The Sphinx, Vol. 13, No. 183

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THE SPHINX
December 9th
SOCIETY IN EGYPT.
Telegraphing under date of the 5th inst. our London correspondent says :—The marriage of Mr. Percy Wilfrid Machell to Countess Victoria Gleichen took place at mid-day to-day at the Chapel Royal, St. James’ Palace before a small but very select congregation. His Majesty King Edward was present and looked very well. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught and Princess Patricia, Princess Christian and Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, and Princess Henry of Batten berg with Princess Ena of Battenbcrg were also present. The weather was very dull and several times it was feared that rain would fall hut happily it held oil'. The ceremony was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury who was assisted by the sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal and the Archbishop delivered a most impressive address. The service was fully choral, Sir Walter Parratt presiding at the organ.
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The Hon. Harold Willoughby acted as best man and the bride was attended by Miss Lavinia Spencer and Miss Lselia Ponsonby, both of them very pretty little girls, as bridesmaids and Master Derek Amory and Master Patrick Holm, who is Mr. Machell’s nephew, were pages. The bride who was given away by her brother, Count Gleichen, looked very well in a white moire silk dress interwoven with gold tinsel. Later in the afternoon the newly-married couple left for Wollaton Hall, the seat of Lord Middleton, who is first cousin to Mr. Machell, where they will spend a short honeymoon prior to returning to Egypt.
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The bride has received many beautiful and costly gifts. The King and Queen’s present was a large amethyst surrounded with diamonds set as a brooch. Princess Victoria gave the Countess two pear-shaped amethysts bung on a platinum chain ; Princess Henry of Battenberg’s present was a pearl brooch ; Princess Christian has given her a lovely antique show table; and the Khedive’s gift takes the form of a specially designed diamand ornament.
The arrival of Princess Lucien Murat, who is staying at the Continental Hotel, in our midst, brings back to memory the history of that celebrated but ill-fated founder of the line, Joachim Murat, King of Naples. No more typical figure of the times in which he lived (save naturally the great Napoleon himself) can be found than that of Joachim Murat, who started life as the son of an innkeeper, lived to be King of Naples and the two Sicilies, and died by being shot after a vain attempt to regain the kingdom he had lost. His life was a series of astounding adventures, his courage was unbounded, his love of theatrical splendour almost laughable even at a time when pomp and glittering parade were the order of the day. He first saw the light at La Bastide-Fortuniere, near Cahors, in either 1767 or 1768. He was intended for the priesthood and actually commenced bis studies at Toulouse. Soon afterwards he entered the Army, but being threatened with punishment for insubordination, be deserted and went to Paris, where at one time it was said that he acted in the capacity of waiter in a cafA His love of adventure however soon obtained for him admission into the Constitutional Guard of Louis XVI.
At the outbreak of the Revolution his extreme republicanism and undoubted gallantry soon made him a marked figure. He attached himself closely to Bonaparte, was with him in Italy and in Egypt, rose to the rank of a general of division (1799), and eventually rendered most important assistance in dispersing’the'Council of Five Hundred at St. Cloud. Ever mindful of the fortunes of bis family, Napoleon determined to be-
stow the band of bis yc ungest sister Caroline in marriage on this ga'lant young soldier, to whom also was entrust* 1 the c anmand of the Consular Guard. lie was loaded with honours an 1 greatly distinguished himself at Mcrcngo, Austcrlitz and many another victory.
In 1806 the newly elected >uchy of Berg was bestowed upon him ; two years later he was pro-clamed king of the two Sicilies by the style of Joachim I Napoleon. He took possession of Naples, but the B turbons, through the support of Britain retained Sicily. This was the summit of his career. He endured with difficulty the yoke of Napoleon which left him little but the show of loyalty, and after the failure of the expedition to Russia he returned to Naples anxious and discontented. After the battle of Leipzig he concluded a treaty with Austria and a truce with the British Admiral, but after Napoleon’s overthrow he again entered into private communications with him at Elbe.
When the Emperor returned to France Murat at the head of 4,000 men commenced a hasty war against Austria, but after being defeated at Far-rara and again at Tolentino he fled to Naples, and from thence to Ischia and France : while his wife and children took refuge with the British fleet. His last attempt to return to Naples and proclaim himself King resulted in his being captured, tried by Court Martial and shot, Oct 14th 1815. His widow assumed the title of the Countess of Lipona and died in Trieste in 1839. His two sons went to the United states, where the elder Napolen Achille Murat settled in Florida and published a number of works relating to bis adopted country. The younger son Napoleon Lucien Charles married an American lady in 1827 but suffered severe reverses of fortune. He made made two unsuccessful attempts to return to France, but the Revolution of 1848 opened the way for his return. He attached himself closely to Prince Louis Napoleon, and in 1849 was French Ambassador Extraordinary at Turin. In 1852 he wss made Senator, and in the following year he received the title of Prince. He was made prisoner by the Germans at Metz in 1870.
H. R. II. Prince Leopold of Battenberg, who is accompanied by Mr. Stephen Gaselee, has been a frequent visitor to the Savoy Hotel this week, where he has been entertained to luncheon and dinner by Major and Mrs. Wynne. His Royal Higliness is, we are glad to say, looking much better than when he arrived in Egypt last year and we hope than another winter spent in this genial clime will go far to completely reestablish his health.
The Earl and Countess of Cromer will in all probability leave Cairo for the Sudan on the 23rd prox. On arriving at Attara they will proceed by the new desert railway to Port Sudan where Lord Cromer will preside over the formal opening of the new Nile—Red Sea line. After the the ceremony the official train will return to At-bara and thence proceed to Khartoum where Lord Cromer will make a short stay, after which he will pay a visit to the White Nile district, travelling by steamer up-river.
Sir Elwin and Lady Palmer have gone to Khartoum where they willspend ten days or so and return to Cairo to spend Christmas. Miss Palmer left for Khartoum a few >lays in advance. It is said that Sir Ehvin Palmer will visit the estates which are now being developed by Mr. Leigh Hunt, the well-known American millionaire.
Alexandria has lost a well-known figure and the Railway Administration a hard and earnest
worker by the death of John Milburn Bey who was suddenly attacked with syncope last Monday whilst in attendance on the Khedive’s train atGabbari junction, Alexandria, and died shortly afterwards. Milburn Boy came to Egypt from En '’and in 1878 as manager of the Cairo locomotive works and has since reudorei excellent service to his Administration, lie made a name for himself during the Arabi rebellion during which he was under fire in various engagements. He was mentioned in Lord Wolseley’s despatches for his bravery and received the Khedivial Star, the English war medal, and the 5th class order of the Medjidieh. In 1892 he was granted the 3rd class order of the Medjidieh and 1899 was given the rank of Bey. The Khedive was present when Milburn Bey fell ill and gave special instructions that every assistance be rendered him and after his death his Highness sent an aide-de-camp to convey his sincere sympathy to Mrs. Milburn and her family.
The Savoy Hotel has heen very gay this .veek with private dinner parties. Major and Mrs. Wynne entertained Prince Leopold of Battenberg to dinner on more than one occasion, Tuesday being one of them, when Colonel J. K. Watson was also their guest. At another table on the same evening we noticed Sir Charles Scotter with his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Scotter, entertaining Mr. and Mrs. Trevithick and Mr. A. E. Harrison. Mrs. Laidlow, who is accompanied by the Hon. Miss Ileneage had a party of ten, including the Hon. F. Morgan, Major and Mrs. L’ Estrange Johnstone, and the Hon. and Mrs. Lynton. Count Koziebrodzki also gave a dinner part}' to his many friends, including Baron and Baronness Trautenberg, M. and Mme. de Puscarin, and Count Stadnicky. The Savoy Hotel has fixed next Saturday as the date of its first small dance and this is sure to be very largely attended in spite of the fa'ct that invitations will only be extended to those who are staying in the hotel and those who make it ;q special occasion to dine there.
Amongst the hosts of the week at Shepheard’s Hotel we noticed Captain Gordon who was entertaining a party of four, Sir Tatton Sykes, and the Marquis and Marchioness of Waterford. H. R. H. the Duke of Brunswick-Lunebourg also gave a dinner party on Monday evening to Count Boleska Koziebrodzki, the Austro-Hungarian Diplomatic Agent, Count Kielmausegg, and Baron von Wersebe.
The Hon. F. Morgan, the popular deputy Consul-General for America, and Mrs. Morgan, who are resident at Shepheard’s for the whole of the winter, spent ]a«t week end at Mena House.
Lady Blomfield, wife of Rear-Admiral Sir Mas-sie Blomfield K/ C. M. G., has arrived at Cairo from Alexandria, and is staying at Mena House Hotel. Her son, Mr. H. Massie Blomfield, of the Ministry of Finance, is also at Mena House.
Mi'. Gibson Bowles of Parliamentary fame has brought quit: a large party from England with him. They are stopping at Shepheard’s Hotel but are likely to spend a good deal of their time up the Nile. Beside being a politician' Mr. Gibson Bowles has made quite a name for himself as a writer. There are but few readers who have not recollections of pleasant hours spent over his “Flotsam and Jetsam” and “Log of the Nereid,” whilst among others of his books, those which we best remember are “The Defence of Paris,” “The Declaration of Paris” and “Maritime Warfare.”
Major Reginald Wynne, D. S. O. and Mrs. Wynne are at present staying at the Savoy. Maj-
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