SOME ENGLISH FAMILIES, AND HOW THEY BECAME RICH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 227, 30 October 1909, Page 3

SOME ENGLISH FAMILIES, AND HOW THEY BECAME RICH.

THE DUKE OP BEDFORD. ' t was Lord Ridley who some time ago stated that nearly one-third of the land is owned by the House of Lords in one way or another. The Duke of Bedforl's portion is 84,000 acres, which includes -50 acres of some of the most valuable ground-rents in London. He owns the larger portion of Bloomsbury and the whole of Coveut Garden, including the market, which is reputed to bring hi. i !iu £50,000 a year. Altogether the an uual rent of the Duke's London estate [amounts to £2,250,000. In Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Devonshire the Duke possesses acre , which are estimated to bring him in close j upon £BO,OOO a year, not to mention' land in Buckinghamshire and Hunts. Audi nearly the whole of it came to the Rtu-1 <e!Js by Royal grants, although it mustl confessed that some of the latter

-vere worthily won, for the Bedfords and liussclls have, at times done great scrvv:o to the country. A LUCKY CHANCE.

The first Russell, for installed, who was created Earl of Bedford in loot), was one of the most accomplished men of his i;iue, although it was really a lucky s-nance which brought him into Hoy.il ta\or and paved the way for receiving ->uch gifts as Tavistock Abbey and the extensive possessions attached to it, and iubequently the monastery of Wobu>'n, with its park, which is twelve miles in circumference. Of the abbey nothing now remains, the present mansion, .vliicll was built mainly in the eighteenth .•cntury, being one of the most magnificent in the country. . .this was how John Russell, the nrst Karl of Bedford, founded the fortunes of the family, lie was. residing on [ the Dorsetshire coast, when contrary rwinds caused the vessel conveying AnilAustria from Flanders to Spain to become stranded near Weymouth, Sir Thomas Trenchard, cousin to John Russell, hospitably entertained [the Archduke, but deputed the actual attendance upon him to Mr. Russell, who had lately returned from the Continent and was familiar with the German | language.

STILL MORE GRANTS. Thus it came about that lie was intro dueed, with the Archduke, to Henrv VII., and Mr. Russell wsis at once, taken iiuo favor. He was appointed a Gentleman nf the Privy Chambet. and. after aeco.n ■ rallying Henry VIII. to the French wars, was crealed Baron Russell and Karl o r Hertford. the grants ulreadv mentionel , going n itli the titles. During the reigi of ths boy King Edward VI.. who die'': ■it sixteen, he was further enrieocd. ,ti, amongst 'other grants secured a plot r. •land called Scvcnacrea, or Long A.-■('■ and Cocent Garden, which had formerli belong! il to the moiiks of Westminster' EXKCC'J'ED FOR HIGH TREASON 1 . H's sc.oussors secured other Crow; lan-is end titles, although the Russelb were in danger of losing everything wher in .1083 Lord Russell was executed fir high ticason, as a participator in t'nc Rye House conspiracy. Bv sonic means, ■rawever, the attainder—that is. the "decree by Miich a person executed for treason is deprived of all civil rights and the :-ower to transmit proper Iv was anmi'led. and lie was succeeded by hi' grandson The Hiissclls at that' time possessed a'lmost unliniited influence, a] tlrugii the oll'erof the Duke of Bcdforl, Lord Russell's father, of CIOO.WM t*< the life of llis son did not prevent his execution.

And it was not the fust lime thai Lord SihhoU had been in «.eviou< I rouble For while lie \vji> .\U\ for Tavistock he •va* arrested for debt* and duelling, from which plight he was rescued by h's marriage with Lady Rachel Wriotliosloy, second daughter and co-heirc** of the I'nrl of Southampton, who brought wKh her no small "dot." 1 One or two other advantageous marriajrts helped to swell the wealth of the fr.dford family, and a few purchases of •■ropprty have been made from time to time, Generally speaking, however, tin '.resent weulth'of the Puke of Bedford 's derived from the original grants marii l o th<> ancestor who won Koyal favor and l»y his polite attendance upon fne Austrian Archduke who was wrecked tiear Weymouth.—'Jit-Bits.