New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-06
LORD LovAT. CHIEF OF THE FRAsERs.

which is the bourne OF many pilgrimages
LORD LOvAT. CHIEF OF THE FRASERs.
Lord Lovat 10 whose friendly testimony in their
behalf the two of Henry Phipps largely
Indebted their acquittal the criminal charge
brought against them Edinburgh OF shooting
whom they believed TO be poachers the Beaufort
Castle estate. which Mr.. Phipps has rented from
young peer is the chief OF the great Scotch clan
OF the Frasers, and one Of the very largest land
oxrers north Of the Tweed his estates Inverness
shire alone extending over some three hundred
THOUSAND acres
Lord Lovat distinguished himself in the Boer
By raising exclusively from among the members
OF his clan large corps Of mounted infantry.
equipped and maintained at his expense, who were
known 'Lovat's Scouts and who rendered
themselves most useful during the campaign
II was on returning from the that Lord
Lovat undertook 10 deliver his maiden speech in
the House Of Lords. But although he had shown
much gallantry, presence Of mind and resourcefuI-
ness under fire in South Africa he seized with
sort OF stage fright in the gilded chamber. and
after rising from his seat and standing for few
minutes, olushlng furiousy, suddenly sat down
again without having uttered word his oratoricaI
fasco, being, however, greeted not with derision.
but with sympathetic cheers by his fellow peers,
all Of whom were well aware that il he quailed in
the House OF Lords a speaker he had never
quailed soldier when in battle.
Lord Lovat has been put TO no little trouble and
expense since he came OF age il connection with
claims put forward 10 his titles and estates This
is perhaps not astonishing when one turns TO the
history Of this old Scottish house 10 which abduc-
tons, Opponents, murders rebellions forseres
and arson contribute give sensa tonal interest.
Many Of the members OF the family have persisted
the scaffold the last 10 lay his head on the
block having been Simon Eraser, eleventh Lord
LovaJ, who having been discovered 10 be betrayney
both the Jacobites and the Hanoverian dynasty. by
each OF whom he was employed a trusted spy.
was decapitated on Tower Hill amid demonstra-
inns Of
sons, OF whom WAS General Simon Fraser of
the American Revolutionary War left any male
issue the estates passed their death century
TO the senior descendant Of the fourth Lord Loyat
he was the grandfather Of the present Peer.
II seems that The eleventh Lord LOvat had an
elder brother, who. having had the misfortune dur
Ing his fathers lifetime kill a piper in q fit Of
passion, was obliged fee for his life 10 Wales
where he married, without his wife knowing Of his
rank and where he died in impoverished circum-
stances. leaving son, VINO ought in reality to
have succeeded 10 the Lovat peerage the eIev-
enth Lord Lovat. instead of his uncle. that is TO
say. the Fraser who figures in Scotch history as
the traitor"
The latest claimant 70 the Lovat p5erage and
estates insists that he is direct descendant from
tAIs elder brother Of the eleventh Lord Lovat. He
hansef is relatively wealthy man. but his father
grandfather and great-grandfather before him
were ordinary and uneducated Welsh miners.
though always clinging TO the fact that they were
OF Scotch descent
HOW THE DOCUMENTS WERE OBTAINED.
Many Of the documents which the claimant has
put forward In support OF his prerensions were OBJ
tanned IN extraordinary manner. Thus, several
papers and jewelry. the inscriptions which were
OF the utmost importance. were found concealed
behind the wainscoung of the wall an old build
ing in the neishborhood OF the Tower OF London
when II was demolished, about ten years ago: and
as they belonged TO the eleventh Lord Lovat, who
had his death Tower Hill. 1t is assumed
.-l,z
who decapitated him. and 70 whom, by virtue OF
ancient rights and pTerogatives the clothes and
al the personal effects OF the criminal to death
by him belonged
Other documents were found in a secret vault
In old house al Kirkhau in Scotland, while
other valuable papers and jeweIry had been rihed
from collins in the family mausoleun OF the Frasers
by unknown men, after the courts had decided
against application OF the claimant for permits
sion 70 examine and search the various collins in
the u1ausoIeurn for evidence bearing on his pre-
tensions.
The matter is still pending. Suits Of this kind
move very slowly indeed in Great Britain, and
while the claimant has several eminent members
OF the Scottish bar who have taken up his cause.
II IS doubtful whether the question VIII
ever be decided way or another within me
lifetime Of the present Lord Lovat, or OF the
claimant Should the claimant, however. win, Loru
Iovat would lose his title; for the late queen
conferred upon his grandfather an English peer
under the title OF Lord Lovat. some hfty
years ago and it was only subsequently that ne
secured from the crown its removal or the at
tainder that rested upon the patent OF the scotch
barouy of Lovat. created in 1s5e.
Consequently. I the claimant wins, there Will De
two Lord Lovats. namely, an English one ana z
Scotch one. Another effect Of the decision IN the
case in favor Of the claimant would be great
disturbance in the economic affairs OF both the
Roman Catholic and Presbyterian churches IN
Scotland. The Presbyterian Church holds a mort
gage OF nearly two million dollars on portion OF
the Loyat estates the mortgage having been coz
tracted by the late Lord Lovat, who was, like ms
son. the present peer, a devout Catholic II was
this late Lord Lovat. 200, who presented much
valuable landed property 10 the Catholic Church.
upon which the latter has erected, a vast cost,
the principal monastery in the United Kingdom
L is a question whether the deeds Of gift or the
late Lord I>ovat thus alternating the land on the
family estates 10 the Catholic Church would not
become invs I'd.
THE COUNTS OF ALBANIE.