The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-04
Lord Osborne de We're Beauclerk
Is Half-Brother of Duke Of
ST. Adams.
ny ia MAnaUIsE DE FoNrENor


title upon Charles Beauclerk, one Of
his two illesitimate sons BY Nell Gwyn:
the orange girl. the actress, the friend
OF the poet Dryden (who wrote parts
adapted to her peculiar capabilities
and the admired one of the quaint old
gossip Samuel Pepys, who said of one
OF her impersonauons. Pretty, witty
Nell. 50 great performance OF
comical part was never | believe in
the world before," Even Evelyn, who
hated women of her class, spoke OF
her with respect
She may DO said to have been the
II seems that an actor at the play
house known as The Dukes Theatre.
wore very large hat, which became
the talk of the town. Not to be out
In hat of tho circumference of
timber coach wheel, in such merry
fashion as to throw the theatre into
commissions of laughter. in which tn
actors themselves could not help join
ing.
About the first thing heard of her
was when she was an orange girl In
Drury Lane Theatre. The orange
girls stood In tn. pit with their backs
to the stage on the watch for cuSto-
mcrs for their wares, exchanging Wit
! ticisms with the audience. during the
waits between the acts. Nell was
great favorite with the people. who
even after they knew her 70 be the
| mistress OF Charles H.. admired her
erosity. her invariable good temper.
her ready wit, and her infectious high
spirits, all OF which were irrcsisH-
bic TO those who recognized In her the
negation and absolute contradiction OF
the Puri;anism that had so recently
weighed upon the spirits of the plea
sure loving element Of the populac =
Low In stature, we'll formed
handsome, red haired and rather
plump. airy. fantastic and sprightly.
she sang. danced, and was exactly
, made for acting light, SNOWY. charac-
| ters" Moreover she was; IN hsr Was'
patriotic. never Intrigued In poii.ics'
and is known to have sometimes given
excellent and disinterested advice 10
her royal. selfish and frivolous lover
why don't you get rid of all us
women" she said on one occasion, ana
devote yourself to sGrions aaiTS; n, Axe
the other favorites OF the Merrio Mon
| arch. she was faithful TO him from
the beginning of their intimacy. until
the, end of his life. and after nc al ni "a,
vive him. y funeral sermon was
preached in her praise by, Thomas Ten.
ison. who was afterwards Archnlsnop
of Canterbury. Among the good ac-
lions placed to her credit is that OF
having persuaded her royal lover to
found Chelsea Hospital an estimaoie
charity. for the support and retlrins
ment in their declining Years or ola
ward OF 500. besides having a large
number of outdoor pensioners.
An amusing story is told OF the orr
gin OF the Dukedom OF ST. Adams
Nell Gwyn resented the fac, that
! Charles ii. showered honors and titles
upon the offspring of his other favor
ties, Barbara Vnliers, Louis de Quer-
| ouoilles. and others. whereas her
| children were Disseminated against ne
refused to respond TO her appeals TO
~ n
boys. She waited her opportunity. and
| one afternoon when Charles was RID
ing through the street on when she
lived on his way back rom new "n nn%t
| iers, she suddenly held her baby out
OF the window by its chemiSe, anu
| hailing the King. threatened to let
the child drop on to me ,ns stoh1 bestowed
| a dukedom upon his and her offspring:
Charles iaughingly yielded. and pledged
himself to comply with her demana.
| child not only Duke of st. Adams, nut
likewise Hereditary Grand Falconer
Thanks to this royal descent, tina
Dukes OF st. Adams are ENTITLED to
the use of the royal arms of England
brised though with bar sinister.
On his deathbed Charles II. entreated
| his brother. the Duke of York, 70 LOOK
| after Nell Gwyn. ana NOT 10 iet "et
! =
wise ungracious monarch taithtuliF
carried out, by paying her debts from
] the Secret Service Fund, giving hfr
| a substantial SUI In cash. t9Sether
| tate with reversion. to the Duke o,
| ST. Adams. The other child of Nell
Gwyn died in his boyhood.
! 1t may be added that no question
has ever been raised as to the. royal
descent Of the Dukes of ST. Adams
| illegltimate, though 1t be.
The same can hardly be said !, %, OF
ing from the reign of Charles II. For
delivers into the secret history ana
private correspondence OF his rngn
| favoritcs of the Merrie Monarch We're
not hampered by thu same scrupulous
consistency that characterized Nell
Gwyn.
We're BeaucIerk. His love of adven-
ture was source OF great anxiety
to his friends and relatives few
years ago. In July 1907; he came 70
low pa ssenger OF Alfred Vanderbilt.
After visiting Alaska. and spending
some time In British Columbia. he
started on hunting Ting trip 90 Go@n the
heard OF him for two years Several
expeditions We're sent out, at the In
stance OF his widowed mother, 10
ascertain what had become of him.
for of course the worst was feared re-
gardng his fate, especially as II was
known that he had largo sum of
money with him when last seen: But
II turned out that there was really no
cause for alarm. He was so delighted
with the fire :dom of life in the West.
and was having such good time
roaming around. that he had actually
florgotten to write home. Moreover.
he was busy acquiring large mining
and lumber interests, and under
stand that his visit over here now is
t. look after them.
have mentioned that when he sue
ceeds to the Dukcdom of ST Alrans.
he will also enjoy the her aditnry dig
nifty of Grand Falconer. he also has
the privilege OF driving in his carriage
UP and down Rotten Row; the King
being the only other parsonage who
can do likewise In that exclusive
thoroughfare, sacred-eXciusive of
sidewalks of course--to equestrians.
George V. is doing a great deal to