The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-04
LORD EUSTACE PERCY
AT ENGLISH EMBASSY

line in existence. This. however, is a
mistaken impression. for there vera
at that time in existence, and are still
to.day's. PercYs who have rights to the
carbon OF northumberland. Some of
them are in Belgium, descended from
that seventh Earl of Northumberland
who incurred the anger of Queen Eliz-
apeth. and sought refuge at Brussels.
Jheir descendants are still in possess
sion of great quantity of magnificent
silver plate of the sixteenth century
which has engraved upon IL the arms
OF the Earls of Northumberland
The American Percys are descended
from George Percy, younger son o,
the eighth Earl OF Northumberland.
and they arc mentioned in several of
the most authoritative works on Brit
ish and american genealogy. If they
nave never made any attempt to claim
the earldom of Northumberland Ii il
because the establishing OF such claim
is tremendously costly. running un %
as much as sl0o.000. and even 100000
and tho honor would be a barren one
since there would be no legal means
OIL dispoSsessins the present Duke of
northumberland of the great Percy
estates.
While King Edward has aiways been
on very friendly terms with the pres
ent duke. he cannot be said to have
got along we'll with the latter's father
The late duke during his lifetime en-.
Joyed the well-deserved reputation Of
being the most ill-tcmpered and cranky
nobleman in The United Kingdom. He
was Puritan OF the most rigid type
and actually went to the length of re-
preaching Queen Victoria for the con-
duct of her eldest son. Moreover. he
used 10 deem 1t to be his particular
mission to go about in society, warn
ing people against the prince. who is
now King Edward. whom he denounced
as son OF perdition, a lost soul, and
as an absolutely undesirable companion
for the young. When the then Prince
rf yt..e- all alma. Ia 1,
Queen Victoria soothcd his anger by
pointing out that she herself had been
a sufferer through the old peer. since
he had assailed her with reproaches
which she had manifested at the loss
of her husband. The duke regarded
this as wicked in the extreme and
did not hesitate to tell Her Majesty So
as the Irvingites. and at his table.
even at state banquets and at grand
dinners, one seat was always kept
vacant, reserved for the coming OF
Christ.
SmitIson's Bequcst.
The present duke enjoys. in addition
to the revenues derived from the Percy
estates, a Very large income from
Drummonds'. Bank. the principal own
ership Of which he inherited from his
mothers father and brother
There are all sorts of stories cur
rent as to the romance which cul-
minated in the marriage Of the first
Duke of northumberland of the pres
ent creation to the only child and
heiress Of Algernon Seymour. Duke OF
Somerset and Earl of Northumberland.
The latter, Il very magnificent person.
age, Immensely proud of combining in
his own person the blood of the Sey-
mours, through his fathers. and that
of the Percys. through his mother,
strenuously objected to his daughters
infatuation for young Hugh Smithson.
who, according to some was banker
and according to others an apothecarys
apprentice. If the Duke of Somerset
eventually gave way, it was because
he became aware that the romance had
developed into an intimacy which rem
dered marriage Imperative.
Copyright. 1910, by the Brentwood
Company