The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-09
LORD OXFORD MAKES
VISIT TO AMERICA

living on Lord orford's Norfolkshiro
estate, who still relate. with circum-
stantial detail. how, returning home ono
fourth earl died. they saw the phantom
coach aEd- four turn at the entrance
lodge of Woltcrtou Park and pass
right through the closed iron gates.
aus 5hss as Il they offered no obstacle az
II may not be amiss TO recall hero
that a daughter OF the historic house
OF Walpole came very near becoming
Queen of England in the eighteenth
century. At the time when the royal
Duke of Gloucester married the Height
innate daughter OF Sir Edward Walpole,
his elder brother, George III, had but
had but two small babies, George, who
afterwards became King George w,
and Frederick, Duke or York. Their
lives alone at that moment stood be-
tween the Duke OF Gloucester and tho
throne; and failing them. had anything
happened TO George Ill. the Duke OF
Gloucester would have become ruler OF
Great Britain, and his illegitimately-
sir Edward Walpole and OF the post:
master Of Dariington's daughter, would
have become Queen or England, Scot
land and Ireland.
The romance may be said to have
begun when SIR Edward walpole. second
son OF the first Earl OF Oxford Prime
Minister of George /. and George H.
took lodgings in London over the shop
of a tailor, at the bottom OF Pail Mall.
where there was apprenticed beau
t.ful girl named Clement, daughter OF
the postmaster of Darlington. Between
the gay and handsome man of the world
and the pretty apprentice. n friendship
developed which led Edward Walpole
TO move to house at the top of
Pail Mall. and the Darlington post
master 10 hasten to London, intent
1T. \. In,t ~ 4.
him to his home. She professed PEN
itence, and went to pack her box In
stead of so doing, however she popped
out OF the house, ran up to Edward Wall
table. and never again relinquished her
position there. Lord Oxford threatened
that IL his son married her he would
gar him. and so the couple re-
terrible father, Edward receiving q
knishthood and the lucrative secretary
ship for Ireland as reward for his
obedience. Three girls Were born. and
married Lord Alhemarle's brother.
Exeter Another married the nth
Earl OF Dysart: while the third after
La first union with the Earl Walde-
grave, who succumbed to smallpox
gave her hand TO the royal Duke ocJ
Gloucester. In those days the so-called
royal marriage law had not been en-
acted. and her union with the duke,
was 50 entirely valid in every sense of
the word that she was allowed to
share her husbands honors prerosa-
tives and royal status: while the three.
children whom she bore him. namely,
William Frederick. second Duke of
Gloucester: Sophia and Caroline. ranked
as prince and princesses of the blood
The first Duke of Gloucester died q.
little over 100 years ago, and two,
years later his Walpole duchess fol-
lowed him to the grave. Queen VIC,
toria was very devoted to their chil-j
, dren and In her published diaries many
ectionate references are found to-
her cousin. Princess Sophia, and TO herr
cousin and aunt, the wife OF the secondl
and last Duke of Gloucester.
/ (Copyright, 1910, by the Brentwood
Company