The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-24
LORD ESHER THE
KINGS AOv|S [ R
Is Possessed Of More Influence
Than Any One in Great
Britain.
BETWEEN KING AND PEOPLE
Monarch Relics Upon His Adj
vicc-iil Matters OF National
and International Moment.

- A'ialtSlS vi lSdllOlldl
/ and international Moment.
by LA niARQUIsE DE FONTENOY.
r ORD ESIlER's eldest son, the Hon.
i oliver Brett, who is now In this
IL country visiting Washington and
friends and relatives at Boston
and IN New York, has American blood
N his Veins, for his mother. Lady
FISHER. is daughter OF the later Baron
/ van der Weyer, who as Belgian min
lister played so important role In
England, especially at court. during
the earlier part of Queen Nictorias
! reign, when the relations between the
reigning houses Of Belgium and Great
! Britain We're of far more close and
intimate character than they are to-
i day.
Lady Eshers mother. the Baroness
| Van der Weyer. was an American, be-
/ Ing the daughter of Joseph Bates. of
! Boston. the American partner of the
4 Earrings. Joseph Bates was particu-
larly well known figure In English life
| sixty and seventy years ago, and his
/ in some twenty acres of finely timbered
4 ground. between Mortlake and Rich
! mond Park, one of the most pictur-
1 csdue places in the Thames valley
/ was celebrated for it's hospitality and
as the rendezvous of distinguished
! Englishnen with American visitors Of
note. Many of the latter obtained
their introduction to English society
along with the names OF the Batescs,
in numerous volumes of memoirs and
| "reminiscences printed on both sides OF
the Atlantic When King Louis Phil
children and grandchildren preceded
him in his flight to England. and on
/ their arrival Joseph Bates placed Sheen
House al their disposal. 1t was there
that they were Joined later on by the
eNiled King, who only subsequently
moved to the royal palace of Clare
mont, lent TO him by Queen Victoria.
To-day sheen House Is no longer In
/ existence The whole estate has been
4 cut up into building lots.
Lady Eshcr is very gifted woman.
and has produced several volumes OF
| poems with the name OF Eleanor
Esther on the title page. Young Oliver
Brett has likewise a Gallo strain in
him. for his grandmother, the late
Lady Esther. was of French birth. a
/ Mlle. Eugenie Mayer. stepdaughter OF
the well-known Colonel Gurwood.
| whose name will be remembered by ali
who are interested in military history
In connection with his standard works
on the campaigns of the Duke OF We'll
! lington.
.IIlcsitimnte Influence.
| AS for Lord Esher himself, he is un-
doubtedly the most Influential man OF
1 VIZ pIeScHl, IelStf III ana mas
| on several occasions been made the
/ object of more or less covert attacks
| IN Parliament, in the press and in the
leading reviews on the subject of his
1 alleged "illegitimate Influences at
| court" If his influence excited CON
4 demnation and Ill VIII. II was not
that II was nefarious, but because 1t
/ was unconstitutional, since Lord Esher.
having on several occasions declined
Cabinet office, Is not one OF the con-
| stltuttonal advisers of the sovereign.
Indeed. the only two Offices which he
holds are that of Deputy Governor OF
I windsor Castle. the object of which
isi TO give him connection with
the royal household. and that of mem
Der Of the Imnerial Defense Committee.
| Both are unpaid
! IL Lord Esher has refused ministe-
! rial office IT Is because he has real
lied that his power. or rather what
| he considers to be his usefulness to
the King, would be impaired rather
than increased thereby. and the down
/ fall of the administration of which he
| impossible for him to remain on as
the most trusted confidential adviser OF
his sovereign, whose counsel and opin-
| ion is sought by his royal master In
| national and International Importance
Ito household and family questions.
1 namely. even to trivial purchases. In
| fact. to the initiated. both in England
| known for several years past as "the
power behind the throne" in Great
| Britain.
/ In order to understand his innu-
ence 1t is necessary. to bear in mind
the radical change in the life of the
King since his accession to the throne.
/ While still Prince of Wales. he was in
personal touch with the outer world.
leading clubs, but likewise freauented
tSem. His friends and acquaintance
had their free say. and were able 10
speak ho ,s.. to him without reserve. True,
most an English gentleman. such as
i themselves BY mingling with them
me thus learned at first hand the trend
1 OF popular sentiment and became ac-
the, day--that news which does not
4 una us way into the columns of the
4 press but the knowledge Of which Ii
lnevertheless INDISPENSABLE to a correct
appreciation of tile questions Of the
i hour
King Views Source.
4 When, however, the prince ascendcd
Il the throne, he was compelled by force
OF circumstances to adopt an entirely
! different mode of existence. The club
man had become the :tnointed Of the
Lord, and those who had grasped his
hand In good fellowship as cronies
were now required to bow low and
kiss 1T IN homage to the sovereign.
4 N|iupidllu knew MN no more. lie be-
4 came virtually inaccessible to his for
mer friends, and freedom of speech, OF
4 discussion and OF the expression Of
1 opinion in his presence. became II
A thing OF the past. The result was that
d he lost that touch with the outer
i world which rendered him 50 import
{ ant factor in English life while
Il Prince of Wales. and he is nowadays
4 compelled to rely wholly upon one
4 trusted contldnnt to keep him acquaint-
4 ed With what is going on. With the
!. news and gossip of the day, and. above
u all. with popular sentiment. That con-
"A hdant is Lord Esher, and moro than
any Cabinet minister is he the channel
OF communication between the King
4 and his people.
TO what extent the King confldes
III Lord Esher has been perhaps most
strikingly shown by the fact that he
Iprivate diaries and correspondence her
letters. not only to and from states
linen. but even to and from members
,f l,,, 4 I,c,ln NIL Of