A CHARWOMAN’S DAUGHTER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 242, 26 September 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

A CHARWOMAN’S DAUGHTER

At about the time when Frederick Duke of York, second son of George 111., was beginning his military career, which was to culminate in his becoming Uom-mander-in-Cliief of tho British Army, there was born in a squalid lodging in Bowling-Pin-alley, oil Chancery-lane, London, a baby girl, whom her mother, a humble charwoman, afterwards causeu to be christened Mary Anne. The little Cockney girl was dowered with wondrous beauty, and before sbo had reached the age ot fourteen she haa oeen entangled in a score of love intrigues. Mary Anne was one of that type or women born to fascinate men, ana, incidentally, to drain them of their money. First she fleeced two well-known baronets, then a rich stockbroker. These were followed by Lord Barrymore who installed her in a fine house at Brighton, lb was here she first attracted the attention of the Duke of York. He quickly succumbed to her charms, carried her off to London, and installed her in a splendid mansion.

Her extravagance knew no bounds, and to meet her expenditure she began to sell commissions in the Army. This was an easy way of raising money, for the Duke did her bidding, and he was all-powerful in such matters. The exgutter girl drove a thriving trade, ana practically ran the British Army in her own interests. The scandal leaked out, and Parliament intervened, with the result that the Duke had to resign his post.

lo raise money she now wrote her memoirs, including facsimile copies of some of the mofe spicy letters s-"nt <o her by the Duke. Eighteen tho isand copies had actually been printed when the Duke prevailed upon her to accept £lO,OOO for their suppression. Sho retired forthwith to Paris, where she lived quietly until her death, which took place on May 1, 1852, at the ripe age of seven-ty-six.