New-York tribune., 1906-05-07

one child, daughter, and that the third IN The
ine OF the honors and estates was member OF
the family who had come 70 this country years
ago. and who could not be found
Now. the member OF the family who came 90 thfs
country and who, II alive. would stand Immediately
third in the line OF succession 90 the EgmOnt
peerages ana estates. would be old Spencer
PercevaTs only son. Henry Godfrey PercevaL
Settled In Nebraska, he murdered, together
with his wife and only child. on September %. 1854
The crime. which was perpetrated under circum-
stances Of particular atrOcity, attracted end OF
attention at the time, and, OF course the news
papers in recording the tragedy did not fail TO re-
call the fact that grand-uncle of the VICTIM the
Rt Hon. Spencer Perceval. while Premier was
assassinated in the lobby Of the House of Com
mons This took place in 1872, and one hundred
and fifty years previously Sir Robert Perceval,
famous duellist was assassinated in the Strand
by murderers whose identity was never discOv-
cred.
It was the grandfather Of this Sir Robert Per-
ceval who may be said really to have founded the
family. His name was Richard PercevaI. and after
adventures in Spain comparable to those Of 'Gil
Bias he his return attracted the attention
and won the favor of Queen Elizabeth by his
cess in rapidly decipherng a number of dispatches
captured a Spanish vessel, written in a secret
cipher. and containing all sorts OF details concern
ing the plans and projects OF the so-cailed Spanish
Armada. In fact. these dispatches conveyed 70 the
virgin queen and 70 her famous Premier Lord
Bureigh the first authentic news about the Spanish
Armada and enabled them to make preparations
for defence against the threatened invasion. Rich
ard PercevaPs grandson Sir John Perceval' stood
high in the good graces OF King Charles that the
latter not merely conferred on him baronetcy Of
ireland. but caused remarkable prOvisO 90 be IN
serted in the patent to the effect that the eldest
and grandson of the holders OF the barOnetcy should
be created baronets in their own right during his
lifetime attaining their majority. Down TO the
reign Of King George " the eldest son Of every
baronet hal the right to demand the honor Of
knighthood from the Crown on attaIning his
twenty-frst birthday-a rule which was done away
with just before Queen Victoria 20 the throne
But the Perceval baronetcy, now merged in the
Earldom Of Egmont, is the only one In existence
which prescribes the grant Of new baronetcy 20
the eldest Of baronet. while the latter Is
still living.
CURSES ON THE HOUSE OF PERCEVAI.
AS in the case OF many Of the houses Of the
British aristocracy, there is a hereditary curse
upon the Lords Of Egmont. The story goes that
fifth Earl Of EgmOnt was appealed 70 by a widow
on his estates iT the south Of Ireland postpone
her eviction. owing to the fact that her only son
was dangerously ILL., But the earl was relentless
and had the widow and her son thrown out onto the
roadside, the sick dying a couple OF hours
atterward as the result Of exposure and the rough
treatment 20 which he had been subjected. The
widow, in her bitter anguish. went down upon her
knees by the corpse Of her boy and cursed the earl
as only an Irish peasant woman can, praying TO
God that neither he nor any Of his successors would
ever have son given TO them to inherit the peer
age. Il would if the prayer had been heard.
for the fifth earl died without issue. and was sue
ceeded by his cousin. the sixth earl The latter
likewise died chdless and was succeeded by a
cousin. the late earl. The latter in turn, had no
children. and was succeeded by his cousin. the
present earl who, separated from his American wife
formerly barmald in LondOn) but not divorced,
has offspring, while the marriage OF his brother
and next heir to the peerage, who was up to the
Boer policeman at johannesburg, has like
wise remained childiess.
MARQUIsE DE FONTENOY.