New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-08
SONS OF THE OLD DUKE
King Ed5card Confers Knighthood
Upon T7Co of the Fitzgeorges.

ear-aomlral In the EaVy and the Other n reJlreU
colonel in the army. But they have received this
distinction along with the commanders star of the
Victorian Order, not sons Of the old duke. but
his equerries.
Sir Adophus is married, has a rich wife in the
person Of thu daughter Of Thomas Holden. Of
Winestead Hall. near Hull, and has grown-up
daughter who born while he stationed in the
Mediterranean, has as godmother Queen olga OF
Greece. About seven years ago she married Charles
Hamilton. eldest of Sir Edward Hamilton. OF
Trebinshun, and heir to the latter's baronetcy'
which was conferred on their ancestor. Captain
Hamilton of the Royal Navy for gallantry displayed
at the siege of Quebec in IT'S. Young Mrs HaInH-
ton, who portrayed some time ago IN photO-
graph, entitled -Four Generations. showing heI-
self with her little boy her father. Admiral Sir
AdoIphus Fitzgeorge and her grandfather. the late
Duke Of Cambridge. is a pretty. hghsplrlled
woman who has had some trouble with her nus
band which eliminated in her starting a profess
sional beautifying establishment in New Bond-sI'
much tor the annoyance of her relatives
The eldest son Of the late Duke OF Cambridge
married like his brothers and formerly in the army
bears the nams of George but does not STAND Wen
with his fathers relatives, and was more or less
ignored by them at the funeral. He remains WITH
out any title or other recognition on the part Of
King Edward
ROYAL wills are seldom. II ever. probated in the
ordinary fashion. or subjected to the legal
processes which the testamentary dispositions OF
people less exalted have to undergo before they
can receive execution valid In law 1t IL this
that renders the lawsuit IN connection with the
will OF the late King Of tho Belgians so unique.
For It is the first time that the will OF an occupant
of one OF the European thrones has formed the
subject Of a lawsuit and been brought into open
court.
The utmost secrecy has been maintained with
regard to the testamenary dispositions Of the late
Queen Victoria Of her husband. tho Prince Con-
sort; OF the late Emperor Frederick and or his
Empress: Of the Empress OF Austria, of old En-
peror William. the last two Cars OF Russia or tho
late King William Of Holland and Of King Hum
bert Of Italy 1t is only. indeed. by mere chance.
and then only in a roundabout way that the public
ever obtains any notion OF the tenor OF these
royal and imperial wills.
Thus evidence voluntarily rendered by the Crown
before the Parliamentary commission appointed 70
determine certain questions in connection with the
rearrangement of the civil list brought TO light
the fact that the late Prince Consort of England
had at his death bequeathed to his widow, Queen
Victoria, a large amount OF real estate IN the
Kensington district Of London. which he had pur-
chased when that portion OF the metropolis was
still undeveloped. and which afterward enormously
increased in value 1t likewise became known
through Parliamentary declarations by the minis
tiers that Queen Victoria had bcqueatbed Osborne
TO the King under certain conditions. But no one,
save the few Initiated. know how much she left In
money and real estate. nor In what proportion
these divided up among hor children and
grandchildren. In fact the most widespread is-
fortune. and It is merely by recalling the various
large legacles bequeathed to her by various more
or less eccentric individuals with whom she had
no personal acquaintance. and by computing the
value OF the real estate known TO have been be-
queathed to her by her husband. that some faint
notion can be obtained OF the extent OF her wealth
A little bit Of daylight was let into the mystery
surrounding the testamentary dispositions OF the
late Car through unsuccessful attempt OF the
revenue officials in England 10 tax certain moneys
which he had left deposit in London banks.
and It in the same way due 10 tho fact that
Emperor Alexander II had invested money abroad
for the benefit OF his morganato wife and chill
dren that some idea has been obtained OF the size
YourlefTska.
What the exact terms of the Will OF the
late Empress Frederick one knows. that
she bcQueathed her palace at Kronberg 10 her
youngest daughter. That she owned large
fortune. duo in part 10 the money and Jewels left
10 her by her admirer. the Duchess GaIIera. IS
secret. But what disposition she has made
thereof It IS impossible 10 say. and a similar
amount Of mystery has been observed with regard
10 the viii OF her husband. Emperor Frederick.
the various statements which appeared purportins
to Indicate IT'S contents being based merely on
speculation and deduction.
In fact, royal personagcs do all that is IN their
power to prevent these matters from becoming
known. and when one reflects upon the endeavOrs
made by ordinary citizens - escape from the fierce
light Of publicity upon their family affairs in con-
HeCloH Win tHe proving tne Wis or their Tea-
uves. 1t Will readily be understood that scions Of
the reigning houses OF Europe keen to take
advantage OF the prerogative OF privacy which
they still enjoy In these questions
The old Duchess do Baunremont who has lust
died at Paris, must not DO COMPOUNDED with the
duchess Of the same who was the daughter
Of the banker Lcroux and the heroine OF La
Princesse Georges" by Alexandra Dumas That
Duchess OF Bauffremont whose eccentricites made
her celebrated throughout Europe and the Orient
died few years ago, after most extraordinary
career which included n sentence Of two years i'm
prisonmeut imposed upon her by the tribunals OF
Venice on her conviction Of participation in tho
forgery OF birth certificates and other similar docu-
meuts, the sentence being eventually quashed on II
being proved to tho satisfaction OF the Court OF
Appeals that she was not altogether responsible
for her actions that her mind unbalanced and
that she had allowed herself to be used the tool
OF clever swindlers. Her ecCentrcity probably came
TO her from her mother, who. after losing her first
husband the banker Ieroux. married a French
nobleman for the sake OF his doubtful title OF
Prince She finally ended her life in Palestine
as the wife of Arab sheik.
There another Duchess or Bauffremont who
also attracted good deal OF notoriety in connec-
ton with her matrimonial differences with the late
Duke Paul BauftremOnt. the celebrated French
general, who commanded the cavalry charge at
Sedan. She left her husband with Prince George
Bibesco being obliged content herself with n
German divorce. until the enactment Of divorce
laws in France permitted her at length TO secure
a valid dissolution of her union to the duke and
TO contract a legal marriage with Prince Bibesco
She now divides her time between Paris and
bucharest. being known no longer Duchess Of
Bauffremont but Princess Bibesco
The duchess who has just died was a great lady
of different kind, and the mother OF the present
head OF the house who, in addition to being Duke
OF Bauffremont. Is also Prince Of Courtenav in
Dbl,