New-York tribune., 1911-02-03
Lady Meux's Queer aenuests-


! J have mentioned that Admiral Sir He'd.
worth Lambton is the princinal ,egatoe NJ
.le late Lazy Meux. having inherited un-
"e' her VIII her historic and beautiful
country seat OF Theobald's Park, her town
house at NO. Il Park Lane. house on
the sea front at Brighton and a most pict-
ur"Sque old chateau, known as Sucy-er-
Brie, some twenty miles from Paris alon.
with Sheen House. at East Sheen. and q
fortune in stocks and bonds. reprosentine
an income Of considerably over $4,000 a
year. But It has not been explained that
there IS a condition attached 10 this be
quest. namely. that Sir Hedvorth should
abandon his name of Lambton and his ar
moral bearings and adopt IN lieu thereof
the name and arms 81 Meux.
This is no small sacrifice for man whose
family name can he traced back in an IN
broken male line 10 the twelfth century.
since which time Lanbton Castle. in Dur
ham has always been in tho possession of
the Lambtons Moreover. IT was as He'd
worth Lambton that he won so much fame
and distinction In connection with the gal
liant and stubborn defence of Lsdysmth
during the last South African war The
name and the arms of tho Lambtons arc
historic, not 20 say illustrious, whereas
those Of the McuXes are identined with moth
Ing more than a relatively modern brand of
ale. Sr Hedworth, who was I'm the act OF
negotiating for a sorcly needed loan of
$4,000 or S30mo when he was dpprised Of
Tho tenor ot Lady McuX will, loses every
thing unless me consents 90 be known from
hcnceforth as Admiral Sir fIedWorth Meux.
and IN the event Of his refusal to defer
hequcst would 90 t. his young stcpdaugh-
ter Ethel Cadogan. daughter Of his wife
by Icy former marriage TO the late Lord
Chelsea. As it is, Ethel Cadogan gets all
Lady MeuXs magnificent furs. certain Of
her pearls valued al $4,000, and the use
OF Temple House and grounds on the Theo-
bald Park estate for her life.
Another extraordinary bequest Of Lady
MeuX is that of a wonderful collection Of
AbySSinan manuscripts TO Emperor Men
elk OF Abyssina. who. Notwithstanding
his frequently reported death, still figures
as ruler Of Abyssina in the AlInanach de
Gotha and other standard works of refer
ence for the year 1911. At the time OF the
stormng of the Abyssinian stronghold Of
Maedala 10y Lord Napier and his British
army in 1868 the capture Of which was sig
nalized by the suicide of Emperor Theo-
dorc. wonderful quantities Of ancient man
uscrpts were found and included in the
loot The late Sir Henry Meux's father
acquired them for a mere song. and they
have ever since remained in the possession
Of the MeuXcs. although both Emperor
John and Emperor MeneIik have on sew
eral occasions sent emissaries 20 negotiate
with the McuNes for their recovery.
Lady Meux has now given directions for
their restoration to Emperor Nenelik, ana
/. must be source Of considerable regret
to the scientific world, which either is-
nored or had forgotten their whereabouts,
that they should be sent back TO Abysslnia
without having been carefully examined
and photographed For. as shown by the
anxiety which the Emperors Of AhNSSinia
manifested To recover possession thereon
they are OF great value dealing with the
earliest ages Of the history Of Ethiopia
and bearing probably upon the claims OF
the empcrore of Abyssinia 70 he descended
from the jewish King Solomon ana the
Biblical queen of Shoba.
SIN another bequoet Of Lady MeuH Is
that Of all her wonderful collection Of rel
les Of Nelson. including his sword to Al
miral Lord Charles Beresford. while Lady
charles gets the jewels of his fair friend
and egeria. Lady Hamilton. including
beautiful diamond necklace. which he pre-
ssntcd 20 her not long after his great VIC
torv of the Nile.
MAPQUISE DE FONTENol.