Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-03
Queen Victoria Breaks the Law
The Will Of Her LRIe Husband
Illegally kept Private.
From the Philadelphia Press. j

Queen Victoria, who was greatly in debt
when she assembled the British throne in
1887, is believed now to be one Ofthe richest
sovereigns in Europe; the King of Wur-
temburg and the Emperor of Austria prob
ably have more real estate, but less cash in
hand. The Duchess of Kent, who never
spent more than a third of the Sl50000 a
year settled on her by Parliament. saved a
large sum, which, by investments and rein
vestments, made handsome amount, and
every shilling of this she bequeathed to her
daughter Victoria. The late Mr.. Joseph
Neeld, a millionaire who had more money
than brains. was so loyal that passing
over his blood relations, most of whom were
poor, he bequeathed S2500,00 in hard cash
to Queen Victoria, which Ito use the usual
cant of cour) "Her Majesty was most
graciously pleased to accept" Prince AL
bert, who was voted $l50,000 year by an
obsequiOus Parliament, had that income
doubled by salaries from various sinecures
from his wife, and, on his death, in Decem-
ber, 1861, bequeathed his little savings to
her, being only S5,000,000. Ever since her
ascension, nearly thirty years ago, Queen
Victoria has made large savings out OF her
income, the gross amount of which, from
the parliamentary grant, called the
''civil list" and from the net revenue
of the Duchy of Lancaster, exceeds
S2,000000 year. During the four years
which have elapsed since her hus-
bands death, VictOria's expenditures were
so small that she probably saved three
fourths of her income, and lived upon only
$5O0000 a year. In addition to all this
cash, making pretty little capital of $l0,-
100000, Victoria also succeeded to a large
tract of eligible building ground, at Ken
sington, which Prince Albert bought "for
a song" (whO would presume to outbid
the Queens husband?) some years ago; up
on part of which he built some handsome
houses, the rent of which he fixed so high
that none but the supper ten" can lease
them. However, that property is looking
up, and "eligibe building lots" thereon
are frequently sold for about twenty times
the amount paid for them by Prince Albert.
In addition to the allowance of $1,000
600 per annum to "Her Most Gracious
Majesty" she has not one cent of rent to
pay-nO insurance, no taxes, no repairs
and alterations or additions which she sug
gests or requires, are made out of the pub
lie money. Her husband, who knew how
to "turn an honest penny" converted 500
acres of Windsor Park into a model farm,
for which he paid no rent, and actually
refused to pay any poor rates, until the
Overseers of the parish seized some of his
stock and farming implements, and were
about selling them under the authority of
the law, when very graciOusly he paid the
amount claimed, with costs; and grumbled
at the laws which, having no respect for
persons, had compelled him, pauper Ger
man, Prince, to contribute proper share to
the maintenance of the poor. On that
model farm he reared great number of
stock, and-in the happy condition of sit
Ns,,rr f.nn xnyifh IN
success, at various cattle shows, frequently
gaining the best premiums in competition
with breeders of stock who, less fortunate,
had to pay rent for their land ~
Queen Victoria succeeded to her hus-
bands $5,000000, his model farm, and his
building property at Kensington, by his
''laSt will and testament" which left her
sole eXecutriX. Oddly enough, that will
has never been proved at Doctors Com
mons; nor have the documents been de-
posted, as the law eXacts, in the usu II pub
lie repository In London, where any will
can be read on payment of shilling. This
curious case is not without parallel.
George |, the first British monarch of Ger
man birth, died in Germany in 1727 and
was succeeded by his eldest son, histori-
cally known as George III. At the first
council held by this royal parsonage, DR..
duced the late King g's.will and delivered it
to the new sovereign, expecting that it
would be opened there and then, and pub
licly read. The King put the document in
his pocket and walked out of the room.
without saying word. 1t was his duty as
trustee to have demanded at once the pub
lication of the will, or at least resigna-
ton of the document, but the fear of giving
offense to theliving prevented his perform
ing the trust delegated to him by the dead
monarch. None of the, other courtiers
cared to do what he, high in station as
Primate of England, had neglected 10 do.
Whispers went abroad that the King had
burned his fathers will, and, at all events,
its .injunctions remained unfulilled. 1t
was known, however, that George / had
bequeathed 100000 to one of his mis-,
tresses (Madame Schutenburg, whom he
created Duchess of KendallG and still
larger legacy to his sister, the Queen of
Prussia. The well-known Earl OF Chester
field, who had married Melosina de Schu-
tenburg, only daughter and heiress of the
Duchess Of Kendall, insisted on his motHbf-
in-law's rights, and got 100000 dfrom
George H. in discharge of the claim; hut