Lord trips to Paris have ended in his marriage with
Miss Golds with, daughter of Mr. Lewis Goldsmith, formerly editor
of the Antigallican, and author of some political works now forgotten. After paying a short visit to Fontainbleau, Lord and Lady Lyndhurst took their departure for Baden-Baden. The Whig papers spread a report that Lord Lyndhursthad " stole away " on a visit to King Ernest of Hanover ; but his Lordship is a man of better taste than to pass his holydays in such company.
The Dutchess of St. Alban's died on Sunday morning. She bad been ill for some time, and lived for several days on arrow-root and brandy. The newspapers have of course supplied obituary notices of this female Ciresus; who appears to have been remarkable for nothing so much as her worldly luck.
" Miss Mellon (we quote the Post) was the daughter of a gentleman who was in the East India service, and died some months previous to her birth ; which took place in London about the year 1770. In the course of two years after- wards, her mother married Mr. Entwistle, the leader of a band in a provincial theatre. This connexion first introduced Miss Mellon to the stage ; where, as a child, she occasionally performer' trifling characters. The first regular en- gagement she entered into was with Mr. Stanton, in whose circuit she con- tinued until her removal to Drury Lane, which was occasioned by the following circumstance. At Stafford, Miss Mellon was favoured with the friendship of Mr. Wright, a banker, with whose sister and daughters she lived in habits of intimacy. Mr. Sheridan being on a visit to the family during the races, saw her play the characters of Rosalind, in As You Like It, anti Pricilla Tomboy; and was so highly satisfied with the performance that he instantly gave her an engagement. She accordingly appeared on the hoards of Drury Lane in the season of 17934, in Lydia Languish, in The Rivals; and her exertions were crowned with great success. Since that period, she continued to perform a variety of characters in both the gay and sentimental departments of the drama, and her efforts evinced abilities above mediocrity." " The first instance of her good fortune occuried in her being the holder of a ticket (or share in a ticket) in the lottery, which came up a prize of 10,000/. This was about the year 1806 or 1807. She continued, notwithstanding, her performance at the theatre ; and, having attracted the attention of the wealthiest of our Metropolitan bankers, was encouraged and supported in her professional exertions by his patronage and influence. The wife of this gentleman being in a very infirm and precarious state of health, it is nut iinprobable that a marriage with Miss Mellon may from the first have been in his contemplation. lk this, however, as it may, scarcely a week had elapsed after the death of his wife, before that event actually took place. She cheerfully and affectionately ful- filled all the duties of a wife towards him ; and at his death was left sole mis- tress of a splendid fortune, independently of a share in the firm of Coutts and Co., bankers. Having thus attained the summit of ambition, as far as wealth was concerned, rank was all that remained to be desired ; and the opportunity being (with her usual good fortune) afforded her, she availed herself of it, by becoming putchess of St. Alban's on the 16th June 1827.
" The first indication of illness was a few days previous to an intended a,seinbly in Stratton Sheet, The air and exercise in an open carriage led her attendants to hope, from favourable appearances, that the indisposition would wear off; but the mind became affected, and she did not know, on the lai.t occasion of going out, even her coachman, anxiously inquiring where they picked him up.' Iler Grace was renioved to Holly Grove by advice of her physicians ; hot she could trot tear the stillness, and requested to be removed to Piccadilly. There, on the ground-fluor in the front room ( the great dining•room), she lay for two months, quite tranquil and without pain ; and then desired to be carried into the room where Mr. Coutts had died. There her Grace also expired. The disease was a paralysis in the limbs."
Her will was opened on Wednesday, in thel presence of the Bute, Guildford, and Burdett families-
" It directs that, in addition to 10,000/. per annum, the sum of 10,0001. as a legacy, to be paid out of the property to the Duke of St. Alban's ; and her Grace bequeaths the freehold house in Piccadilly, aud the villa and its domains at tlighgate, also to her consort. To Angela the youngest daughter of Sir Francis Burdett, the half profits of the banking-house in the Strand, the man- sion in Stratton Street, and all its moveables, plate, &c. ; her diamonds, which are of great value, and a considerable sum in ready nioney. The other parts of the will were of trifling import. The annuities her Grace paid to different in- dividuals are to be continued. Those, and a few legacies inconsiderable in amount, form the entire will. This will was executed previous to her late indis- position.
" The funeral procession will move from Stratton Street on Monday next, for the family. vault of the 13eauclerko in Lincolnshire."
" Jack Lawless" died at his lodgings, in Cecil Street, Strand, on Tuesday. He was honoured by the appellation of " honest ; " and for all that we ever heard to the contrary, he deserved it. With every in- clination to be a leading patriot and cut a figure in the political world, Mr. Lawless was merely a noisy declaimer, who never knew how to make use of the popularity he at times acquired.
Previous page
