The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-29
THE ORLEANS ESTATES.
A Glance at the VicissitudeS of
Louis Philippe.
History Of the Orleans Estates The Cost Of Roy
slty-Extent and value-fhe Fortune the
Citizen King Left Behind Him
Artful Scheme of III. Theirs.

The Orleans Princes. e., the Duke d. Aumale and
the Prince de Jolnville-are about seats
within few days, in spite OF M. Theirs. That has
been the assertion generally put forth since the
opening OF the session OF the National Assembly.
Whether they really intended act in opposition 10
the express desire OF the President appears TO me
exceedingly doubtful. But NJ. Timers seems 10 have
been apprehenslve OF evll consequences, IN case
the Princes contrary to his advice should resolve
to make their appearance In the House. PENDING
the uncertainty seemed necessary to devise other
Rnd more eficacious means-means which, for
short time at all events, would tend practically to
SHUT THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
In the face OF the Princes. The means were found
and presented few days since oy the Minister or
Finance, NJ POuyer Querter. in the shape OF Dill to
restore the Orleans family certain portions OF the
property which had been con1scated under o
former administration. The question involves deli
cate points OF law and equity, and Is likely to give
rise TO good deal OF excitement Under the CIR.
cumstsnces, therefore, the Princes are, for the
present, practically debarred from taking their
seats.
A DECREE OF 1s4S.
It should be recoliecled that after the dethrone-
ment OF Louis Philippe one OF the first acts of the
revolutionary government comprised decree,
dated February 49, 1S4s, In virtue Of which all
property appertaining 10 the civil list of the late
King was annexed to the public domain.
The transfer embraced crown property,
rs well as that owned privately py the
King aud the members the royal family,
or, rather, as the decree said. ''exfamily."
(Sie, "70ut de per-Roi que csuE des naensbres
de per.id'ntHe rovale.'
ANOTHER DECREE,
dated March 3, 184s authorized Minister Of FL
nance 70 dispose OF the crown jewels, as well the
silver plate found In the different royal residences
The latter included the chateau at Neuilly-private
property OF Louis Phllippe-wnere a silver service Of
Immense value, known as the "serutce de PEN
fhiemes," had been in use. II was sent to the ma
tional mint and condemned TO be transformed into
five franc pieces, with the eigv OF the Goddess of
Liberty. Through the mterpostion Of several init
mate friends OF the royal family the service escaped
the crucible. NJ. GARNER Pages OF
the members Of the provisional government,
at the earnest solicitation OF those friends,
Issued order purporting to respect the
property. and, moreover, yerOay assured the APP
plcants chat he, the Minister had not the slightest
notion thar the rights OF private property would be
violated. uor had he desire 10 deprive France OF
OF the precious and highly priced treasures
of art.
INCIDENTS OF THE PAST.
Lamartine in his Memories, relates the fact that
ON MaroD l. 1s4s, he called personally on the Count
de Montalvet Of the and dearest friends
OF the unfortunate King, to offer his Lamartlne's,
royal family aud to place the sum OF LOCO, 900
francs at the disposal Of the KING who was then
Thought TO be still tarrying In France. On another
occasion M. Lamartne, in his capacity OF member
OF the republican government Is said to have
given utterance to the following words answer to
an Interpolation regarding prevalent rumors or
the c0ndscation Of the Orleans pr0perty-"Be.
aieve me,r he said. ave are not given to
spoIiation; we appear in the matter simply as
ohnl V,Ia
property under sequestration, leaving ali further
action to the decision Of the National Assembly,
which alone Ia competent to judge the matter"
These incidents made 10 serve the cause Of the
Orleans people, as tending to snow that the repub-
licans originally Inclined to act fairly towards
the Orleans family. AL subsequent period, how
ever the property was aienaied and the Onus
thrown on the Emperor Napoleon, then President
of the republic. IL was recognized that the family
of Louis Philippe held by no means q legal title to
the property, aud in virtue OF Decree dated Janu-
sary e. 1862, the entire domain was declared
forfeited and confscated for the benefit Of the
national treasury. The only exception made was
In favor OF the Chapelle Ferdinand, at Neuiy, and
Inc PROPERTY az Rreax WneTe Inc amy vaults 0l
lng the family the decree added that 'In reclaim
ing property virtually belonging to the nation there
wherewltnal the Orleans family might sustain the
dignity OF rank IN foreign country"
LOUIS PHILIPPES FORTUNE.
\ 1t was generally believed that Louis Philippe mad
acquired u large fortune when he made his exit
from Paris He was supposed To possess real estate
added that he had realized fabulous sums bs Invest,
snents In foreign STOCKS. These assertions have
known TACT that the banking firm Of Coults 4 Co.,
London, held FUNDS belonging to Louis Philippe has
been explained In the following manner
The Duke OF Orleans Louis phippe did not re-
eurn Immediately TO France alter the Restoration,
but continued to reside at Twlckenham, England
until the year 1917. At That period, 1t is stated, he
hands OF Coutts & Co. He took up his residence In
France, and the sum remained In the hands OF the
london bankers untouched Tor thirty-One years.
When In lS4S, he returned second time to England
es an exile, The balance had largely accumulated; 1t
furnished the ex-klng an annual income Of between
$4,000 or $4,000, His friends have the audacity TO
say that Tor long while he depended on that ln-
lily it has been poinledly asserted that the King
was under the necessity Of accepting the hospitality
generously Abandoned one-hail OF an income accru.
ing TO HIM from the marriage portion OF his FIRST
vile IL would thus appear that Louis Philippe was
Nevertheless, it Is well known that the old King
possessed properly In North and South America
considered "princely" one oy some people, but
many persons. whose position entities them 10
credit, assert that Louis Philippe left more than
MY millions OF francs behind him when he went TO
better world. IL may not oe out of place to men-
lion here that old King Leopold, VINO came to Bel
GUM poor man In 1882, had accumulated upwards
Of eighty millions OF francs when he died In 1894
THE ACT OF sEQuEsrRATI0N
OF the Orleans property in France, AS stated above,
was followed IN 1852 by an act OF conhscaton. The
matter was investigated, aud was recognized
shat there was no legal title; In fact 1t stated
that tine wnoie transaction involved fraud and de-
ceptiOn. However that may be, the question IN.
wolves points or law exceedingly nice and intrl-
cate; 1t Is probable tIat the whole devolves on
mere question OF date. The facts simply as
1Ol0ws:-
BEFORE OCCUPYING TuE THRONE
Louis philippe Duke OF Orleans) accepted the
crown OF france ON August 0, 1880. Two days
prior to his acceptance he had assigned
and conveyed the whole OF his property 10
his wife and children In virtue OF an act,
bearing date August 7. 1880, he made over.
~ donation, ali his real and movable estate to MS
family, reserving himself the interest accruing
therefrom during mis- lifetime. the CONVEYANCE or
assignment comprised all his personal property. as
we'll as rms estates which owned mis- CAPACITY