New-York tribune., 1907-10-16
AT THE MERCY OF THE COUNTESS.

Ireands National Gallery finds Itself involved In
a somewhat ridiculous and AT the same time eX-
tremcly awkward controversy with the widowed
Countess of Milltown. About five years ago the
countess conveyed 10 the Dublin National Gallery
the collection OF old masters and art treasures at
Russborough Hall, by deed of gift. I'm memory OF
her husband. the last earl. whose death his
houors became dormant. After signing the papers
the trustees of the National Gallery did something
10 offend Lady Miltown. Womanlike. she declared
that she would rescind her gifts and that under
10 circumstances would she allow the National
Gallery o have the collection. But the trustees
held her TO her word, and appealing IN the courts
on the strength of the deed OF gift which she had
signed, obtained "A judicial order compelling her TO
turn over the collection to the nation Legal pro-
ceedugs take time IN England. in this
country, and, confident OF victory, the trustees
while the suit ia progress, built at consid-
cradle expense additional wing to the National
Gallery. I'm compliance with the terms required by
the deed of gift. and which was 10 be restricted
cordng the deed exclusively to the Milltown col
lection.
II seems incredible that careful examination
was made by the trustees OF the collection before
they went TO the length Of accepting It, of building
a wing for its reception and OF instituting legal
proceedings exactng it's surrender by the countess.
For that they have got the collection on
their hands they do not know what 10 do with it,
OF the 200 pictures there less than score that
are worthy OF exhibition in any public gallery, the
remainder being the veriest trash. and adorned
with names which can only be regarded as usurped.
There is some old silver which both from in
trnsic and an artistic point OF view is valuable,
while the bulk of the collection seems TO be made
Nm OF domestic furniture of the early Victorian
era and so-called "objets dart" of the most com
rnonpIace order. The furniture includes huge otto
mans covered in frayed silk. heavy writing desks
Of artistic value whatsoever ana even mousse
hold china
Now. according the deed of gift to which the
t1,stees have compelled through legal process. the
countess TO yield compliance. they are obliged TO
nut all this of rubbish on eXhlbiuon in the
new wing Of the Nationa, Gallery thereby renderA
ing themselves and that institution RIDICULOUS In the
ewes of the world. And there 10 no escape open 10
tharn unless they obtain from Lady Mlltown her
legal pernission 10 withdraw from exhibition and
IN return to her sell all that is worthless in the
Milltown collection; that is TO say the bulk OF IT,
The fourth Lord Militown the original OF
though in other respects a hne power1ul man, he
had merely the rudiments of legs. This did not
prevent him from enjoying life from moving in
London and Dublin society-in an invalid chair
and of leaving a family of three sons and three
daughters His eldest son, while still Viscount
VussborouSh, contracted romantic and secret
marriage with farmers daughter. His wife and
her son mysteriously disappeared two years after
D,ard without leaving any trace. presumably
spirlted away by the agents OF the old earl All
efforts on the part of his son, Lord Russborough,
10 trace them remained without avail He
married again He died fifth Earl Niltown
and was succeeded by his brother. whose union to
the present Lady Mnltown remains chidiess
There are several claimants 10 the dormant
earIdom Of MiItown, OF them insisting that his
father was the missing son Of the fifth earl. and,
falling any descendant in this country OF Henry
Saunders Lesson, OF whom all clew has been lost
in America and who dosceuds from the third earl,
the next heir would seem to be Richard John
Lesson Of Dublin who is descended from the first
earl