New-York tribune., 1906-08-19
THE REAL LORD HARRINGTON HERE

THE REAL LORD HARRINGTON HERE
The real Lord Darlington. whose name and title
have obtained unenviable notoriety or late
through their adoption by criminals here. has just
arrived IN this country from England He for
merly in the Coldstream Guards, and succeeded 10
his fathers vscounty about five years ago. The orr
gin his family, related by Dean Swift (of 'Gul
Iver's Travels" celebrity was somewhat romantic.
1t seems that in the early part Of the eighteenth
century, John Shute. a young Presbyterian. at
rracted the attention of John Wildman, rich
Berkshire landowner. and his death the latter
willed him his entire property, as being the
worthiest person that he had encountered.
There relation between the two men. and
their personal acquaintance was of the slightest
Not long afterward a Mr.. Francis harrington, who
had married his cousin. Elizabeth Shute, died with
out issue and when his will opened 1t
found that he toe. had left his entire property TO
his dead wifes kinsman John Shute who had thus
become very rich indeed. Under the cir
cumstances it only natural that the government
OF the day should procure for him peerage. and
he was created in 1870 viscount harrington in the
kingdom of Ireland.
Owing TO this dignity being Irish one. ne
able to retain hts in the House of Commons
from which he rather unjustly expelled three
years later.
BY command OF King George he had very reIuc-
family assumed the Office OF deputy governor of
bubble known the Harburg Lottery OF
which the Prince Of Wales afterward George
H. was governor When the concern came to grief.
running a number OF people. Lord Darlington
made a scapegoat for royalty, and induced 20
take the blame upon himself in order 60 save the
reputation OF the heir to the throne who had been
very seriously compromised by the affair Having
accepted the responsibility, Lord harrington was
expelled from the House Of Commons the ground
that he had used his position member thereof
to promote a fraudulent undertaking.
It is only fair to add that history has entirely
relieved his reputation of all blame in the matter
and has nothing but praise for his devotion the
reigning house 20 which he owed his elevation 10
the peerase. AS a rule people are not grateful
for benefits conferred. and in order 10 show that
Lord harrington was prompted in che matter solely
bv a sense OF kindnesses already received, and
bv possible advantages to be derived from the
rIhce Of his name for the Prince Of Wales he
declined the promotion in the peerage offered TO
him subsequently by both George I and George IL
II was the seventh Viscount Darlington who was
the intimate friend and crony of Lord BeaconsfeId.
and during the latter's administration he used to
draft for the Premier the nightly reports OF the
proceedings in Parliament which the late Queen
Victoria always insisted having in the hand-
writing of her Prime Minister These nightly re-
sumes of the proceedings in Parliament. in the
handwriting OF old Lord Melbourne. the great Sir
Robert Peel Lord john Russell, Lord Palmerston.
Gladstone, Beaconsheld and Salisbury, nave been
carefully bound and preserved in the royal
libraryat Windsor Castle among the most treas
ured archives Of the reigning house.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.