The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-01-17
AN OPEN LETTER.
Legation of the. United States,
The HAGUE; Jdly Sd, 1878.

THE HAGUE; Jdly Sd, 1873.
Hon. Schuyler C5lfax, South Bend, Ind
My Dear Sir r:-Your letter, introducing and
commencing to my attention the applca-
ton of Mr.. Bigelow, was duly received. 1t
would give me great pleasure to aid your
friend in gaining information about the es-
tate TO which he refers, but such inquiry as
have made gives no encouragement. Al
though the presentation of private claims
does not dqvolve upon me us part of my Of
fetal duties, have been disposed to give
any aid in my power TO such of my fellow
citizens who are in search of information.
You would be surprised it, you could see the
package of letters filed in this legation which
/ have been written to me in regard to sup
posed claims to estates in lie Netherlands.
They come from all parts of the country
! FROM Maine to California. Their inquiries
for the most part are vague and without any
facts upon which to act. They often state
that some newspaper paragraph had an
nounced that a person of the name of the
writer had left an estate in Holland humid
reds Of years ago, and they wish the matter
sited to the bottom and their share obtained.
In fact they give no clue by which inyesti-
CATION could be commenced. 1t may be
safe to say that advertisements in American
papers are never authorized by the Holland
government. Letters of inquiry have come
to this legation, also, from New Brunswick,
and Canada. These demands range from
$4,000 900 TO a more manageable sum, and
extend back over n period of two hundred
years or more.
This letter writing about estates in Hol-
land seems to have been in vogue for many
years, and is likely to continue for many
more unless some definite information can
be difTused as TO the real situation of such
affairs here. 1t is kept up not only by want
of information, but by the concerted efforts
of those who levy contributions upon the
creduous, while at the same time they know
their pretended efforts will be fruitless. X
large amount of money is being constantly
raised by exciting hopes that can never be
realized.
Recent mails have brought me letters
from an ex-governor of Pennsylvania, an
| ex-governor Of Connecticut and from several
members Of Congress, all written in the
spirit Of yours, and with courteous consid-
Grafton of the interest of some expectant
friend. Without attempting to answer them
all take the liberty of addressing an open
letter to you, containing few facts, copies
of which / may use as a general answer.
1t is altogether probable that most persons
in the United States who write for inlormG-
tion, do so under the impression that it can
be really had, after the fashion Of their own
country, by stepping INTO surrogate or pro-
bate office, and examining the records. But
in the Netherlands there are no such Offices
open to the public for the record Of Wills.
Last testaments in this country are de
posted by the testator in tho custody of a no.
tary whom he selected to ofIiciate as his
draughtsman. These officers arc usually
appointed from the legal profession and are
functionaries Of reliable character. Trusts of
great value are safely committed to them.
They are not admitted to the Office until
they have stood the test of a rigid examina.
tiOr G5 to their proficiency in the duties in
cumbent upon them. The will is fled,
numbered in the office Of the notary, and
its custody descends to his successor. Ordi-
narily there is no difficulty whatever on the
part Of those concerned in finding the no
tary who may have possession of partcu-
lar will. Pho friends and members of a
family will remember very well who may
have oiiciated in that capacity.
But when a quarter or a half century may
have elapsed since the death of the testator,
and inquiries come from abroad accompan-
led by no statement as TO the locality Of the
property and former residence and the date
Of his death, it is no easy matter to fad the
officer who is the custodian Of the document.
Extensive advertising is sometimes the only
means of discovering him. Wills are so
carefully drawn that contests about them
seldom occur, and when the officer certifies
the testator to haYe been of sound mind and
memory his statement is rarely controyerted.
As the course Of judicial proceedings Gus
'tomary here upon the assertion Of such
claims has been the subject Of inquiry on
the part Of attorneys, will, as briefly as
possible, refer TO thsiS history and practice.