The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-25
Her WILL OPENED
Victoria's Last Testament Is
Officially Examined.
Nothing Regarding Its Contents
Will Be Made Public.
AN IMMENSE FORTUNE
Supposed to Have Been Worth
From so to so Millions.
Princess Beatrice Is Expected
to Get the Bulk of 1t.

New York. Jan. ga dispatch to the
World from Cowes says:
Queen Victoria's s will was opened ard
examined yesterday by the duly constf-
tuted authorities. Nothing win ever be
made public officially as to the provis
ions of the instrument or the. amount OF
her private fortune. It is generally sup
posed that this preliminary inspection
was made in order to follow exactly her
majesty's directions in regard to her
funeral
It is known that the queen made a
will early in her reign. which was re
peatedly altered and added to as child
ren and grandchildren were born, ard
as her estates rapidly advanced in value.
This proceeded until 1896, when her m2-
jesty decided to have an entirely new
document drawn. and with great per-
sonal care this was accomplished
Those in a position to make any sort
of a guess as to the provisions of the
queens viii declare that the Princess
Beatrice, widow of Prince Henry of
Battenberg, will be the principal bene-
ficiary. She is the governor of the isle
Of Wight and win probably inherit Os-
borne house and the whole estate sur
rounding it, Then the Duke cf Con-
great favorites with Victoria, will re-
ceive a large portion of the fortune. The
duke will probably become the owner of
Balmoral and the Scottish property.
The grandchildren who are expected
to receive the largest bequests are tie
two children of Victoria's youngest son,
the former Duke of Albany
The Queen's second daughter. Princess
Christian of Schleswig-E1o is not
rich and it is expected that she and her
three children will be literally provided
for.
Edward VII, who viii be amply pro-
vided for by the country, and the Duke
of York who comes into the duchy Of
Cornwall and viii be the Prince of
Wales. win probably not be sharers in
the late queens private fortune.
Estimates made by the best informed
persons in the financial field fix the
value of Queen Vietoria's private
estate at something between fifty and
sixty millions of dollars. Parliament,
upon her accession, granted her 81, ,925 600
a year. That sum, it was estimated,
would maintain the royal establishment
and leave the sovereign $500,000 for
pocket money, or personal expenses
Since the death of Albert the prince
consort. it is asserted her majesty has
saved $250,000 a year of that sum. This
money, together with its increment, has
been invested under the best advice that
London the financial center of the
world, could supply. Added to it. and
accommodating each year, is the sum of
81, 100000, the private fortune of the
prince consOrt, which was bequeathed
to the queen. She was also the legatee
Of many admiring subjects, one of them
deciding s2,500,O00
NO PUBLIC LYING IN STATE.
Cowes. Isle of Wight, Jan. 25.-The
body of Queen Victoria was removed 70
the Chapelle Ardente in the dining room
this morning by party of blue jackets
from the royal yacht. The only persons
who will be admitted to view the re
mains today are those whose names az
pear on the queens visiting list, officers
of the army and navy and a few prOmi-
nent residents of the island.
The Marquis of Lansdowne, secretary
of state for foreign affairs; Field Mar
shall Earl Roberts, ander-in-ehsef
of the forces and William St.John Brod-
rick, secretary of state for war, will be
among those who will view her majes-
tvs remains.
1t has been definitely decided that
there win be no public lying in state
The arrangements for the funeral are
gradually evolving The remains Of the
queen viii be taken to Portsmouth on
board the royal yacht Alberta and will
remain on the boat Friday night. Feb
ruary l.
Contrary to expectation. Crown Prince
Frederick William of Germany will not
come to England on the royal yacht
Hohenzollern. but viii arrive tomorrow.
KINGS MESSAGE TO PARLIAMENT
London, Jan. 25.-Both houses of par
Lament this afternoon received an fden-
tical message from the king and voted
coincidence with his majesty on his be-
reavement and congratulatfon on his ac-
cession to the throne. The lord chancel-
lor, Lord Halsbury, and the speaker,
Mr.. VIM. Court Gully, read the message
in the respective houses.
1t was as follows:
Edward Rex, the king is fully as
sured that the house of commons will
share the deep sorrow which has be-
fallen his majesty and the nation by
the lamentable death Of his mother, the
late queen. Her devotion to the welfare
of her country and her people and her
wise and beneficent rule during 81 years
of her glorious reign will ever be held
in affectionate memory by her loyal and
devoted subjects throughout the domin-
ions of the British empire
EDWARD VII TO MCKINLEY
Washington. Jan. 25.-Following is the
text Of the reply which the president re-
cefved from King Edward VII in answer
to his message of coincidence on the
death Of the queen-
osborne. Jan "a 1901-The President
White House. Washington d. G. Am
most grateful for your kind sympathy
in the irreparable loss which the nation
and I have sustained. I felt convinced
that it would be shared by you and the
- '-'-'' r EDWARD r
SALUTE OF wARSHIPs.
Hong Kong. Jan. 25.-All the warships
in port including the warships Albany
Bennington and Luzon and the German
and Portuguese ships Joined today in a
salute of eighty-one minute guns in
honor Of the late Queen Victoria and
later they fired a royal salute in ceIebra-
tion OF the accession to the throne Of
King Edward VII.
HOTELS TOO SMALL.
London, Jan. 5.-Such numbers OF roy
alties and Representatives of foreign ma