A VISCOUNT IN THE RANKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 47, 23 February 1877, Page 4

A VISCOUNT IN THE RANKS.

Viacoant Maidstone, eldest eon of the Earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham, has been attracting public notice by his foolish conduct. He made his appearance at the Woolwich Police Court towards the end of last month amongst some recruits, and represented himself as desirous of paying " smart money" to obtain his release, as he had repeuted of having enlisted. He had enlisted, he said, because his income, which was £500 a year, was insufficient for his maintenance. He was released on pay* ment of £1 smart money, Is enlisting money, and 2a 3d for subistuence, and received the usual certificate to protect him from arrest as a deserter. Three days later, however, this young hopeful enlisted again for a eervioa of twelve years in the Royal Artillery, giving his name as John Harton (Finch-Harton befog the family name of the Earls of Winchelsea), and describing himself as of no occupation. The officer commanding the regiment excercised bis discretionary power of rejecting any recruit, and declined the valuable services of Lord Maidstone, who, determined not to be baulked of his purpose, thereupon enlisted in a cavalry regiment. The Billy little fellow once before attracted public attention by assaulting a gentlemen who objected to his bringing a dog into a railway carriage with him. The pauper viscount's assumption of airs on that occasion waa the cause of much merriment to half the papers in the country. He is now 24 years old, and in 1871 was a cornet in the West Kent Militia. He is also at the present time engaged in passing through the Bankruptcy Court, and his estate is cheerfully described as consisting of " do aocounts" and "no assets." His father is wellknown in "society" as a diner-out and a writer of verses on fashionable trifles. In fact he is in London what Quatorsiemes used to be in Paris.