The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-05
NOW HOME
OF DUKE OF ORLEANS

well known by that name in the
United States, has never yet succeeded
In establishing his right to that his
tortc dignity 20 the satisfaction either
of tho old French aristocracy or of
the Keeper Of the Great Seal in Paris
who only consents to register such
titles OF nobility that can be proved
TO have been lawfully inherited In the
male line. The historic dukedom OF
Choiseul has long since become ex-
tinct.
!, 1t is hardly necessary for me to re-
mind the readers OF these letters that
the present Due do Praslin and his
brother, Count Gabriel are both or
them grandsons OF that fifth DUO de
Choiseul- Praslin who was arrested and
indicted for the murder OF his wife
In 1917. when she was found hacked
TO pieces with a sword that belonged
TO her husband. The duke was report
ed to have succumbed to poison, on
the very eve OF the day appointed for
his trial by the chamber of peers in
Paris. But it is we'll known that his
quiet obsequies were merely a mock
funeral, and that he survived for
many years, during which his son. the
late duke and his married daughters,
contributed to his support
Collectors OF valuable books and
manuscripts are gathered in London
just at present from all parts OF tho
globe-many OF them from the United
States and Carada-for the purpose OF
attending the sixteenth of the So
called Phillips sales, which has been
taking place at Sothebys. These sales
constitute the contents of the world
famed library known as the Thrill
stane House Collection. familiar to
bibllophiles. to historians. and to arch
oil iStc in,
1t was formed by Sir Thomas
Phillips. Born in 1892. he started
even as school boy at Rugby, and
afterwards AS an undergraduate at
OXFORD. 10 devote al. his spare cash
TO the collection OF such letters and
documents as came within his reach.
Before the death of George Ill he
had become. to use his own words, "a
convinced and militant veliomani
and Broadway Tower, his picturesque
country seat. in WORCESTERSHIRE, had
every room already then filled TO over
flowing with missals, heraldic vista
TONS monastic cartularies, huge vol
umes of correspondence. and piles OF
musty deeds. Frequently he bought a
quantity OF things that he did not
want. In order to secure specially val
liable items. and If he eventually pur-
chased Thirlstane House, at Chelten-
ham, from Lord Northwick, with all
its contents. II was solely for the pur-
pose or obtaining possession OF his
entire collection OF MSS. of every kind
Before he was forty. Sir Thomas
Phillips enjoyed European fame. In
1882, that is TO say. during the reign
of William W. the director OF the
British Museum. Sir Henry Ellis, ex-
pressed a wish to secure sir Thomass
collection for the great national in
stitution OF which he was the chief.
Sir Thomas wrote in reply as follows:
1T cannot be expected that | should
make gift of my collection OF MSS.
and books after the enormous sums
that l have paid for them. But. yet.
am willing to concede them for
nothing. If the treasury will pay my
outstanding obligations and which.
while not large, have been incurred
in connection with the acquisition OF
my Ms. The money thus paid would
thus not be lost 10 the nation, while
the MSS. would be gained"
The government foolshly and short
sightedly declined the offer, and missed
its chance. The opportunity never oc-
Cured again. Sir Thomas had been
merely temporarily embarrassed, and
between that tine and the date OF his
death in 1872, lie is recorded to have
spent some S2,eo0.000 more in adding
to his collection.
When he died. II was found that he
had left nothing to the nation, but had
oequea thed everything to his youngest
daughter, Mrs Fenwick. BY her di-
rection the collection was not sold en-
bloc, but is being disposed OF in peri
odical sales, the present one being the
sixteenth that has taken place since
1872. Less than two-thirds of the col
lection has been sold, and whenever
one OF these sales is announced, the
representatives OF foreign govern
ments bibliophiles and collectors as
scmble from all parts OF the world
One OF the lots in the present sale
Included the original agreement for
the purchase of Buckingham Palace
by George Ill, in 1862. Several others
comprised number of absolutely
unique Americana, while one OF the
most important features of his as vet
unsold collection, comprises the whole
OF the Battle Abbey charters, which
Sir Thomas purchased en- bloc.
Fle had an elder daughter, married
TO James 0, Halliwen, the great
Shakesperian scholar. Halliwell had
the misfortune. In Sir Thomas
Phtllipps's eyes. OF being a Roman
Catholic. and in his will he not only
made no Request to his eldest daugh-
ter, but directed in the most explicit
manner that neither she nor her nus
oand. nor any other Roman Catholic,
should be permitted to examine his
collection, as long as they remained In
the custody of his executors ana
trustees. or that they should even Nbe
permitted to cross the threshold or
Thirlstane House.
Copyright, 1913, by the Brentwood
Company