New-York tribune., 1905-01-04
A POWERFUL CoMaroNER.

Private secretaries in England class
exceptionally fortunate The late Sir Richard Wal
lace's private secretary. son of old Or. SSott OF
Boulogne-sur-Mer. inherited the greater part OF
his employers enormous fortune amounting to
several millions Of pounds sterling well the
estates that formerly belonged TO the MarQusate
OF Hertford. and subsequently obtained a baronetcy
owing to the political influence which his money
and territorial possessions enabled him to COM
msnd while according TO the win OF the late
George Dun Assheton Smith his private secretary
William Lsort comes in for the snug little OF
a quarter OF million dollars.
Probably few people outside Of England
heard of George Duff Assheton Smith, and when
he visited this country years ago his pres
excited attention whatsoever. Yet in the
United Kingdom he power 10 the land
and one OF the very richest OF its commoners. His
income estimated at a couple OF million Of
dollars the greater portion of It being derived
from the great Dinorwic slate quarries His Way
mol estate alone Of $4,000 acres comprised a park
splendidy wooded. than eight miles in CIR
conference. and inhabited by the mos. extraordi-
nary and valuable collection OF wild animals In
Guiding zebras. kangaroos, monkeys, beavers. Wild
boar etc. while the mansion. which commands
q superb view Of the Snowdon Range of moun-
tains, and which built in the eighteenth CEN
tury there is a great menagerie superbIy appointed
with splendid specimens Of lions, tigers. bears of
every description, pumas. etc In fact wild ami
mails the hobby Of the late George ". Asshe-
ton Smith who strange mixture OF wonder
His property has now passed to his brother
Charles Dun. younger OF the late r Garden
Daft. Of Wellington Lodge. the Isle of Wight and
who will in accordance with the terms of the will
the name Of Assheton Smith. He is a very
clever caricaturist. and under the signature OF
"Cloister" has contributed many notable cartoons
TO London Vanity Fair" the most widely known
OF them in this country being undoubtedly that
which represents Admiral Lord Charles BeresfOrd
a Chinaman. His only son. Robin Duff who
Will iDha he ed
a couple OF years ago Lady Juliet Lowther only
the late Lord Lonsdale which occasion he re-
ceved from his uncle check FOR S5O00OO by way Of
q wedding gift
The late owner OF Vaynol Park came into posses
sion OF the property under the VIII Of his mothers
uncle, Assheton Smith whose name. famous on the
English turf. he assumed in addition TO his own
patronymic OF Duff.
Vaynol has been in the possession of the Assheton
Smiths for centuries and there four families
on the estate who have been in uninterrupted oc-
cupation Of the farms for five hundred years.
while less than sxty-eight families have held
the same farms for two hundred and fifty years. A
large beneficiary under the will Of the late George
Duff Assheton Smith is his sister. the widowed Lady
Vivian. mother OF Queen AIexandra's twin maids
Of honor. Lady VivianS youngest daughter. the
Hon Alexandra Vivian. comes IN for legacy Of
$500 600. while the Hon. Walter Vivian who is a
frequent visitor TO this country and a brother Of
the late Lord Vivian. receives as executor Of
no less than S4O000o which his many friends in
America will doubtless be glad TO learn.
MARQUISB DE FONTENOY.