Fails into the city
every morning and back again every night,
behind pair of housekeeping ponies:
In addition to being no saint. the Duke. IN
men of the Princes regiment at Quebec
plotted to seize him and other officers, and
unless they granted their requests, to Kill
him and escape across the lines. Draper,
the ringleader was sentenced to be shot.
At his coloners intercession he was par
doned. but the alternative was seven hum
dred IaSheS