New-York tribune., 1874-09-23
THE PRINCE OF WALES.
QUESTION OF PAYING HIS DEBTS.


IfRon THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
LONDON, Sept 5.-The reports which mentioned
in former letter about the Prince of Waess debts,
and contemplated application to Parliament to
pay them. have at last found their way into English
print. They are discussed with singular frankness
by new weekly paper published in London under
the title Of The World-a paper which evnces very
distinct purpose to compel public attention by
boldness Of speech on some matters usually passed
over in silence, or spoken of with bated breath. In
mere rumors of debts owing by the Prince OF wales
there is nothing novel; they have long been talked
about 1t is the rumored intention to get them paid
which gives rise to fresh remark, and there is
perhaps element OF surprise in the OF E64OOOO
to which their total has been said to amount With
respect to that total with respect to all the other
particulars lately set forth, will repeat what then
said, namely, that did not vOuch for the truth OF
them. but gave them as reports which came to me
from good sources. II is the more desirable to re-
peat this The World. though referring to me in a
perfectly courteous way, says that published
statement that the Princes liabilities amount to the
sum above named. What published was state
ment that they were reported to amount to that
sum. ..........
The World. however. seems to be under no necessity
of relying upon my information, or upon that of
anybody else IL has a supply of its own, and this
supply it uses with adroitness affirming nothing
but suggesting much, and under tho form OF apology
or palliatioD making very serious declarations
respecting the condition of the Princes affairs, and
some very damaging charges. Intentionally or not.
it has put new difficulties in the way of arrange
ment; indeed if the topic were to be taken up by
daily paper in similar style, it might almost be
said that a Parliamentary proposal would become
impossible. There would then remain nothing but
to deny that such plan had ever been considered,
and to raise the money privately. The World urges
people to take sensible view of the matter remind
ing them that they are rich enough, or some Of
them are to pay two-thrds of q million sterling
without feeling the additional taxation seriously;
that there persons among the middle classes
who will not drink one glass of wine the less; that
only the poor will have cause to murmur little;
and that even upon them and upon the necessaries
of life the new taxes will not press very heavily if
udiciously arranged. In any case the Princes
debts must be paid in full for His Royal HIghness
cannot compound with his tradesmen," nor be al
lowed to die insolvent like the late Duke of York,
and other members of the Royal Family in the last
generation. AS to his being put to charges for dong
the Queens duties, there is, says this writer, con-
fcting evidence given with an eagerness which in
spires doubt rather than confidence in the alega-
tions Of both sides to the question:, and then follows
this curious paragraph:
Persons who seem TO think they rendering SER
vice to the Prince Of Wales, perhaps really wish to
do So loudly his Royal Hghness has not yet
graied with the share OF royal income to which
his services entie him. But Others mostly scotchmen,
whose Judgment is seldom at fault and who have divers
modes OF ascertaning the truth, positively declare that
the Prince has been put to the cost OF single SIX
pence hey call 1t saxpunce, probably for I'VE sake OF
emphass) the QIeen's account. They are likewise
cfaH and THAR hg flp re-
ceipted bills OF the royal tradesnen; and they assert
that every expense OF public entertainments and court
ceremonials has been invariably met by the Qecn who
has also repeatedly presented the Prince with large
sums Of money.
But such inquiries are unbec0ming, thinks The
Uorld. 1.-THE pecuniary tranactions OF the Royal
Family among themselves should be sacred from
comment or dispute" The debts are the question,
and the Prince is gravely recommended to make an
exhaustive list of the claims upon him. II he requires
assistance Very likely they are less than is sup
posed and Parliament in any case has good pre-
cedent having not only paid the debts of one Prince
of Wales in 1857 but added 10000 year TO his in
come and given him 10000 more to improve Carl
ton House. Hence:
These historical truths should encourage the Prince
OF Wales to make clean breast Of the burdens which
weigh upon him for the benefit OF his creditors who
may be tired OF waiting, less than for the honor Of
our country aud his peace OF mind In LOOKING INTO
his debts we taxpayers should evince an indnlgent
charity toward the nexperience or even the f0es OF
Young man. should there be any items OF expense when
could not be readily explained
If the latter rather too suggestive remark seems
vague. no such criticism can be made on the as
SUMPTION which follows: that the Prince has been
driven to the disastrous expedient OF borrowing
money; that as he could hardly expect peculiarly
favorable terms for loan upon his reyersionary
interest in the Crown he may be presumed to be
paving at least Is per cent interest H. therefore,
he ia TO be freed from his difficulties, the sooner
we do il tho better we shall like it; and there IS no
reason whatever why we should continue for
single day to guarantee usurous interest upon post
obits or promissory notes" L do think the hlnt
about post-obits might have been spared. There
lations between the Prince and his mother can
hardly be improved by it. More distressing sui Is
the intimaton that the Prince may have good
naturedlv consented to borrow money from private
persons" at exorbiant interest. and that these pr-
vate persons may be induced to believe that they
could indemnify themselves for any involuntary
DELAY on the part of his Royal Highness In settling
with them by making an improper use of their for
bearance to further their private purposes" Upon
all which NAV offer one remark-that this business
has now reached q degree of publicity which makes
il desirable that contradiction should be given to
the foregoing statements, if given 1t can be- II not
those concerned might as well face the music ana
agree with the writer have been quoting that the
sooner the better is good maxim. The Irish papers
have begun to talk of these debts and there are
some Irish papers which are capable OF making mis-
chief if the opportunity is allowed them That the
matter is one of legitimate public interest and that
the Prince of Wales is dealt with solely in his pub
lie capacity, l need not point out. IT, W. s.
REPORTED PAYMENT OF THE PRINCES DEBTS BY
o,,yvy v,croprA-ADyICE TO ABANDON AN