Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-30

of prodigious wealth On the eve of
the coronation Of our Queen, the follow
ing notice of this Prince appeared in
some of the continental papers A let
ter from Vienna, of the 18th, says" 1t
is affirmed that the Hungarian dress, or
dered by Prince Esterhazy for the coro-
nation of Queen Victoria, will cost half
a million Of Dutch forms. can believe
this, since the Brandeburgs alone, adorn-
ed with silver and diamonds, cost So
600 FORMS"
We believe it is related Of this Prince
that when he visited Mr.. Coke, of Nor
folk, or some of our great agriculturists,
who had what is regarded in England
an immense stock of sheep, he (the
Prince simply observed that I" he bad
on his estates as many shepherds as our
countryman had sheep I"
Private FORTUNES OF SOME OF THE
GREAT PERsoNAGEs OF ANCIENT TIMES
Crnsus possessed, in landed property, a
fortune equal to e roo, OCO, besides
large sum of money, slaves and furn-
ture, which amounted to an equal sum
he used TO say that citizen who had
not fortune sufficient &c support an ar
my or legion, did not deserve the title
Of rich man. The philosopher Sene-
ca had fortune Of G3,5O0,0OO. Len
tullus, the soolhsayer, had E3, 100000.
Tiberius, at his death, left G23, 625 900,
which Calgula spent in less than twelve
months. Vespasan, on ascending the
throne, estimated all the expenses of the
state at 100000. The debts of Mi,
10 amounted to 100000. Caesar, be-
fore he entered upon any office, owed
E2,995,000 He purchased the friend
ship of Curio for E50O,OOO, and that of
Lucius Paulus for 100000. At the
time of the assassination of julius Cm-
sar, Antony was in debt to the amount
of 100000; he owed this sum in the
ldes of March, and it was paid before
the Kalends of April he squandered
Gl47,00O,000 of the public treasures.
Appicius expended, in debauchery,
G5OO 900, and finding, on examination
of the state Of his affairs, he had no more
than ESQ., 900 left, he poisoned himself,
because he considered that sum INSULT
cient for his maintenance. julius Ce-
sar gave Servilla, the mother of Brutus,
pearl of the value of 100000. Gle
opatra, at an entertainment, gave to An
tony, dissolved in vinegar, who swallow
ed it, pearl worth 100000. CIaudi-
us, the son of Esopus, tho comedian,
swallowed one worth G9,OUO. One
single dish cost Esopus 100000. Cal
igula spent for one supper, G80,OOO
and Heliogabalus, 100000. The usual
cost of repast for Luculus was Co.
600. Misalla gave 100000 for the
house of Antony. The fish from Luz
culus's fish-ponds were sold for G35,-
900. Scauru's country house was de-
stroyed by fire, and his loss was estima.
ted at G950,000. Ohio, TO finish part
of Nero's palace, spent EAST 800.
If the extraordinary instances of pro.
digious individual wealth which we have
here noticed, should excite the envy Of
any reader TO whom fortune has been
unpropilious, we invite his attention tc
a few memorable instances which We
shall adduce in proof Of the utter ineffi.
cheney Of riches to ensure for their pos
SCISSORS that conicntment without which
there is no real enjoyment in life. The
melancholy fate OF that ecclesiastical
CrGsus, Wolsey, is too familiar not tC
suggest itself to the mind of the reader
nor was the fate of Cardinal Mazarl
less humiliating and deplorahle, as ma,
be gathered from the following passage
in his history from Enfed's and Al
kin's General Biography -
He was attacked by disease which
his system was unable TO resist. Wher
he became sensible of his danger, ht
felt some scruples concerning the wealtl
he had amassed, and his confessor plain
ly told him that restitution was necessa
ny for his salvation, and as it was not ca
sy TO separate his lawful from his fraudu
lent gains, he was advised to make do
nation of the whole to the King, in thu
hope that, as was the case, his Majest,
would restore ii TO him. 'And | mus
quit all this 2 was one Of his latest re
Elections"
The two following notable illustration
of the vanity of earthly possessions ar
too remarkable and too pertinent to b.
omitted on the present occasion. In tn
predatory chapter of Florian's " Gonsal
vo de Cordova," we find the followin,
striking passage -
"The renowned Abdermi, Prince O
the true believers, put on record the fol
lowing evidence of the vanity of i'm
mense wealth and llustrious rank -
Fifty years have elapsed since becam
Caliph, during which time ! have pos
sessed and have been satiated with hon
ors, riches and pleasures. Rival Mon
archs fear and envy me. Heaven ha
sbowered upon me all that man can wis
= for. have registered the number {
days in which ! enjoyed real happiness
> they amount TO only fourteen Mortal.
learn hence duly to appreciate grandeur
the world, and human life.'"
Our next Illustration of the insuflicier