Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-29
The Rothschilds and their Wealth.

Ihe hOthschtIus ana their wealth.
The following are extracts from letter
lately received at the Department of State
from Frankfort sur Maine, dated the 10th of
December:
"There died in this city, on the 9th instant,
at the age of eighty-two years FIVE months and
twentytour days. Baron Amschel Mayer Won
Rothschild, Privy Counsellor of the Duke Of
Hesse Darmstadt, Privy Finance Counsellor Of
the Elector of Hesse.Cassel, Priyy CONNER.
cial Counsellor ofthe King Of Prussia, Consul at
Frankfort for the Kingdom of Bavaria, Consul
General for the Duchy Of Parma, Commander
and knight ofseveral high orders, and chief and
senior Of the celebrated banking firm of M. A.
Rothschild & Sons, Of Frankfort on. the Maine.
"The decease Of Baron Rothschild is still
the topic of conversation in the city, | dare
say that, in a long series of years, no event
has created so great n sensation and so much
attracted the attention of the whole population
as the decease of this person. He was rem
dered popular, not only by his social position
and vast wealth, but by his personal appearance
and habits. There was scarcely man in
Frankfort to whom the Old Rothschild' las the
people called him) was not known. Every day,
when entering or leaving his banking house, he
was surrounded by a crowd of poor. His will
ingness TO give and the good humor with which
he distributed his benefits were never disturbed
by the opportunities of these turbulent assem-,
bages.
Baron Rothschild was popular With all
classes, because his benevolence extended to
all distinctions of political and religious par
ties.
/" He was rigid observer of all the require
ments OF his faith, to such degree that, at the
sumptuous feasts to which he was invited or
which he gave at his own residence, he was
never known TO touch any meat not prepared
according to the Jewish mode, and neither sick
ness nor inclemency of the weather was able to
restrain him from the performance Of his reli-
gious duties and ceremonies. He belonged to
the orthodox fraction of the Jewish commu-
nifty, but his benefits extended to all alike.
have seen list of yearly distributions
made for the account of Baron Rothschild,
from which it appears that not less than 5000
Christian families had pro6ted by his bounty.
The weekly distribution for his account
amounted to at least $4,000 forms per year,
and probably an equal sum was sent abroad
for the relief of the INDECENT Besides these
gifts he contributed to all public institutions OF
charity, as well as for art, literature, and the
like.
W Hiot MS llDcIdilty towards MS lelIOW clti-
zens afforded them a constant relief, his own
personal habits were extremely simple. With
such great wealth, favored with the friendship
and esteem of sovereigns, loaded with honors
and distinctions, Baron Rothschld never forgot
the origin Of so exalted position. The hum.
bic cottage III the dark and narrow street
called the street of the Jews' in which he
and his brothers were born, was visited by him
daily during the lifetime of his mother who
could never be persuaded to exchange that
humble habitation for any of the sumptuous
palaces offered to her by the love and venera.
ton of her sons.
Baron Rothschild was no less kind and
atiectionate towards his family at large He
was married for more than fifty years, but had
no children. His wife died in lS4S, and his
affections have been devoted 10 his sisters and
brethren and 10 their numerous progeny. He
was the eldest of five brothers. and outlived
them all, with the exception Of one, Baron
James Rothschild, Of Paris.1 Two of them
(Charies and Solomon) died in the course OF
last year.
At another time may extend this notice
of the personal character of Baron Rothschild
and give some details concerning his capacity
for business, Of the skill, perseverance,, and
good luck which enabled the Rothschilds TO
extend all over the world their name and inau-
ence; to form banking establishment whose
wealth and Importance have been unparalleled
to the present time, and can scarcely be super.
seeded by their successors.
The fortune left by Baron Amschel Mayer
Won Rothschild is estimated at over sixty mil
lions of horins; that left by Baron Charles, at
seventeen millions, and by Baron Solom at
forty-eight millions of forms.
"The will Of Baron Rothschild was made in
1919 The charitable requests are much less
important than the benevolence exercised by
him during long course Of years had pre-
pared people to expect. Among other items
of the will are the following:
Forins.
To establish foundation for the poor
Frankfort, TO keep up the weekly dis