New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-10
Severed Hands OF a Noble House.


The Battle OF the Spurs has resulted in
the victory of Lord Grey de Ruthyn and II
Lord Loudoun each Of whom is 10 carry
one Of the pair Of historic colo spurs COM
prised In the regala at the coronation Of
King George. Lord LoudouE bore them
alone at the coronation of Edward VII.
He and his wife have Just given big
ball at Doudoun Castle in honor OF the
coming of age Of his NEPHEW and heir.
Reginald Rawdon Hastings. who last fall
completed his education at Christchurch.
oxford. Ii was at Loud0ur Castle that
the treaty of union between England ana
Ireland was signed at the BEGINNING of the
nineteenth century. under = great yew tree
just outside the windows e the breakfast
room, and among the many treasures OF
art and history preserved at the castle IS
the actual pen used TO sign this treaty,
which, If Prime Minister asquith has his
way. is on the eve Of being repealed
Lord Loudoun inherited his earldOm from
his mother. who was a peerless in her own
right. She married Charles Frederick Cliff
ton, of Clifton, in Lancashire. who as
sumed by act of Parliament the surname
and arms of Atney Hastings. in compli-
ance with the conditions Of the will of Sir
Charles Abney Hastings, an uncle of the
late Lady Loudoun. and who had be-
Queathed 10 her and TO her husband his
estates. The late Lady loudoCn, who
possessed the baronies of Tarrinzean, of
Mauchline, Of Hungerford. II De Moleyns,
Of Hastings de Hastings and of BotreauX
che latter dating from February. 1850 in
her own right died in 1874, whereupon her
eldest son succeeded to her earldom and
to her many baronits. while his father re-
NAMED commoner. az pain Mr.. Abney
Hastings. for another six years, when he
was raised TO the peerage on the nomina-
ton of Lord Beaconsheld Is Lord DOMINIC
ton.
Lord bennington was rather eccentric
man. with very artistic tastes and became
furiously angry with his eldest son. the
present Lord Loudoun. and with his eldest
daughter. the first wife If the present
Duke of Norfolk. when they became con-
verts to the Roman Catholic Church Some
years later. however. Lord bennington
himself. 10 every ones amazement, became
a Catholic. thereby revert.nS 10 the faith
Of his ancestors. the Clftons. Of Clifton
and Lytham, in Lancashire. being one OF
the old houses OF the untitled Catholic
aristocracy Of England.
Lady Loudoun before her death gave drec-
tons that her right hand should be sew
cred at the wrist and buried in the park
of bennington. on the banks of the Trent,
an within sight of the windows Of Don
nington. her favorite home. which has now
passed out of the possession of the fam
H.
inhabitable, like the Duke q Sutherland's
magnificent place at Trenton. by the pol
soning of the waters Of the River Trent
through the potteries and factories of one
kind and another situated on its banks.
Nobody. not even the present Lord Lou
doun. ventured 10 inquire Of his father. the
late Lord bennington, the meaning of this
direction Of the late Lady Loudoun for
the severance Of her right hand al the
wrist and its burial apart from her body.
II has now been transferred from Don
nington to Loudoun.
But II is recalled that her grandfather.
the first and most famous Of the Mar
quesses Of Hastings. constable Of the Tower
OF London and Governor General OF India.
while on the way home from Calcutta on
the completion of his term Of office died
at Malta. Finding that it was impossible
that his remains should be conveyed home
for burial. ne directed before he expired
that his right hand should be cut off 81
the wrist and carried back 10 his wife,
who was awaiting him win her children
at Loudoun Castle. in Scotland Fourteen
years later. when his widow lay dying at
I.oudoun Castle. her daughter. LADY
Sophia. afterward Marchioness OF Butte
and grandmother Of the present marquis
Of that ilk sent little note 10 the min
lister of the parish. In ii she requested him
70 go himself TO the family vault In Lou
doun Kirk and 10 fetch from thence a small
steel box. which he was asked to bring to
her without any DELAY delivering it into
her own hands The minister in question
was the late Rev. Dr. Norman Macleod,
for nearly half a century Queen Victorias
principal Scottish chaplain spiritual adj
wiser and friend. but then q young man.
He did Lady Sophia's bidding. carried the
little box to the bed of the dying March
ioness Of Hastings. where II remained until
she breathed her last two aays later with
her right hand resting on II. It was in
closed in her coffin in accordance with her
directions. which intimated
that IT contained her husbands severed
right hand.
There have been several other instances
i'm this family. Of which Lord Loudoun Is
the chief. Of the severance Of hands after
death for separate burial. and. 50 far as
I am aware. this is the only great house
OF the British. or. rather. / should say,
Scotch. aristocracy where this strange Gus
tom prevails.
The lac Marquis Of Butte, son q the
Lady Sophia who helped Or. Norman Mae
! cod 10 place her fathers severed HAND
i'm her mothers coffin. did not have his
hand cut off but commanded that after
his death his heart should lie removed
from his body. placed in a silver urn and
be conveyed by his favorlte child and con-
slant companion. Lady Margaret MacRae.
TO the Holy Land. for interment on the
Mount Of olives in a tomb constructed for
the purpose. Lady Margoret obedienty
fulfilled his dying directions. and each year
makes a pilgrimage to the Holy Land Tor
the purpose Of visiting the tomb that con-
aims the heart Of "Lotha.r' for her father
was the original Of Lord Bcaconsheid's well
known novel Of that name
MARQU1SE DE FONTENOY.
NEW CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR