New-York tribune., 1909-09-04
A QUIX0TIC PEER
Lord 44shburmham's Nurture of
RadicaIiSm and McdieUalism.

ter Lazy NatneriDe ASlhurnhan. who IS his only
child and who VIII be very wealthy. 10
cali the romance Of the marriage Of this par
ticularly picturesque member of the British peer
age. Lady Catherine was first heard OF when THE
London Tines Of February H. 1898. contained
announcement to the effect that ION January
z. -So the Countess OF Ashburnham gave birth
70 daughter Nobody. the editors OF
TSuTke's and Debrett's 'EeeraEes." had ever heard
that Lord Ashburnham married 1t had al
WAYS been supposed that he inveterate
bachelor and inasmuch the only Countess of
AshburnhaIn O: whose existence people were aware
was his mother. aged widow, the mystihcation
caused by the announcement great. It was
10 q certain extent set at rest by the announce
ment lower in the same column of the Times.
among the marriage notices 10 tho effect that
"On February o., ISSS. a marriage took place
between Bertram. Earl OF Ashburnham, and
Emily. daughter OF Robert Chaplin" The latter
on investigation turned out be q petty trades
man, very respectable bat of the most humble
origin The countess lived q very retired life and
was altogether unknown 10 the great world and
even 10 her husbands relatives. But her husband
was devoted TO her and when she died, in 1895
naourned her deeply and sincerely.
Lord Ashburnham is q man Of great erudition
and Of somewhat contradictory characteristics For
whereas in all dynastic matters he is an ardent
legitmist. in domestic politics he IS a radical and
q Home Ruler. He was one OF the founders Of the
Fo-caed White Rose League. which denies the
right Of King Edward TO the throne Of Great
Britain and affects TO regard Princess Louise IF
Bavaria the lawful heir the British throne
owing TO the fact that she is less remotely de-
scended from the Stuarts than the King. The late
Ny Gladstone was unaware of this connection of
the earl with the Iacobite league at the time
when he formed his first Home Rule adminstra-
ron, and nominated him 10 the office Of lord-n-
waiting 70 the late Queen Victoria. It
until the appointment had been officially an
nounced that its incongruity became apparent; and
when the Queen further learned that the earl was
the recognized representative in England OF Don
Carlos and Of the Cerlist cause she caused his
nomination 10 he cancelled
Lord AshbUrnham's family one the Oldest
tn England and has been established at Ashburn-
ham Canciently EshburnhRm) since before the
Norman Conquest. Sir Bertram Ashburnham, q
baron Of Kent, was constable OF Dover Castle In
1905 which he defended with so much valor against
William the COnQueror that when II ultimately
captured he was beheaded by the Normans. Con-
temporary records Of this refer to him being
IN those days the representative Of a family
OF great antiquity
Ashburnhams figure conspicuously in every reign
of English history from the time OF the Norman
kings and Sir John Ashburnham. who one OF
the gentIemer-in-waiting Of Charles l. remained
with his royal master the very last attending
him 10 the scanold. ard retaining memento #
that tragedy the blood stained vest and white silk
shirt worn by the monarch al his execution, the
sheet in which the body wrapped after 'tS
decapiJation and the watch worn by the King
throughout his captivity. which he handed to Sir
John his way Whitehall on the morning Of
his death These relics preserved as the most
Nenerated and highly priced treasures Of Ashburn-
ham Place, q mansion extremely rich in other his
19ric mementos and also IN magnificent pictures.
Indeed, his Vandyes are pronounced by experts to
he the finest examples or that master.
About ten years ago Lord Ashburnham sold the
greater part Of his library, of the most cele-
brate5 and valuable collections Of books in the
world. At the time il believed that the sacri-
fee which he made was for the purpose OF provid-
ing his friend, Don Carlos, with funds for another
rising in Spain. But il subsequently ascer-
tanned that his purpose to increase the fortune
available for his only child, whom he idolizel. /
Some OF the features OF the collection including
four folio editions Of Shakespeare and the Mazarin
Bible. found their way 10 the hands Of J. Pier
pont Morgan. The prize obtained by the latter,
however, undoubtedly the Ms Evangelariun,
FOR which alone Lord Ashburnham received a sum
Of 5000 II was given by Emperor Louis the
Pi0us the Convent of Noble Cauonesses which |
he founded in S34 at Lindau. Lake Constance.
Il remained IN the possession OF the convent until
fts dissolution il 1893, when the canonesses were
allowed TO divide among themselves the contents
OF the treasury Of the abbey. This volume fell 10
the share Of CanOness Antonette Baroness Enz-
burg; purchased at her death by Baron Jo-
eeph Lapsberg from whom It passed in 1916 10
Boone, the London bookseller. who Immediately !
sod Il 10 the late Lord Ashburnham. Il is bound
with beaten gold and studded with 32I eIneralds'
EapphiTes, caTbuncles, pearls and other precious
stones. Indeed, the binding is regarded as one OF
the most important and beautiful examples OF early
goldsmitLs and jewellers art
The collection was largely formed by Lord Ash
burnnam's father. the late earl who moreover. was
famous throughout world his unrivalled col
lection Of ancient manuscripts. This included the
collection Of the bibophile Barrios. Not long after
the present earl succeeded his fathers estates
negotiations for the sale Of some7of these manu-
Ecrr-s 10 the British Museum brought light the
they included a large quantity OF valua-
be manuscripts that had been stolen by Iibr from
Bibliotheque Rationale. in Paris Libri ii may
be remembered was the chief Librarian of the ma
tiona library Of France, and had as such access
70 al its treasures and TO the public libraries
Throughout France. The Barrios collection was al
most entirely made up Of purchases from Libri.
ON Lord Ashburnham being mace aWar" OF tie Ia-t
he at once of mis- own accord, restored all the
stolen manuscripts TO the French government, at
Eacriioe OF nearly quarter Of a million OF dollars
which he had been offered for them.
The earl is a man Of very chivalrous ideas, ac-
cording 10 the present day way Of thinking rather
ouixotic and strengthens the latter impression 10y
affecting in England. and especially at his place
ir sussex the yoluninous Spanish cloak and broad
lrirlracd s5mbrero. which accustomed 10 as
soclate with the hidaIgo I may add that he is Il
Knight Of the Sovereign order Of Malta, and has
the Grand Cross Of the PapaI order of Plus TX
He is = devout Catholic. 10y conversion rather than
Fv education. and his death the earldom vii 20
70 his younger brother. the Hon John Ashburnllan,
who was formerly IN the diplomatic service and
who Is bachelor
WON'T OFFEND TIE UNITED STATES.
Sir Sydnev Oliyier's presence in London concerns
The United States He is the Governor General Of
Jamaica The British government has appointed
commission 10 inquire into the means OF estab-
Fa-yY and