New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-04
LORD EUSTACE PERCY
New Attache of the British En-
baSsy at Washington.


ing both unmarried. one of them a soldie-
the other a member OF the bar The only
members Of his family who may be said
1c have had any connection with this cou1-
Try since the present dukedom of Northum-
berland came into existence in 1866 have
been James Snithson and the second duke
Of the present creation. who took prom
inert part in the American War of indie
pendence, after having previously distia-
suished himself in the Seven Years War
under Frederick the Great In between
times he invented the first velocipede. the
forerunner Of the present bicycle and it is
preserved 10 this day at the castle OF Ain
wick in Northumberland. James Smithson
was the illegitimate younger brother Of this
duke and founded the Smithsonian Institu-
tion in Washington. TO which he bequeathed
his entire fortune a. his death in 1929.
The. present dukes OF Northumberland
come by their name Of Percy and by the
Percy arms and vast estates in a somewhat
indirect fashion. and there are people now
living in Virginia who have a claim 10 the
name u Percy superior 10 that of the
newly appointed attache OF the British En-
bassy- The last Percy Earl of Northum-
berlaud died in 1870. leaving an only daugh-
Tor. Eliza beth. who inherited her fathers
estates. as well as the barony OF Percy
Meanwhile Charles II four years later Gre
sted George Fitzroy. the third Of his sons
by the Duchess Of Cleveland. first Earl and
Ther Duke OF Northumberland. But this
Guze died without issue in 1916.
Lady Eliza beth Percy. Baroness Percy in
her own right. owner of Alnwick Castle Of
Svon House and OF the great Percy estates.
married. first Of all. at the age of fourteen,
Henry Csvendisl, Earl IF Ogle, heir to the
m 1sSl Then she married Tom Thyme of
Ionglat-Tom Of Ter Thousand-Nho was
murdered in Pail Mall by a rival and an
unsuccessful sutton for her hand. Count
honicsmarCk. as described in these letters
the other dav Her third marriage was to
charles Seymour. sixth Duke of Somerset.
by whom she had thirteen children. The
eldest Of these was Algernon Seymour, sew
erth Duke Of Somerset and first Earl of
Northumberland. VINO during the lifetime
Ct MS father. but on The death Of his moth
er. vas called 10 the upper house as the
inheritor Of her Barony of Percy. He had
an only daughter Elizabeth and on his
death MS daughter became Lady Percy in
her own right, inheriting all the Percy
estates. while the Dukedom Of Somerset
vent 10 distant cousin She married Hugh
Smithson who. on the strength of his wife's
huence which their possession involved, was
permitted 10 assume the surname and arms
Of Percy. and was created Earl Of Percy,
and eventually Duke OF Northumberland It
j. from this Snithson Duke Of NoTthum-
herland that the present duke is descended
IN the male line direct
Now. If the Percy earIdom Of North
umberland became extinct IN 1870 with the
death OF the eleventh earl, il was in the
belief that there were no other heirs to
the earldom in the male line in existence
This. however. is mistaken impression,
for there were at that time in existence,
and are still to-day, Percys who have
tights 10 the earldom Of Northumber-
land. Some Of them are in Belgium.
descended from that seventh Earl OF
Northumberland who incurred the anger
~ Queen Elizabeth and sought refuge AT
Brussels. Their descendants are still IN
possession Of 4 great quantity Of magnifi-
enc silver plate OF the sixteenth century
which has engrave7 upon it the arms OF
the earls Of Northumberland
The American Percys are descended
from George Percy. younger son OF the
eighth Earl Of Northumberland, and they
are mentioned in several OF the most
authoritative works on British and Amer
lean Eenealogy. If they have never made
any attempt 10 claim the earldom Of
Northumberland II is because the estab-
fishing OF such claims is tremendously
costly, running up TO as much as $l"0,eee
and even s2eooeo. and the honor would he
barren one, since there would he no
legal means Of dispossessing the present
Duke Of Northumberland OF the great
Percy estates
While King Edward has always been on
very friendly terms with the present duke
he cannot he said 10 have got along Well
with thz latter's father. The late duke
during mis- lifetime enjoyed the well de
served reputation Of being the most i'll
tempered and cranky nobleman in the
United kingdom. He was Puritan Of the
most rigid type. and actually went 10 the
length Of reproacIliug Queen Victoria for
the conduct Of her eldest son. Moreover. he
used 10 deem Il his particular mission TO
20 about il society warning people against
The prince. who Is now King Edward,
whom he denounced as a son Of perdition.
lost soul and as an absolutely unde-
sfrable companion for the young. When
ihe Prince Of Wales complained 10 his
mother. Queen Victoria soothed his anger
il- pointing out that she herself had been
8 sufferer through the old peer. since he
had sssailed her with reproaches in con-
uection with the excessive grief which she
had manifested at the loss Of her husband.
The duke regarded this wicked in the
,xtrerle and did not hesitate to tell her
MAJESTY so. He was 4 member Of that sect
known IS the IrvinEites and at his table.
even al state banquets and al grand din
1lers. one seat was always kept vacant. re
served for the coming Of Christ. The pres
ent duke enjoEs, in addition 10 the reve-
nues derived from the Percy estates. a very
large income from Drummond's Bank. the
principal ownership Of which he inherited
from his mothers father and brother.
There are ali sorts Of stories current as
4. the romance which eliminated in the
marriage Of the first Duke Of Northumber-
lend OF the present creation TO the only
child and he'ress Of Algernon Seymour.
Duke Of Somerset and Earl OF Northum-
ieilsnd The latter very magnificent
parsonage. immensely proud Of combining
iu his own person the blood of the Sey-
ulours through his father. and that OF the
IeFcvs. through his mother. strenuously
objected 10 his daughters infstuation for
young Hugh Snithson, who. according TO
acme was a banker, and according to
others. an apothecary's apprentice II the
Duke Of Somerset eventually gave way, il
ltas because he became aware that the
q, nance had developed into an intimacy
"a HIGH rendered the marriage imperative.