The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-01
FOR SHANGHAPS DEFENCE.
Fortune of the Queen Estimated mt
About S5O,OOO,OOO.

|
About $oO,OOO,OOO.
NEW YORK, Sept 30.-Queen victori.
has amassed large private fortune durin,
| the last fifteen years. In 1885 her secre
tary, Sir Henry Ponsonby. said that tn.
Queen did not have a million pounds to in
vest, and possessed no real estate othel
than the royal establishments in England
and Scotland, and villas at Baden Badel
and Coburg.
Today 1t is stated on excellent court au
thority that the private fortune of tn,
Queen amounts to 10000. O00, or $50, 600.
600, and Americans will be interested L
learn that the Queen has large holdings o
real estate In New York City and has mad,
extensive Investments in American securi
ties.
1t is difficult to estimate the amount O
money that Queen Victoria has invested IL
the United States. Court gossip says tha
the American investments of Her Majesty
amount to Sl5.000,000 1t is now known
that large portion OF the G500. 900 which
that eccentric man, the late John Camden
Nield, bequeathed the Queen has been in
vested in the United States.
The public records in the office of the
register of deeds in this city will not show
the Queens holdings of New York real es-
tate, because all the American investments
have been made under a private name
which Will effectualiy hide the identity OF
the royal investor. Great secrecy Is
maintained by the members OF the royal
household in regard to the American in
yestr,ents OF the Queen and nobody knows
exactly how much they amount to.
1t is known, however, that the invest
ments were made under the direction OF
Lord Sidney. Lord Cross, and Sir Arnold
White. and that they have been very
profitable. Property bought for SIS, 600
or $4,000. has. since 1881, doubled in
value. The Queen is also said to own
large tracts of land in Southern Illinois
and Texas.
The private fortune of the Queen was
greatly augmented at the death of the
Prince Consort from whom Her Majesty
received f6O0.0O0. or 100000. This
magnificent sum. judiciously invested, has
yielded abundant returns and forms the
principal part Of the Queens private for
tune
1t is not only fortunate and far-sighted
investments that have made Queen Vic
toria the richest sovereign that has ever
occupied the throne of England, as every
one who has been a court during the last
fifteen years well knows Never before in
the history of England has such rigid
economy been practiced by royalty as has
been enforced at all the royal establish
ments during the last fifteen years Ex-
penses have been cut down to the lowest
possible figure compatible with the royal
state and dignity.
AS result the savings of the Queen
have been a vast Increment to her pri-
vate fortune. 1t must be remembered
h. bag
shilling of the money appropriated for the
items of the civil list, or the royal budget.
which amounts to e3s5.O0O. or 81 ,925, 900
annually.
Here are some of the items of the civil
list: For the privy purse, ZOO; ex-
penses of royal household, s172, 500; royal
bounty, aims. and special service, Ella. 200;
salaries and retiring allowances, &I31, 260.
Every year about $4,000. or $40 600. re-
mains unapprJpriated and is saved by the
Queen. together with the vast sum she is
able to retain out of the other items in the
civil list.
Another item in the private fortune of
the Queen is the income she receives from
the Duchy of Lancaster, which now
amounts to about si00,O00 a year. The
greater part of this income every year has
been saved by the Queen. Then the Queen
has an annual income of s125, 900 from Bal
moral. Ballochbine. Albergeldie. and Clare
mont. Her land and houses at Coburg and
her magnificent villas at Baden also form
part of her private fortune.
One item which must be included in the
private fortune of the Queen is the i'm
mense sum INFESTED in jewels. plate, pic
lures. statuaryI bronzes, china, and brica-
orac. all the personal property OF the
Queen. 1t is believed that the value of
tfrh TNar mol
coo.
The question naturally arises rs to why
the Queen has been SO anxious TO build
up her private fortune Why has she
economical and saved and boarded her
wealth for fifteen long years? Undoubt-
eddy the Queen wishes to provide for the
many members of the royal family who
are almost dependent on her bounty to
keer up their positions
The Duke of Cpnnaught. the young
Duke Of Albany. and the little Battenberg
princes are all without adequate means
for supporting their state positions, and
some provision must be made for them
The Queen is well aware that the royal
princes and princesses need expect but
little help from Parliament, which has
with each ensuing year shown an in
creased disposition to curtail The allow
lnces for royalty
1t will be remembered that Parliament
only appropriated gao. 600 annually for the
late Prince Consort, although the Queen
asked for an allowance of 100000 for her
husband. 1t is undoubtedly fear that
royal grants will be further curtailed that
has prompted the Queen to amass a pri-
vate royal fortune, which will assure to
-uture generations of royalty al. ample in
come. 1t is far-sighted policy On her
part, and is another proof of the discreet
wisdom of the English Queen.
The will OF the Queen, which disposes
IF her vast fortune. has been made. but
It's contents will ever remain a state Sc
ret. According to English law it is not
to prove the Wills of royalty. At
er the death of Queen Victoria. her will
will be read in secret to the members of
he royal family. and the world will never
tnow how she disposed of her estate.
That she will show the same wisdom IN
distributing her fortune among her chill
lren and grandchildren that she has dis |
llayed in building 1t up. no one doubts, |
md the more needy among the royal helfs !
will undoubtedly share more largely in her |
state than the Prince of Wales and others |
Who are certain to receive royal grants, OF |
whose fortunes are assured
The Colored Voter in 1000.
o the Editor of The Times:
One of the most important issues that has