New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-13


meanwhile become the wife of Sir Joseph Radcliffe
which formed the chief basis of the charge oc
perjury which he was subsequently sent 10 Jail
for a long term OF penal .errtude-
ANGLo-AMERICAN FEER SUED,
Lord Leith. Of Fy-v1e Castle who spent many
years in the United States SIS an ironmaster and
steel magnate under the of Captain Forbes
Leith Of the Royal Navy. marrying the daughter
OF Derrick A. January. Of st. Louis, is the de-
PENDANT Just at present in an extraordinary suit
brought against him and number Of other titled
personages including Lord Arr1itstead Sir Charles
Cayzer. Sir Arthur Bignold. Sir John Wilson Sir
Henry Cook etc, for their refusal to pay fees
demanded of them in connection with the bestowal
Of their respective honors The fees in question
ere demanded of them. not by the Crown. 10 which
they are indebted fer these dignities. but by the
trustees Of the Usher Of the White Rod of Scot
land.
The lawsuit. which has been inausurated in the
Court Of Sessions at Edinburgh. has already had
the effect Of bringing light, first Of all, the ex-
istenct Of this Office Of Usher of the White Rod of
Scotland. ignored by ali those Of whom fees
demanded, then the odd fact that htreollary
offices of this kind capable Of being bought
and sold: and. finally. the strange circumstance
that in former times Scottish peerages, and in par
ticular certain baronies of the northern Kingdom,
were included among the assets Of bankrupts and
sold for the benefit their creditors TO the high
est bidder. Thus. in the early part Of the elgh-
teenth century the now extinct harony Of 1anston
was sold along with hereditary office of Usher
Of the White Rod Of Scotland. for the benefit of
the creditors Of bankrupt holder Of these dgni-
ties the barony being purchased by David Gavin
for S25ooea while the hereditary ushership Of the
White Sod of Scotland was bought for the sum Of
S33 on by Alexander Coutts. the London banker and
merchant who exercised his duties and preroga-
tives as Usher Of Scotland at the coronation Of
King George III
While the barter and sale Of the Ushership OF
TIE White Rod has continued until comparatively
recent times. the practice Of thus selling bank
rupt peers other hereditary honors for the beneht
OF his creditors has been long since abandoned
and il is easy to conceive what an outcry would
ensue if the government were to propose to revive
the practice. While of course. it would bring the
great names and illustrious titles of the peerage
into the possession Of people with nothing but
wealth, perhaps Of tainted nature to recommend
them il would at the time have the effect OF
Kidding the peerage of spendthrifts who, through
their own extravaganza had involved themselves
IN more debts than they could ever hope TO pay
for they would be by the very fact of their in
sovency deprived Of their titles and honors for the
benefit OF their creditors.
USHER OF THE WHITE ROD OF SCOTLAND.
The office Of Usher Of the White Rod of Scotland
was created by King William the Lion Of Scotland,
who bestowed it upon-his natural son, William de
Iondonnis and in that ancient compilation OF laws
and customs known as the Regain Majestratum
mention IS be found of a certain Thomas lie
User King Robert II, by patent dated 1873,
and SIT existence.
White Rod Of Scotland upon Alexander de COCK
flyrn and his heirs. directing him as such to at
tend upon the sovereign at parliaments ana
feasts" and further deCreeing that he should have
an allowance for two men in armor, two arch
ers svordbearers and their families Robert III
caye a Grown charter of confirmation in favor OF
the said Alexander de Ccckburn, besides bestoW-
ing upon him the baronIes Of Langtoune, OF Boil
roune and Of Carrodyne- Mary Queen of Scots,
ignoring the hereditary rights of the Cockburns of
Isr.tolne in BerwickslIire, gave the office 70
John fifth Earl Of Fleming while Charles l. on
his accession to the throne, accorded II TO James
Maxwell of Innerwick. and went so far as to
order the Imprisonment Of Sir William CockbuTn
for having appeared the opening # Parliament
carving white rod before the King without nav
Ing received authority or summons In 1851 the
Cockhrrn of The day received from the Crown a
confirmation Of the office. But in 175, as stated
above MS descendant the head OF the house OF
Cockburn the time being, became bankrupt
snd his Barony Of IsangtoUne and his hereditary
Office a Usher of the White Rod were sold by
order Of the Court Of session of Edinburgh Tor
tire benefit Of his creditors. In 1875 the Cockburns
managed to repurchase il. but were ohleed again
to sell in 17a the purchaser being on this occasion
Sir Archibald Campbell. who is said to have paid
ss much $4,000 for the Office in l|S the once
again came into the market. and was bought by
ny William Walker. Of Coats. for his second son.
Patrick This transaction was officially confirmed.
srd Patrick Walker appeared as Usher of the
White Rod At the coronation Of George " in
Westminster Abbey. in 1871, and was knlshted ny
,be Ey,,g IN that occasion. When he died. with
out Issue the I-shershfp purchased for him by ms
father PASSED along with his estate. by the terms
q his will 70 his two sisters, Barbara ana Mary
Wake. who left money TO build the Episcopal
Cathedral Church of ST. Mary's at Edinburgh, ana
founded for that object the Walker Trust. Al
Queen Tictoria's coronation the claims of their
nominee or dep1fy Colonel Ainslie, were not al
lowed. but at King Edwards coronation. a few
years ago the nominee Of the Walker Trust was
more successful.
HEREDITARY OFFICES HELD IN TRUST.
The Judgment Of the Court of Claims was as fol-
lows. on the claim Of the walker trustees 10 eK-
ercise the Office Of Usher the White Rod Of Scot
lsne ny ders;rv the court adjudges the claimants
right 20 he present 10y deputy TO be approved ny
his ma esty. TO be allowed. The Walker trustees
Submitted for the approval Of King Edward on
thai occasion the name of Sir George Anderson,
treasurer Of the Bank Of Scotland. one Of the trus
tees II received the sanction of the King, and Sir
George Anderson was present in Westminster Abb
hey as Usher Of the White Rod Of Scotland at
ms coronation ceremonial
In issS the treasury committed the salary of the
Office namely 81 80 z year, at about twenty-seVen
years purchase and an amount Of about S5l"W
was thereby added TO the Walker Trust tund
This however did not in any way impair the
right ~ tbA ONCE Of Usher Of the White Rod Of
Scotland 10 exact fees payable by dukes mar
ouesses earls. visoounts lords. knights and baro-
nets or their creation.
o. course this riehr Of exacting when originally
bestowed merely had scottish honors in view But
Ehen Scotland was Joined 10 England couple Of
hundred wears ago the claims OF the Usher of the
White Pod were quietly and automatically extend
60 10 al the titles Of The United Kingdom since