Bastardy is so out of fashion nowadays. Is the story of the ‘noble’ Duke of Dorset, who is said to have died childless, really so extraordinary ? Perhaps because he was found out ? Could someone alive now resurrect this title ?
‘EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF BASTARDY.–Within the last fortnight an order of affiliation has been obtained, by the parish officers of St. George’s, Hanover-square, against the Duke of Dorset, to compel his Grace to give security to the parish for the maintenance of a child which a female had sworn he was the father of. The facts of the case are these:–The mother of the child, who appeared to have been a good-looking female, but reduced to extreme poverty, was a few years ago residing at the west end of the town, when she accidentally met with a gentleman who called himself ‘Mr. Smith.’ The gentleman expressed much regard for her, and offered to allow her a conditional maintenance, and she accepted his terms.–She became pregnant after their intercourse had been carried on for some time, and she communicated the fact to ‘Mr. Smith,’ who left a sum of money, and without mentioning his intention to discontinue his visits, never afterwards called on her. When she had given birth to the child in question, she was reduced almost to a state of starvation, and with the child in her arms she was compelled to go about the streets to solicit alms as a means of existence. A short time ago she was walking near Portland-place, and caught a view of her quondam friend ‘Mr. Smith.’ She followed him, unobserved, and saw him go into the mansion of his Grace the Duke of Portland. She knocked at the door soon afterwards, and asked what the name of the gentleman who had entered the house was, as she had previously suspected that Mr. Smith was not his real name. The servant replied, ‘that gentleman is the Duke of Dorset.’ On this she informed the parish officers that she had discovered the father of the child, and his Grace was summoned to show cause why he should not maintain it. On the woman’s examination, she mentioned places, and dates, and circumstances, under which ‘Mr. Smith’ (who she swore was the Duke) had met her ; and although an attempt was made to induce her to fix on a date when it might have been proved his Grace was not in London, it did not succeed, and her evidence was not impeached, except by the strong counter-declarations of his Grace. The order, however, having been made on the noble Duke, his Grace paid 120l. to the parish officers as a compromise, and so the affair terminated.’
Stamford Mercury, 11th April, 1828.