The evening times., 1897-03-04
QUEEN vIcToRIA's WEALTH.
She Does Not Rank High Among
8IiIltonaires.

4 Sne Does NOT RANK HfSn Among
! Millfonaires.
| 1t is, beyond doubt, that Queen Victo-
| ria, though millionaire, is not one Of the
| first class Her income from the British
! nation is set down at about $4,000, 600,
| but of this sum only 100000 is paid into
her own hands to do with as she pleases.
All tn rest is specially appropriated by
statute for the specified purposes, and is
| disbUrsed by the lords OF the treasury.
Compared with her predecessors, Victoria
is ar inexpensive sovereign. The annual
revenues enjoyed by George amounted to
about $4,000, 900, which, relatively. to
the wealth of the empire at That time, was
at least six times as large as the annual
income allotted to Victoria, 1t is wen
known that the queen is of a frugal and
saving disposition, butitfs also well known.
that the calls. upon her charity are very
numerous, and that She responds to all Of
them that are worthy, though not always
us literally as the applicants could wish.
There is no day in the year when some ap-
peal is not made TO her generosity, and it
is evident that If she were to give an aver
age subscription OF 81 900 to each appli-
cant, she would give away SOS, 900 year
In excess Of all that the nation allows her
Tor her own private purse.
Itis doubtful il the queen would be class
ed among the niIlionaires at all if her
fortune consisted exclusively OF her saw
ings from the annual allowance made TO her
b. the nation. The largest portion of her
wealth came to her by Inheritance ana in
a romantic way. On the 30th OF August,
1852. one of her subjects, named John
Camden Neild, died at the age OF seventy
two. He had Inherited from his father,
Mr. james Neild. who was for some years
sheriff OF Buckingha mshire. considerable
landed estate. He became an eccentric
miser and made no use OF his property ex-
cept to hoardits accommodations. He scarce
Iy allowed himself the necesEaries of life
He usually appeared in blue coat with
brass buttons, and he would not allow tt
to be brushed. because that would tend 90 |
wear out the nap. He never INDUCED in !
the luxury OF an overcOat. He was accus- |
toned to accept Invitations from his ten |
ants on his Buckinghamshire estate to pay |
them long visits. because he thus saved |
board. It Is related OF him that just before |
travelling began he was returning |
TO London by coach from one of these visits,
when stop was made at hotel for re-
freshments. All the passengers except Mr..
Neild entercdthe inn. A gOOd-natured men-
Der OF the party. seeing him stand out L
side. looking pinched and poverty-stricken,
sent him out a glass of brandy and water.
which he promptly accepted.
A few days before his death he told !
one OF his executors that he bad made
peculiar will, remarking that he had
right to do what he chose with his own
property. When the will was opened it
was found that, with the exception OF a
very few small legacies, he had. left all
''to her most gracious majesty, Queen
Victoria, begging her ma jesty's ,sIost gra-
cious acceptance of the same for her sole
use and benefit and that OF her neirs-"
To his poor old housekeeper, who rad /
served him twenty-six years, he left moth
ing, and to his executors only $500 apiece.
The queen accepted the bequest, but
made generous provisions for the house
keeper gave So, 900 to each OF oftheexecutors
and erected a monument to Neild's mem
ory. The estate proved to be of the
value OF about So, SOC, 900, and with its
accumulation of thirty-four years past
at per cent, this would make her worth
today nearly 81 100000. She enjoys he
sides the annual revenues OF the dHchy Of
Lancaster, which yield her net yearly
income of about $500 900 Two loyal
residences. Osborne house, in the Isle
OF Wight. and BaImoral in Scotland, are
also her nrivate property. and the Two
together are valued at not less than
So. 500, 900.
1t is, therefore, q probable estimate
that the queens private fortune is not
less than $40 .oOO, 200, and it may re con
siderahly more As the wills OF kings
and queens are not recorded in the probate
courts, the world will never know pre-
cisely the amount of wealth she leaves to
her descendants, but as her children. gran,I
children. and greatgrandchildren number
sixty four, she will have no difficulty in