Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05

burton, an ancestor of Sir Walter Scott,
with whose family the Coutts were con-
nected more closely by marriage at a later
date. His sons carried the business to
London and elsewhere-the second OF them'
John, being established at Rotterdam as a
sort of glorified smuggler, whose cnie1
trade, according to Sir William FORBES
(afterward his apprentice), was the snip
ping of tea, spirits and other articles Oh
contraband goods for the smuggiers on
the east and north coasts OF scotland.
As another and more recent historian VI
the family, Ralph Richardson, says: LORD
Provost Coutts, sitting in ermlne, oirect-
ing against smugglers all the terrors OF
the law while his son John supplied me
malefactors with tea, spirits, etc, dno
lived by their contraband trade-such We're
the Inconsistencies of the time. Patrick'
the eldest brother, was something OF ut
terateur and traveller, and was once ar
rested as spy on the ramparts OF ill.,
lay for months in prison. but lived 10 curry
on the family tradition in partnership WIN
Sir William Forbes The third of the prom
ers, James, was for six years M. L. iol
Edinburgh. but was induced TO res'sH III
consequence of some strange ana hco
herent language in the house OF commons,
az Lord Dundonald Ia family coniccliohl
reported in 1872 1t will interest those VINO
think that genius and madness are ciosels
allied to know that both James ana Fat
rick died of a mental maiady.
Founders of the Bank.
But it is the fourth son, Thomas VINO
most concerns this story, and exhibits IN
the highest degree the eccentric vigor ana
independence of this extraordinary family.
He ard James esta biished the famous BANK
III the Strand. But it was a different
Strand in those days. Where is now the
Hotel Cecil on the east, Adeiphi terrace
Immediately south, and the Charing cross
railway bridge to the west eHectuahy
blocking out all view of the river there
was then, we are told. "aH uninterrupted
view of IOndons greatest avenue, inc
Thames and beyond that a distant pros
pect of the Kent and Surrey hills Inc
Adephi then about to be putt. put
Thomas CouttS was strong enough ana i'cn
enough to procure the making OF a street
from the back Of his house which should
give him a clear view of the river ana the
southern prospect. Long afterWard ne
custom of a member OF the firm llNlnS over
the bank was maintained and some OF t!le
living rooms are still occupied. Ihomas
Coutts, however. lived not over the bank,
but few steps away, in st. Martn lape
between Trafalgar square ana the now
purged and almost respectable district OF
Seven DialS. .
Here we come to the first of his cratic
love affairs His housemaid. Elizabeth Star
key. Familiarity known as Betty, Is De
scribed as "a blooming young rustic, re-
rlarka BILE for cleanliness, industry and good
humor, much admired on account OF the
freshness of her complexion and the beauty
of her features, respected ana beloved ior
the modeSty of her demeanOr and the I'M
ruffled evenness of her temper The same
writer described Coutts himself as care
full of his health and still more of his repu-
tation:'' but different opinion prevailed
when it was known that this country
bachelor, the richest man in London. ad-
wiser of prime ministers and treasurer OF
princes, had positively married his house
maid 1t is told now that just before that
event the comely Betty was scrubblng the
stairs at the Strand offices-the Identical
stairs already referred to, no doubt-When
one of the clerks came in with dirty boots,
ard, refusing to take them off, was startled
by the reply: I'll make you pull on your
boots before long, and your stockings, too,
if / like"-sO that We may judge Mrs.
Coutts to have known her own mind even
if she was good humored. And indeed she
soon won the respect of the family into
which she had stepped. The ex-housemaid
bore three children. all daughters, of whom
the first became the wife of the famous
radical Sir Francis Burdett, NJ. f.. and
mother of the present Baroness Burdett-
Coutts; while the second became the wife
of the Earl of Guilford and mother of the
Baroness North. and the third married the
first Marquis of Butte and became the
mother of the Countess Of Harowby and q
connection of Lucien Bonaparte by the
| marriage of her son with his daughter.
Thomas Second Wife.
! No fine connections or even his business
! relations with the royal family could tame
! Thomas Coutts into obedience to the con-
I vcntions Of society, and Immediately after
| his wife's death, when he was we'll beyond
| his seventeen year. he concluded seconC
| and still more remarkable marriage. Har
| riot Mellon, then in the early summer OF
| her beauty and the fuliness of her drama til
| success, had az little girl been picked w
| by some charitable ladies who found hel
rambling aDout The country with hel
rnotner and stepfather strolling players
| IT. her later successes on the stage she Il
| said to have looked like a girl fresh from
I the country, with blooming complexion. {
| tall fine figure, raven locks, ivory teeth,
J cheek like a peach and coral lips"
| Even when earning her own living sh
j was q generous; soul and helped the fam
| lily of Edmund Kean before the illustriou
; actor won full recognition. With the purs
OF Thomas CoCtts, first patron, then a.
| husband at her command, her charities be
came more muniticent. For some time be
fore their marriage both were the subject
OF much newspaper scandal and blackma1l
ing abuse. She gave up the stage at his re
| quest and he bought Holly Lodge, High
, gate Hill. of Sir Henry Vane Tempest 10
| her at a cost of S125, 900. Within month 0
! the death of his first wife Betty he wa
! married again, member of the Drury Ian
Theater management giving the bride away
1t is said thai Harriet spent $2O0OOO OF p
money much of ii in charity, in the frs
| year of her married life. When the banke
| died a few years later. he left her for
tune of 81 800 600. in addition to the FOll
| Lodge property. Five years after his deaf
| she married Aubrey de We're ninth Duk
os St. Albans himself a descendant q