The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-06-27
Queen Victoria as a Law.
Breaker.

In 1897, is believed now to be one of the
richest sovereigns in Europe, the King
OF Wurtemburg and the Emperor Of Aus
tria probably having more ''real estate"
but less cash in hand. The Duchess of
Kent, who never spent tnore than third
OF the $4,000 year settled on her by
Parliament, saved up large suth, which,
by investments and reinvestments, made
handsome amount, and every shilling
OF this she bequeathed TO Victoria, her
daughter. The late Mr.. Joseph Neeld,
millionaire who had more money than
brains, was so 'luyal" that, passing oYet
his blood rclatiohs, most Of whom wefe
poor, he bequeathed 50, 100000 in hard
cash to Queen Victoria, which Ito use
the usual cant Of the court "Her Maies-
ty was most graciously pleased to accept"
Prince Albert, who was voted S15O,0OO
a year by an obsequious Parliament, had
that doubled by salaries from various lu-
crative sinecures which his wife heaped
into his lap, and, on his death in Decem-
Der, 1861, bequeathed his little savings
to her, being only S5,00O,0O0. Ever
since her accession, nearly 80 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, ex-
cceded -, 200, 600 year During tho
four years which have elapsed since her
husbands death, Nictorias expenditure
was so small, that she probably saved
three fourths of her income, and lived
upon only $500, 600 year, In addition
10 all this cash, making pretty little
capital Of 1000, 900, Victoria has sue
cceded to large tract of eligible brildins
ground at Kensington, which Prince Al
bert bought ''ior a song" (who would
presume to outbid the Queens husband p
some years ago, upon part of which he
built some handsome houses, the rent ct
which he fixed 40 high that none hut tho
'upper ten can lease them. However
that property is looking up, and the ''elig-
ibic building lots" thereon are very fire.
quently sold for about twenty times the
amount paid for them by Prince Albert.
In the addition to the allo vance of two
million dollars per annum to "Iler Most
Gracious Majesty, she hts not one cent or
rent to pay-no insurance, no taxes, no
repairS-and any alterations or additions
which she suggests or requires are paid
for out of the public money. Her late
husband, who knew how to "turn an
honest penny converted eight hundred
acres of Windsor Park into model farm,
for which he paid no rent and actually
refused to pay any poor rates, until tho
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 ungraciously, he
paid the amount claimed, with costs, and
grumblcd at the laws which. having no
respect for persons, had compelled Inn, Il
pauper German Prince, to contribute his
proper share to the maintainance of the
poor On that model farm he reared q
great number of stock, and-in the happy
condition OF sitting rent irce-competed
with no small success, at various cattle
shows, frequently gaining the best preml-
ums in competition with breeders of stock
who, less fortunate, had TO pay rent for
their land.
Queen Victoria succeeded to her hus-
bln1's five million dollars, his model farm
and building lr petty a Ken irgt n by
virtue of his ''last will and testament"
which left her sole executrix. Oddly
enough, that will has never been proved
ut Doctors Commons; nor has the probate
nor succession duty been paid upon it
nor have the documents been &c ,osltcd as
the law cnacts, in the usual pull lie repos-
itory in London, where any will can bc
read on payment OF one shilling. This
curious case is not without a parallel
George /, the first British monarch Of
German birth, died in Germany in June
l12., and was succeeded by his eldest
son, historically known as George II.
AT the first council held by this royal per-
sonage, DIR. Wake, Archbishop of Canler-
bury, produced the late Kings will and
delivered it to the new sovereign, expect
ing that it would be opened there and
then, and publicly read. The king put
the document into his pocket, and walked
out of the room without saying word
1t was his duty, as trustee, to have de-
manded the publication, or at least the
registration ofIhe document, but fear
of giving Offence to the living prevented
his performing the trust delegated to him
cy the dead monarch. None of the bther
cOurtiers cared to do what he; high in
station as Private of England, had neg
lected to do Whispers went abroad thus
the King had burned his fathers will,
and, at all events, its injunctons remain
ed untulfllcd. 1t was known, however,
that George |. had bequeathed 5000, 900
10 one of his mistresses, (Madame Schu-
len6urg, whom he created Duchess of
Kendall,) and a still larger legacy to his
sister, the Queen of Prussia. The WELL
known Earl OF Chesterfield. who had
married Meosina de Schulenburg, only
daughter and heiress of the Duchess of
Kendall insisted on her mother in-law's
rights, and 100000 from George H.,
in discharge of the the claim but the
legacy to the queen Of Prussia was never
h1h