The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-12
Recalled by Recent Mention OF
Name of Francis Charles
of Bourbon.

TRANCIS CHARLES Of Bourbon
~ whose insanity for the past forty
wears formed the subject OF d
-brief cable dispatch from Rome IN the
American newspapers few DAYS ago.
is not. as stated therein, Prince OF
Bourbon nor yet entitled 10 the style
Of prince of Capua, by which mis- rather
was known. His real title is cunt
Nascau The mention. however. Of the
unfortunate lunatic VINO IS half-irlsh'
and who was believed by many to have
died long ago instead of being stu In
existence. serves to recall an eXtraor-
binary romance of seventy or eighty
Years ago. 10 which no reference IS
made in the dispatch. and which. relat-
ing as it does TO the infatuation OF a
Kings brother for particularly lovely
daughter of Erin, is worthy of being
given here briefly.
4 couple OF years before the acces-
sion of Queen Victoria to the throne
Prince Charles Ferdinand of Bourbon.
brother Of Ferdinand H. OF Naples.
land a younger son of Francis l. and
" that Queen Caroline who larished SO
much favor on Lord Nelson and who
vas a sister of Queen Marie Antoinette
Of France.D fell in love with Miss Pene-
lope Smythe daughter OF Grlce Smythe.
squire of Ballynatray, in County water
ford He had become acquainted with
her at the court of his brother at Ma
Plies and had entreated the King for
that permission to marry her wntcn
was indispensable to the contracting o.
any valid union under the terms Of the
Nca politan royal marriage act of lS-9-
Ferdinand IL proved Obdurate. anT'
thereupOn the prince, who bore the title
Of Prince of Capua, determined 10 ac-
bring about in his brothers dominions
Accordingly, ne caused himself TO b.
married TO the fair Penelope. first at
Madrid. then at Gretna Green, then al
Rome by Cardinal Wells. and finally in
London. in 81. Georges. Hanover Square,
In conformity with the rites of the
Church of England. on May %, 1886
The record of the marriage Still exists
In the parish registers of that famous
church where exPresident Roosevelt
and the present Mrs. Roosevelt were
also married. many years later.
The Prince of Capua had been In
formed that none Of his previous mar
RACES were valid in the eyes Of the
law, and consequently described him
self and his bride. on the parish reg
ister as barcheIor and spinster lie
had also been told that II he were mar
riod according TO English law in
church of the state establishment in
England. It would constitute at any
rate a perfectly LEGAL union in that
country.
But IN England. as in this country.
YOU have TO obtain a license to wed.
especially when you dispense with the
delay cntsilcd by the banns on sue
cessive Sundays. When. however. the
prince applied TO the authorities in
London for a license. Count I,udolf, the
minister plcnipotentiary Of Kng Fer
dinand Of Naples. IN London. Instituted
legal proceedings 20 prevent the grant
OF the license on the strength of the
NcapoIitan royal marriage act. The
application Of Count I.udolf was sue
,essfuI and the grant or the license
vas refused. with the result that tho
marriage Of the prince in 81. Georges
Hanover Square. contracted without
license. was even stu less valid IN
point Of English law than any OF the
previous wedding ceremonies which he
had zone through.
The C. remony m St Georges. Han
over square. was followed by decree
81 Punishment issued BY Ferdinand II
against his brother. who from that time
forth until the KINGS death. near
quarter - century afterwards was
sonpcilsd 20 I've abroad with his Irish
wife. mainly IN England. where they
we're treated with the utmost kindness
ov Queen Victoria Indeed, the latter
acted as sodmctncf 20 one OF the two
children born Of this Neapolitan-irish
union. who were created Cunt am
Countess Nascaii b. Pope Plus \. Ana
when victoria Bourbon. this goddauRh-
ter. die unmarried a. Countess MAS
cali AZ her villa Mariia. near ISicca-
In Northern italy. the British arnbassa-
dor At Rom. attended the funeral a.
the representative Of Queen Victoria
and BY the la;ter's direction
Victoria Bourbon. Countess Aascai@
vas a woman % celebrated loveiiness.
slngularIy gifted. and with such mag :
nificcnt contralto voice that Meyeroeer
was moved thereby TO specially compose