The Viscountess was not daunted by this failure to realise her hopes, and in 1888 another attempt at colonization was made under her auspices.  Twenty-five families, mostly from Hampshire, sailed for the Cape and formed a new settlement, called by the name of the poet Tennyson.  This time the experience of the past was a warning, the enterprise was attended by fairer prospects of success and before her death she had the gratification of knowing that the settlers were contented and happy.

Another of the Duke’s daughters was the Dowager Lady Howard de Walden, who became immensely rich on the death of Lady Ossington.  Their father had so willed it that if the fifth Duke died without male heirs the London property was to pass to his daughters.  Lady Ossington had no children and her rich dowry passed to her sister, who thereby had a double portion.  Ossington Hall, after having been for so many years the home of a Duke’s daughter, reverted to the Denison family.

From allusions made by Lord George Bentinck to his friends, when he had lost heavily on the turf, it was understood that his mother and sisters, especially Lady Charlotte, were always ready to help him over his difficulties.  It is surmised that they knew more of his secrets and of the secrets of the Marquis of Titchfield than the old Farmer Duke who frowned upon betting transactions and was not known to have been involved in the excitements of a duel and gallantries to actresses, not to mention a nebulous secondary existence as Thomas Druce.

Ossington is within easy carriage distance of Welbeck, but the eccentric brother rarely saw his sister and the latter was astonished at the transformation of the Abbey and grounds brought about by him.  Before the alteration of her ancestral home she made an interesting sketch of it, as it was in her father’s lifetime.

CHAPTER V

EARLY LIFE OF LORD JOHN BENTINCK, AFTERWARDS FIFTH DUKE OF PORTLAND.—­THE ADELAIDE KEMBLE ROMANCE

Lord John Bentinck was born in September 1800, the second son of the fourth Duke.  His name in its extended form was William John Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, and for many years, till the death of his brother Henry, he had no prospect of succeeding to the Dukedom.  At nineteen he was a lieutenant in the army, and in 1824 was returned as Member of Parliament for King’s Lynn; but the duties of a legislator do not seem to have been much to his taste and he resigned in 1826, his brother, Lord George Bentinck, being elected to take his place.

The fourth Duke kept a large stud of race-horses and Lord John was brought up in the atmosphere of the turf.  When a young man he was a horseman, fearless and even reckless in his equestrian exploits.  There used to be a gate six feet high at Serlby Hall, the seat of Viscount Galway, which it was said he had jumped one day when hunting.

The three brothers, Henry, John and George, formed a racing partnership under the name of “Mr. Bowes” and were for a time successful in their enterprise, their transactions bringing in considerable sums of money.