New-York tribune., 1907-08-30

twenty-three years of age. has Of always
been regarded legitimate and in the line Of
succession to the Monkswell peerage; but Lawrence
Collier, tho painters by his second marriage,
has until row been, Ike his sister Joan. branded
with the stigma OF illegitimacy. from which they
viii henceforth be free This is only Of many
hundreds of similar instances of the same kind
that exist in the aris1ocracy where the name and
fortune Will he affected by the new law.
ENACTED TO OBLIGE DUKE OF BEAUFORT.
If the date Of 1885 has been set the extent of
the reJroaction of the law. It is because it
in that year that the so-caled Iyndhurst act was
passed pronouncing invalid all marriages with
deceased wives sisters contracted thenceforth.
Il was drawn up and carried through Parliament
by the Lord High Chancellor Of the day. Lord
Lyndhurst Up 10 that time marriages with de-
ceased wives sisters were voidable. although not
ab initio void-that is say. marriages Of this
kind valid until annued by the ecclesiastical
courts. which took action unless any one went
TO the trouble OF setting the tribunal in motion
In order appreciate how the matter stood in
those days I may mention that for time the
claims OF the present Lord Barnard 10 his peerage
and 10 the possession of Raby Castle and the
valuable estates which go Herewith We're placed
in doubt owing 10 the fact that he was descended
from the second Lord Barnards grandson. Morgan
Vane. and the latter's third wife. Catherine
Brooks who had been the sister of his second
wife. Sarah Brooks. The Committee OF Privileges
of the House of Lords after lengthy deliberations
/
the conclusion that at the time when Morgan Nane
married his deceased wife's sister such unions
We're voidable. although not Of themselves void
| and that. therefore. Morgan Nanes son ny ms
| third wife was legitimate. thanks TO which the
| present Lord Barnard is peer Of the realm
master of Raby Castle in possession of an in
| come Of s250.oO0 year
Lord Iyndhurst's initiation of the act Of 1885
which bears his name due to his anxiety 10
oblige his intimate friend. the seventh Duke of
Beaufort. The latter had in June, 1922, married
his deceased wife's half-sister-that is to her
sister by the same mother. He had no male issue
by his first marriage. but only son by his sec
ond marriage, who became the eighth duke, and
father. therefore, Of the present duke The sew
enth duke had only brother, Lord Granville
Somerset. who it known would raise questions
the right Of the dukes to succeed TO the
title and estates the ground OF his being the
issue Of a union forbidden by law. The duke, who
was devoted his son. especially anxious
there should question about his right TO
his peerages and entailed estates, and with this
object in view got his friend Lord High Chancel-
lor Lyndhurst TO devise the Lyndhurst act, which
leEalized all marriages existing with deceased
wives sisters but made illegal all such unions
contracted thereafter. Having accomplished thls
the duke then proceeded 10 propitiate his prother
by settling upon him a large sum OF money, as
well as q considerable amount of the unentailed
estates Lord Granville Somerset left three sons
and two daughters, and the sons have no male
issue al the property thus alienated from the
ducal house Of Beaufort will pass ont Of the family
20 the children Of Lord Granvile's married daugh-
ters.