NOBLE FAMILIES AND HOW THEY BECAME RICH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 305, 3 February 1910, Page 3

NOBLE FAMILIES AND HOW THEY BECAME RICH

THE DUKE 01-' BUCCLEUCH. There are not wanting those who assert that the "Bold Buceleuch," the founder of the wealth owned by the family to-day, was a li bad Buceleuch''; in fact, that he was nothing more <-r leas than a raiuer, who acquired cattle and land by might, -without a thought of right. They were stirring times in which he lived, however, and ho was no worse, if no better, than hundreds v-.f other English and Scottish noblemen who made sacrifices to uphold their King in warfare, and obtained rewards as best they could. ANSWERING A PROUD QUEEN. This much can be said for the found -t of the family—he never lacked pluck and a bold front. As Sir Walter Scott he carried on a predatory warfare against the English, and on the conclusion of a peaceful arrangement between Elizabeth and James he was sent io England as a hostess by the latter. Wlien brought before the haughty Queen Bess, she imperiously demanded of him how lie dared to kill so many of her soldiers. But for once the proud Queen met her match, for the ready .answer came, "What is there that a man dare not do?" Struck by the reply, she turned to a lord-in-waiting and said, ''With ten thousand such men our brother of might shake the firmest t'hronC i':i .wiirope." The '■brother" alluded to, of course, was James VT., who, on becoming James. I of Great Britain, lost little time in making Sir Walter Lord Scott of Buccleuch for Ms gallant deeds. DUKE OF MONMOUTH'S BRIDE. This was in 1606, and it was the first of a long list of titles which was subsequently to come to the Buccleuchs. Much land had been acquired by the bold Buceleuch in Haddington, Berwick, Selkirk, and Dumfries, but it was not until 1063 that the head of the family was created a Duke. ' The story of how this honor camee to him makes interesting reading. In 1651 Francis of Buceleuch died leaving two daughters. Mary and Anna, Mary being the elder four years. The latter died, however, and Anna, who as heiress to the Buceleuch estate was regarded as a great matrimonial prize, was married to an illegitimate son of Charles 11., who had created him Duke of Monmouth. Immediately after the marriage the King created the Duke of Monmouth Duke of Buceleuch, with the Earldom of Dalkeith, and although he was afterwards executed for rebellion the titles w r ere unaffected, being held jointly by his vfTTe, and came to her descendants. ACRES AND WEALTH. It "By marriage of Francis, second Duke of Buceleuch, to the daughter and heiress of the Duke of Queensberry that the immense estates of Dumfries, amounting at the present time to 253,514 acres, were acquired by the Buceleuch family. Other acres were acquired by fortunate marriages, until the total swelled to lose on 460,000, which is the number of acres owned by the Duke of Buceleuch at the present time. The annual rental of his estates ' is of which amount £43,030 I is derived from Hie English estates. Of the twenty-seven Dukes in the peerage: liis Grace of "Buceleuch is undoubtedly one of the wealthiest. At one time he possessed twelve mansions in which'to reside, but contents himself now 1 with half-a-doezn palace*, one of which, Montagu House, White!: his town residence, is one of the fines. ■■■' the great London houses. £150.000 FOR TWO-FIFTHS OF AN ACRE. It is in connection with the latteT that the "late Duke drove such a hard bargain when II was decided to build the Thames Embankment. The grounds of the house ran dowii to the river edge, and it w ; as necessary to acquire a strip of the land in order to carry the Embankment from Charing Cross to Westminster. Two-fifths of an acre were required. hut the Duke, together with other noble land-owners, strongly op-po.-ed the Bill sanctioning th:> construction of the Embankment, although their properties Were greatly enhanced in value liv the proposed improvement. The Bill was parsed, but the London rntepavers had to pay £150.000 to the Duke of Buceleuch for that two-fifths of ah acre in order that the Embankment might be completed.