New-York tribune., 1910-03-23
A London Landmark vanisbino.

''N'o "i"t-ef Sio stanotnolher were ma
tives az India.
lonoon Landmark VANISHING.
London is losing another familiar land
mark through the demolition of a man
sion which. although officially known as
No. l stratton street is in reality no. 30
Phecadilly, and which about a hundred
years ago. that r. 90 say. I'm the first days
OF April. $50. was the scene of a siege. in
which the Coldstream Guards and the
Royal Horse Guards were among the be-
leRguering forces. while the fort, or rather
the house. was held by the late Baroness
Burdett-Coutts's father. Sir Francis Bur
dett. supported and encouraged by the Lon
don populaoe.
Sir Francis Bundett. Il may be remem-
hered, while a Radical member OF ParlIs-
ment for Westminster. assailed the House
OF Commons with such vigor In connection
with It's treatment OF a publieist of the
name of John Gale Jones that he was
committed 20 the Tower on a warrant OF
the Speaker for breach OF the privileges Of
the House OF Commons. Sir Francis de-
clined 20 admit the authority OF the
Speaker in the matter and barricaded him
self I'm has house on Piccadilly-that is 20
say, the house which Is now being demOl-
ished in order 20 make NAY for an apart
ment building. The siege lasted four days.
and resulted in a good deal OF ighting and
some little bloOdshed. which won for the
Royal Horse Guards the nickname OF ''the
Plccadilly Butchers and eliminated in the
house being ultimately stormed by the
troops and Sir Francis being carried
OF 70 the Tower Of London. where he re-
mained until the prorogatiOn Of Parliament.
some weeks later, put an end 10 the Speak
er's authority. and consequently 20 his own
captivity. Unless ] am much mistaken. Il
was the last occasion of any one being
committed 20 the Tower OF London as a
prisoner
II is a remarkable fact that. although
just q hundred years have elapsed since
then. the Brooklyn born son-in-lsw Of SIR
Francis Burdett--nRmely. Mr. William Ash
mead Burdett-Coutts- to-day representing
the same y-Westminster--in the
House Of Commons.
Originally the mansion now being torn
down formed two houses. one OF which
was occupied by Sir Francis Burdett and
his daughter. and the other by his father
in-law. old Tom Coutts. the banker. who
married en- secondes nooes Harriet Mel
Ion, the actress. After Tom Coutts's
Death his widow, heiress 20 all his riches.
married the Duke Of 81. Albsns. and when
she died bequeathed her great fortune
and the house 20 her husbands grand
Daughter. Angela Burdett, stipulating that
she should assume the name OF Coutts in
addition 10 her patronymic That was in
1887, and from that time forth the two
houses were thrown into one. II was
from the balcony Of Sir Francis Burdett's
house IN Piccadilly that the late Baroness
Burdett-COutts witnessed the coronation
procession Of George ", Of William ",
Of Queen Victoria and Of Edward VII.
on the occasion Of King Edwards corona
tion procession the baroness had by her
side on the balcony her old friend, Ad-
miral Sir Henry Keppel. who was ninety
two years old al the time
The baroness. whose widowed American
born husband is barely sixty. and who
herself died only about three years ago.
used 10 relate that she well remembered
her grandfather, Tom Coutts. who born
quite early in the reign Of George II, was
grown up az the time Of the American
War Of Independence. and had been on
terms of friendship with Dr. johnson. the
great Lord Chatham, Garrick. etc Tom
Coutts was very hospitable, and even in
his day his PiCCadilly home was the
rendezvous Of some Of the most importaDr
men Of his time. while Sir Francis Bur-
detts house. next door. was the headquar-
tors Of radicalism, although his son-in.
law to-day pronounced Tory.
But IL was during the regime Of the
late Baroness Burdett-Coutts that the
double house on Piccadilly became a great
social centre. Up 10 the time OF the
baroness's marriage Queen Victoria was
frequent visitor there. as were also the
present King and his consort: while among
the habitues Of the baroness's salons Al
No. 50 Piccadilly and among those who
were most frequently 20 be found at her
hospitable board were the royal French
Due d'Aumale, owner Of Chantilly. who IL
credited with having proposed for he-
hand; Louis Napoleon, afterWard Emperor
Of the French; the first Duke OF WelIing-
ton, who is also asserted 20 have been one
Of her suitors. Lord BeacOnsfeId. Pal
merston, Wilberforce, the abolitiOnist: the
great Metternich, during mis- stay in Lon
dOns General Gordon Of Khartoum. and
last, but not least, Henry Stanley the ex-
plorer. Indeed, II is probable that there
is no private house in London which for
the last hundred years or more has had
its threshold crossed by so many cele-
brated persOnages and which has been the
scene Of 80 many notable gatherings as
that which is now in the hands OF the
Wreckcr.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOy