New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-21
A ROXBURGHE ROMANCE.
DeUotion to a Royal Princess the
Cause of Third Dukes CeLibacy.

| Inc Duke OF ROXburghe. VINO arrived Oh SdtGr-
| day. bears d and title familiar TO book
lovers and biblophiIes the world over. The third
| duke, on account Of d romantic love affair with
| princess Of one OF the reigning houses of Ger
| many pledged himself to life Of ceh6acy, and
sought consolation for his in the COLLECTION
/ Of world famed library, which after his death
| was solo at auction in London, the sale lasting
forLy-two days and attracting collectors from the
United States and all the Continent Of Eu-
rope among the most notable treasures was the
Naldarfer Boccaccio printed in Venice in 14d'
which, after passing through the hands Of the late
Duke Of Marlborough and Of Lord Spencer, IS now,
believe. in the possession OF J. Pierpont Morgan
The romance which led the third duke to live and
die unmarried is little known yet is worthy Of being
placed record 176l the third duke set out on
the grand tour with all the pomp and circumstance
betting his rank and the stateliness Of his time
lie was handsome, gallant and twenty-one. On MS
way back from Moscow he halted for a time at the
little Court Of Strelitz which was then ruled by
the duchess dowager, to whom her son, the reign
ing duke and his brothers respectfully deferred
She had two Observation-Disclosures Christine, d love
" SRI of twenty, and Princess Charlotte, small
and plain, the ugly ducklng'' of the family. with
Christine the young duke fell violently in love, and
she not only smiled on his suit but promised him
her hand, her mother and eldest brother regarding
the match with approval. And then a strange
thing happened-nothing less than formal de-
mand the part OF King George III Of England
for the hand of the homely Princess Charlotte
The demand was, of course, at once granted along
with the stipulation made by the English Govern
ment that member Of the Mecklenburg-S treltz
family should marry a British subject This dashed
TO the ground all the hopes Of the Duke Of RoX-
burghe and put end to the plans for his union
with Princess Christine. He left Strelitz at
and for the forty-seven years which elapsed until
his death spent his life in virtual retirement de-
voting himself entirely to his books, and never a
pearing at court. Tie peerages accorded to him
the brtefest possible mention, merely abiding to
him having been a Knight of the Garter. But
for his sake Princess Christine Of MecIlenburg-
Streltz remained unmarried to her death. rejecting
all OFFERS, finding no woocr who could compare
with the gallant Scotsman who had won her
heart before her hoTnely sister Charlotte became
Queen of England. It is only fair TO King George
III to explain that he had voice in the selection
of his consort. who was chosen for him by his
mother. the Princess Of Wales, and her favorite
Prime Minister. the Marquis OF Butte with the OBJ
ject' OF preventing his infatuaton for the fasci-
mating Lady Sarah Lennox from leading him into
inviting her TO share his throne.
While the present duke possesses large estates
they stiH somewhat encountered, as the result,
direct and indirect the great lawsuit which took
place In the early portion of the last century LOT
the dukedom and the estates owing to the death
OF the third duke and his cousin, the fourth duke.
without issue. There were a number of claimants,
but eventually the committee Of privileges OF the
House of Lords awarded the dukedom and the
ordinary tribunals assigned the ducal estate to Sir
James lines Norcliff Bart, although popular opin-
ion in Scotland a well s a number of geneaogists
protested against this decision, insisting that 1t
should have been made in favor OF Major General
Walter Ker, Of Littledean, heir male of the
Kers Of Cessford. The general was reduced to
poverty completely ruined by the legal expenditure
in connection with his claim to the dukedom, and
his estate Of Littledean sold and now forms
part of Lord Polwarth's beautiful place in Ber-
wickshire, the banks of the Tweed. The legal
proceedings lasted fer plumber Of years. and
among the claimants Robert Hepburn her.
a baker at Kingston, Jamaica, to whom at
moment the committee of privileges seemed inclined
TO award the dukedom. Floors Castle, the
Tweed, the principal home of the Duke of RoX-
burghe, is a little more than two hundred years
old. and built according 10 the designs OF Sir
John VaubrUgh (the architect of BIenheim) 10 take
the place Of old Roxburghe Castle, an important
fortress in the borcer struggles gil through the
Middle Ages. The old castle the ruins Of which
remain, was the stronghold of the Princes of
Northumbria before Earl David became King Of
Scotland. Long after Northum oria had been sew
cred from Scotland the castle continued to be one
Of the chief royal residences. Courts. councils
and parliaments were held within its walls royal
mint established. and it was the seat of the
government until tbs end Of the reign OF AeXan-
Ger III Subsequently, in the possession Of the
Kers. It sometimes became the headquarters OF
foes TO the crown, and a gnarled holly tree marks
the spot where King James II of Scotland was
killed by arrow while hesiegins the Castle Of
Roxburghe while within thirty feet thereof -four
ishes the splendid oak planted by Queen Victoria
the occasion of her visit 10 Roxburge shortly
after her marriage. the Duchess OF Roxburghe of
the day, grandmother of the present duke, having
been the mistress Of the robes, lady in waiting
and the earliest of the intimate friends of the
late queen. The Duke of Roxburghe has number
OF minor dignities including the titles Of Marquis
Of Bowmont and Marquis of Cessford the former
Of these Two titles being usually borne by the
eldest son ana heir of the duke The father of
the family John Ker, Of the Forest Of Sekirk
who lived in 1917 But it was not until the six
tenth century that Sir Robert Ker, of Cessford,
was created Lord Roxburghe by King James of
England. The fifth Lord Roxburghe was raised
the rank of duke by King George for his services
Secretary Of State.