nd
adding to the wealth of his patrimony.

He had the prescience to choose an heiress for his Duchess and went to
Scotland for the purpose.

Major-General John Scott of Balcomie, Fife, had three daughters, the
eldest was known as "the rich Miss Scott," the second as "the witty Miss
Scott," and the third as "the pretty Miss Scott." The Duke selected
Henrietta, "the rich Miss Scott," who besides her wealth had coursing
through her veins the blood of Balliol and Bruce, the chieftains of
Highland chivalry.

Having secured the hand of the heiress, he assumed by royal licence in
1795, the additional surname of Scott.

Well might the Duke be willing to couple that simple syllable with the
patrician accents of Cavendish-Bentinck, for by his marriage with the
Fifeshire heiress there came into the family an unexpected windfall of
60,000l. Among the bride's possessions was an island in Scotland, and
the Government of the day being desirous of improving the beacon-light,
paid 60,000l, for the island and spent about half that sum in addition
in erecting a new lighthouse.

Their domestic life was happiness itself, neither was brilliant, but
both were honoured by those among whom they lived. The Duchess
interested herself in her husband's vast estates, as well as in her own,
and in the domestic welfare of their dependants. For a long period she
was a fitting companion for the Duke and pre-deceased him ten years, in
May, 1844.

Two of their sons developed some remarkable traits and two of the
daughters became rich heiresses. The eldest son died young, which opened
the way for Lord John to become Marquis of Titchfield and eventually
fifth Duke of Portland of eccentric fame. The third was Lord George
Bentinck, born on February 27th, 1802. Of the daughters, Lady Charlotte
married Mr. Speaker Denison and became Viscountess Ossington and Lady
Lucy married Lord Howard de Walden. Clipstone forms part of the Welbeck
estate and with the Duke's practical knowledge of agriculture he ordered
to be constructed an irrigation system by which he reclaimed thousands
of acres of land, formerly rabbit-warrens and swamps, so that they
became productive farms. The Duke's flood-dyke, and diversion of the
little river Maun for the purposes of drainage, cost him L80,000. His
weather-beaten coat and huge leather shoes, extending above the knees,
were familiar to the labourers and were characteristic of the simple
attire he wore when among them giving i