Lot Essay
The arms are those of William, 9th Duke of St. Albans born in 1801. He married in 1827 Harriot Mellon, the daughter of Sarah Mellon, an Irish strolling player and an impecunious lieutenant in the Madras Cavalry. Harriot made her first appearance on the stage in a farce called The Spoiled Child at Ulverstone at the age of eleven. Her career as an actress came to an abrupt end in 1815 on her marriage to her longtime admirer, the 83-year old banker Thomas Coutts. On his death shortly thereafter, he left her his universal legatee. The Morning Post recorded that 'some time previous to his death he settled upon Mrs. C. The sum of L600,000 with the house in Stratton-street, all the plate, linen &c.--the service of plate is said to be the most valuable in any of the country--together with the house in Highgate and all its appurtances . . . the whole makes her the richest widow in the United Kingdom.'
Whithin three years of Coutts's death, reports of an impending marriage between his widow and the 21-year-old heir to the Dukedom of St. Albans were rife. Sir Walter Scott wrote in his journal 'If the Duke marries her, he ensures an immense fortune; if she marries him she has the first rank. If he marries a woman older than himself by twenty years, she marries a man younger in wit by twenty degrees. I do not hink he will dilapidate her fortune; he seems good and gentle. I do not think she will abuse his softness of disposition--shall I say or of--head' [Lockhart, Life of Sir Walter Scott, vol. VIII, pp. 116-117].
The Duchess was renowned both for the extravagance of her hospitality and her generosity to those in need. She was vilified by the popular press, who lost no opportunity in attacking her, and she appears to have been either wildly hated or greatly loved by all in society. The Royal Dukes, with the exception of the Duke of Clarence (later William IV) were all regular visitors. Prince Puckler-Muskau, a German visitor to London and an indefatigable snob, records in his journal a visit to the Duchess: 'Yesterday, the wedding day of the Duchess of St. A(lbans), was celebrated by a very pleasant rural fete at her villa. . . perhaps there never was a woman who had the art of appearing more innocent and child-like; certainly this captivating sort of coquetry is the greates charm, though not perhaps the greatest merit, of women.'
[Austin, trans., A Regency Visitor, 1958, p. 306]
Whithin three years of Coutts's death, reports of an impending marriage between his widow and the 21-year-old heir to the Dukedom of St. Albans were rife. Sir Walter Scott wrote in his journal 'If the Duke marries her, he ensures an immense fortune; if she marries him she has the first rank. If he marries a woman older than himself by twenty years, she marries a man younger in wit by twenty degrees. I do not hink he will dilapidate her fortune; he seems good and gentle. I do not think she will abuse his softness of disposition--shall I say or of--head' [Lockhart, Life of Sir Walter Scott, vol. VIII, pp. 116-117].
The Duchess was renowned both for the extravagance of her hospitality and her generosity to those in need. She was vilified by the popular press, who lost no opportunity in attacking her, and she appears to have been either wildly hated or greatly loved by all in society. The Royal Dukes, with the exception of the Duke of Clarence (later William IV) were all regular visitors. Prince Puckler-Muskau, a German visitor to London and an indefatigable snob, records in his journal a visit to the Duchess: 'Yesterday, the wedding day of the Duchess of St. A(lbans), was celebrated by a very pleasant rural fete at her villa. . . perhaps there never was a woman who had the art of appearing more innocent and child-like; certainly this captivating sort of coquetry is the greates charm, though not perhaps the greatest merit, of women.'
[Austin, trans., A Regency Visitor, 1958, p. 306]