The morning news., 1897-07-18
HEIR TO KOH-I-NOOR.
Victor DhuIeep singh TO Wed Lndy
Ann Coventry

Victor Dhuleep Singh is the son of that
Dhuleep Singh. whose name is inseparate-
ly connected with Englands most valua-
bic crown jewel, the Koh-i-noor or
Mountain of Light" At the close Of the
Sikh war, he was the only representative
left of the native dynasty-the last of the
Maharaiahs Of Lahore. He went to Eng
land, where he lived in princely style. Par
lament gave him a large annual income.
II was he who placed in Nictoria's own
hand the Koh-i-noor, the wonderful dia-
mond that had long been the pride Of his
ancestors, and that is to-day the most
valuable gem among the English crown
Jewels
As time went on, Dhuleep Singh found
his income too small for his extravaganza
He made a request for more, and
was promptly and uncOmprosmis-
ngly refused lie left Eng
land, and became her most bitter and re-
lentless enemy, doing all in his power to
stir up an Indian revolt against her. But
he was unable TO maintain hostllities. and
his power being well broken up, he was
pardoned by the government. His son,
whose home has been almost entirely in
a
one of England's highest nobility.
From Dhuleep Singh the queen received
what was possibly the only mpertinent
letter ever addressed to her. He demand
ed the return of the koh-i-noor, stating
that Il was his personal property, and
had been conveyed for considerations
which she had not complied with.
Lady Anne Coventry is a sitter Of Vis-
count Deerhurst, who captured an Inn
mense California fortune by marrying
Miss Bonynge. The wedding took place
in 1884. After Mr.. Bonynge had accumu-
lated vast fortune of money In this
country he went to London to place Mrs
and Miss Bonynge advantageously in so
ciety. There the Bonynges commenced
to go the pace with the step their mill
lions allowed. Mrs Mackay also from
the Golden State, was the bright, par
ticular star of the American colony,
which soon became divided into a Mackey
faction and a Bonynge faction The
first applicant for the hand Of Miss
Bonynge was the Hon. Ronald Greville
only son of Lord Greville. But the mill
lionaire American was not willing to put
thought he ought to in consideration Of
down as much cash as the Greville family
the honor of an alliance with their house
After this match was declared off the
heiress had many other suitors. When
Ntscount Deerhurst applied Mr. Bonynge
was willing to come down as handsomely
as the Earl of Coventry could desire. In
a worldly point of view, it was a greater
match than would have been the Grevile
alliance. The Coventrys have held their
peerage since 1897. and the earls have fig
ured prominently at times in English
politics Croome court, the family coun>
try seat, is one of the most picturesque
and at the same time one of the grandest
Of Englands homes. The grounds are
wonderful exhibits Of the genius and skill
of that famous old gardener "Capability
Brown" The house itself contains mag
nifcent apartments, filled with treasures
in the way of historical furniture, orna-
ments, etc But the large estate does not
yield the rent-roll it once did, so the Cali
fornia gold came in very opportunely.
Viscount Deerhurst himself had sown a
large crop of wild oats before he settled
down to matrimony. Shortly after COM
ing of age he went to Australia as aid
de-camp to Lord Normandy, then gov
ernor Of Victoria. He was also for a time
in this country on a western ranch. But
the money-making faculty was not in
him, so he went back to London and
waited for an heiress willing to exchange
her Doodle for his title Miss Virginia
Bonynge of California suited in every
particular When the Earl of Coventry
dies an American woman will preside
over one of the finest of Englands his
torical homes.
Although Dhuleep Singh, the Indian po-
tentate, addressed personally to the queen
an impertnent letter, she had had expert
ences in her very early youth, when she
came 10 the throne. Her mother the
Duchess of Kent. had kept her strictly
from contact with the court Of William "
and also from the public gaze. When
Victoria became queen she made her first
visit to Brighton. The urchin radicals Of
the town called out after her when she
went out 20 ride: "Vick Wick, does your
mother know you're out2"
Between the Duchess Of Kent and will
lam IV-Wiliam, the pig-headed, as he
was called-there was uncOmprOmlsing
and unwavering hostility. She would not
permit her daughter, although heir appar-
ent. to be present at his coronation The
duchess was OF most unbending disposi-
ton. and by the time William had come
to the throne his reputation for scandal
Gus habits was fully established. He was
undeniably desperately lazy, luxurious and
old But he was fond OF the numerous
brood OF Fitz-Clarences. and his wife,
Queen Adelaide, from the hour Of her
marriage. treated them with great kind
ness, and witnessed with pleasure their
being ennobled. In her awfully severe
respectability, the Duchess Of Kent would
have nothing to do with them. nor would
she permit Victoria TO recognize them
She gave an instance Of the stiffness OF
her backbone in the case OF Lady de Lisle
the ilegitmate daughter and the house
keeper OF William Nv. The king was very
fond OF this daughter and II was consid-
cred harsh OF the Duchess OF Kent not to
postpone a party appointed previous to
the Illness, but which really took place
the evening after Lady de Lisles death
and while the corpse was lying I'm the
palace Victoria's subsequent severity In
the case of Lady Flora Hastings may be
traced to her mothers precepts and ex-
ample.
This Is what the London Court Journal
said OF the Americans present at the
queens coronation:
THE yankees are always knocking their
br0ws against the footsteps OF throne"
And again: "No London footman. no
Irish master OF ceremonies, ever handled
my lady or your lordship' like a dashing
New Yorker or Bostonlan."
We must acknowledge that the old law
n indisputable. Human nature shows and
and proves itself always the same Watch
the disclosures made by our general and
admiral sent 20 represent republican Amer
lea at the Jubilee ana compare them with
what the Court Journal said In 1898.
OF the queens appearance, by one who