New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-20
A wALPoLE ROMANCE

Inasnuch as Lord oxford and his American wife,
who was Miss Louise Corhin, Of New-York, are
about TO sail for this country. II may not
Be sraiss TO recall the fact that an tlegitirnate
daughter Of the historic house Of Walpole OF
which the earl is the chief, came very near
becoming Queen Of England in the eighteenth
century At the time when the royal Duke Of
Gloucester married the Legitimate daughter Of Sir
Edward walpole his elder brother, George III, had
only recently succeeded to the throne. and had
two small children. namely, George who afterward
became King George ". and the Duke Of York
Their lives alone at that moment stood between the
Duke Of Gloucester and the throne, and. failing
than. had anything happened to George III the
Duke OF Gloucester would have become ruler of
Great Britain and his illegtima1ely born wife the
natural daughter Of Sir Edward Walpole and Of
the postmaster of Darlingtons daughter, would
have become Queen of England. Scotland and Ire
land.
The romance may be said to have begun when
Sir Edward walpole, second son Of the first Earl
OF Oxford Prime Minister Of George / and George
Il took lodgings in London at the shop OF tailor.
e. the bottom Of Pail Mall where there was ap-
prenttced beautiful girl named Clement. daughter
OF the postmaster Of Darlington. Between the gay
and handsome man OF the world and the pretty
apprentice friendship was discovered which led
Edward WaIpole to move to house at the top or
Pan Mall and the Darlington postmaster 10 has
zen n Toodon intent upon taking his daughter back
with him 10 his home She professed penitence,
and went TO pack her box Instead Of SO doing.
however, she popped out Of the house, ran up 10
Edward WalpoIes house, took the head OF his table
and never reIinquished her position
Lord Oxford threatened that, If his son married
her he would beggsr him. and the couple re
NAMED unwedded hoping 70 outlive the terrible
father Edward received a knighthood and the
Secretarvship for Ireland. Three children were
born. and then the mother died Sir Edward de-
voted himself TO the bringing OF his three He
climate daughters. One Of them married Lord
Albernarle's brother. the Hon Frederick KEEP
pei. Bishop Of Exeter; another married the NTH
Earl Of Dysart while the third, after first union
with the Earl Waidegrave who was carried on
By smallpox gave her hand TO the royal Duke OF
Gloucester In those days the so-calied Royal Mar
rfage law had not been enacted, and her union
with the duke was entirely valid in every sense
q the word that she allowed 20 share her
husbands honors and prerogst ives, as well as his
royal status while the three children whom she
bore the duke-namely. William Frederick second
Duke Of Gloucester; Sophia and Carone-ranked
as prince and Processes Of the blood The first
Duke OF Gloucester-that is 70 say, George III s
brother-died exactly hundred years ago. and
TWO years later his wife, the daughter Of Edward
WaIpole, followed him TO the grave Queen Vic
toria was very devoted TO their children. and in
her published diaries many aTectionate references
are found the wife Of the second Duke OF
Gloucester. who died in 1857. and TO Princess So
phia. who died unmarried