New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-22
NAY BE A DUCHESS.
NcSc York Glrt to Wed a Descendant
of King James III.

Count Stephen Fitztames whose engagement 70
she daughter Of James Millet, OF New York. has
bos. announced by cable from Paris, Is a great
grandson OF The fourth Duke OF Fitzjames and
therefore somewhat distaatly related 20 the pres
e8. head Of tlle family. who is the seventh duke
Jsasnnucl,, however. the dukes marriage IS
obildlsss. that his only brother, Henry's. union
with A6ele de contaut Biron. now sundered by
divorce. has also remained without issue ana thar
there IS only the life Of young cousin. jacques
louis de Fitzjames. between them and the father
cf the hance Of Miss Aliliet. she stands a con-
siderable chance OF becoming, one OF these days
Duchess Of FitZjames
Der marriage viii connect her. after a fashion
with ". X. Vanderbilts daughter. the Duchess Of
Marlborough. For the Duke OF F'itziames and the
Duke OF Marlborough, as well as the Duke Of
Aba SO often mentioned sutton for the hand
cf Miss Mathilde Townshend, OF Washington are
all three descended from common ancestor The
first Duke OF Marlborough. as every one knows,
eEed all his early promotion and HIS chances of
distinguishing himself TO the fact that his beaut,
sl sister Arabella Churchill. wife OF Colonel God
frey Feigned over the heart OF James Duke Of
York afterwards James II. King James had a
son By Arabella-a half-brother. therefore Of the
old Pretender. James. while stin on the throne OF
Great Britain. bestowed upon this son, 90 whom he
was devoted. the titles Of Duke OF Berwick Earl
Of Tynemouth and Baron Of Bosworth, by patent
dated March IS. 1857 These patents are recorded in
fhs state Patent Rolls OF England" But this
Duke OF Berwick who was also cheated Duke Of
Fgtzjames by Louis XIV OF France, and Duke OF
ISTia and Of zerica by the King Of Spain. was at
tainted a Jacobite in 1885 by the English Parlia-
ment. his British honors becoming IN consequence
thereof forfeited TO the crown. He left two sons.
Che elder succeeding to his Spanish dignities ana
retaining the British title OF Duke OF Berwick
though II was not recognized by England; while
Che younger son inherited the French dukedom OF
ana OF ZeTica became, through the marriage Of the
fifth duke 10 the only daughter and sole heress OF
The twelfth Duke OF Alba merged in the historic
Dlkedom OF Alba, title which is now borne, in
conjunction with that Of Berwick. by the chief Of
the line descended from the eldest son Of the first
Duke OF Berwick. The present duke was edu-
Gated ike his brother. the Count de MOntijo. in
England, at Beaumont College. near Elton. under
the supervision OF his grand-aunt Empress Eu-
genie and speaks English without any trace OF
foreign accent. The late Duke 90 Alba died in
New York at the Waldorf-Astoria at the time of
the American Cup races IN 1890
While the Duke Of Alba IS enormously rich. the
Duke Of Ftzjames Is very badly off. though posi-
bly, his AFFAIRS may improve somewhat on the death
Of his mother. To the latter Is ascribed the re-
sponsibity for all the ruin and havoc worked by
the phylloxera IN France. the losses in the Bor-
deaux district alone exceeding 500 OoOOo She inn
ported vines from the New World 20 plant on her
estate in Nugard. They brought the phylloxera
with them and it spread all over France. She is
a daughter Of n. de LoeWenhieihm. who was for so
many years Swedish envoy IN Paris. She has
grandson by marriage a old Overwhelmingly.
Arthur Meyer, editor Of the "Gaulois," OF Paris.
who couple Of years ago led 20 the altar Mile.
de TuTenne. gir nearly fifty years his Junior and
child Of that Comtesse Leo De Turenne who is
daughter OF the late Duke Of FitZjames and sister
OF the present duke. The marriage created some
thing very much akin to a scandal IN the Faubourg
ST. Germain owing TO the anteeedents Of Arthur
Meyer, who although very rich to-day, began
his career the bOokkeeper ana factotum OF the
infamous Blanche d'Antigny. the prototype Of
Zoa's Mana Arthur Meyer is at the head OF the
leading Royalist paper In France. which has not
prevented. however the Duke OF Orleans from de-
nouncng him publicly and in print as 'fgnoble,"
declining 70 hold any intercourse with him or to
seeognize him in any way.
The present Duke Of Fitzjames's brother Count
Henry FitEiames. viii be recalled in America as
having spent some time here in the train OF Miss
sybl sanderson TO whom he was engaged and who
subsequently, fitted him on the eve of marriage
Count jacques de Fitzjames, the father OF Miss
Aiiiets hance, is probably the richest member Of
the Family and owns large mansion in the Rue
aAeuesseau. near the Palace of the Elysee at
<ohs villa at Arcachon and a chateau in the
department. OF the Seine ct Marine. He IS one OF
me veteran members of the Jockey Club and ,s
saia TO have manifested at first some considerable
opyecons 10 his sons engagement 10 Miss Nfillet
owing 10 her lack Of fortune