A PEERESS LIVING BY HER NEEDLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5173, 15 June 1878, Page 6

A PEERESS LIVING BY HER NEEDLE.

We take the following from "Social Notes" with reference to the announcement recently made in The Times that the Earl Beaconstield had recommended a grant from the Royal Bounty Fund of £100 to the Universal Beneficent Society, 15 Soho Square, to be applied for the benefit of Viscountess Kingsland, one of the Society's pensioners. Viscountess Kingsland was married to the late Viscount in 1819. After his death the interest on the sum of £1200 was her oaly means of support. One of the two trustees appointed having died, the other trustee, her own brother,a bsconded with the principal and left her completely destitute aud penniless. The authorities of the parish in which she resided then allowed her out door relief at the rate of two shillings per week, and with her needle she managed to eke an existence earning weekly on an average from 2s. to 3s. She lives in a small room in Lambeth in extreme poverty, and endured for a long time in silence her hard lot. At last in her distress she applied to a subscriber of the society, who brought the case to the notice of tho council. Satisfactory evidence and certificates having been obtained verifying the truth of her statement and confirming her tale of woe, she was placed on the list of the society's pensionersMatthew Buruewall, sixth Viscount of Burnewall of Kingsland, in the Peerage of Ireland, died Dec, 1533, when his title became extinct, he having no male heir or issue. He married on Jan. 2ud, ISIG, Julia, the daughter of Mr. John Willis, physician, who is present viscountess. Lady Kingsland has no relatives or connexions lving who are in a position to assist her, her sister being herself a pensioner on the Government and receiving 140 a year. The sister lives with her two daughters who are engaged as machinists, (sewing machines). The third daughter of that aister lives with Lady Kingsland, and earns a small weekly pittance by braiding mantles and other needlework. . . . Lady Kingsland has continued her needlework, but this she is obliged to confine to shirt-making. She is paid at the rate of 2d for each shirt made ! It has been decided, with Lord Beaconsfield's approval, to expend the £100 grant in purchasing an annuity of about £10 to £12 a year for Lady Kingsland, after laying out a small sum in making a new apartment to.be procured for her ladyship a little more comfortable than that which she occupies at present.— Times.