New-York tribune., 1905-12-17

LIQUID means employed by the genial and hospit-
able peer, a typical European grand segneur
to overcome the opposition of the Democratic
majority in the Senate to the treaty convention
His son, the present Lord Elgin, served for a
time as Treasurer OF the Royal Household in the
reign of Queen Victoria, and became a great
fayorite at court. He likewise for several
years viceroy of India. and declining a step in
the peerage on his return, received in lieu there
of the Order of the Garter in recognition of his
services at Calcutta. He is descended from
uncle of King Robert Bruce. and is the grandson
OF the Lord Elgin to whom the British Museum
is indebted for the superb collection known
the Elgin marbles, and which formed part of
the Parthenon at Athens.
If Lewis Harcourt. married to a niece of J.
Pierpont Morgan, daughter of the late Walter
Burns of New-York. has been appointed Chief
Commissioner OF Government Works it is
largely due to the King. For ss the Chief Com
missioner of this department is intrusted with
the supervision of all the royal palaces and
with the execution of the works and repairs in
connection Herewith, he is brought into more
frequent contact with the sovereign than any
other member of the administration The new
incumbent is the eldest son and heir of the late
Sir William Vernon Harcourt. and. in addition
to having an American wife, has American
stepmother in the person of the widowed Lady
Hareourt. daughter Of the historian and diplo-
mat J. Lothrop Motley. Moreover, one OF the
Harcourts OF The Eizabethan era was promi-
nently identified with several of Sir Walter Raj
eigh's colonization schemes in America. and set
tied in Virginia where if there are no direct
lneal descen dants IN the male line. at any rate.
descendants on the distaff side with Harcourt
blood in their veins. TO be found to this day
among the old Colonial families. Lewis Har-
court on the death OF his father inherited
from him Nunham Park. a grand old place on
the Thames, along with an income of about
100000 & year. Nunham was formerly the
home of George Simon, Earl Harcourt, and of
Edward Rarcourt, the princely Archbishop of
York and according to the provisions of their
wills. tn eir successors in the ownership Of Nun
ham are compelled TO maintain herd Of not
less than ons hundred fallow deer in the park
OF NunhaIn. and to abstain from the use OF all
other patronyrnics save that of Harcourt. That is
why when the late Sir William Vernon Harcourt
died tnat lulu Vernon Harcourt dropped the
name OF Vernon which he had borne until then
and has ever since contented himself with the
name of Lewis Harcourt. He his fathers
private secretary throughout his lifetime, de-
clining to enter Parliament his own account Z
so as TO be free to devote all his time TO Sir Will
ism his relations with whom were those of a
devoted friend, rather than those of a son. Only
when Sir William was compelled by falling
health to retire from political life. did his son
consent TO enter the House. In which he had
already become widely and popularity known.
He is also favorite at Court. and his appoint
ment Chief Commissioner OF Works cannot
but be most pleasing TO his sovereign.
Ex-ATTACHE