The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-21
QUEEN VICTORIA'S FORTUNE.
Stories of Fabulous Wealth Be
queathed Prove to be Untrue.


LONDON. Feb 21-Sfnce the death of
Queen Victoria speculation has been busy
guessing the amount Of the private for
tune which she left
The fact that the royal will is not to go
through the ordinary channel for probate
has given rise to many statements as to
fabulous sums bequeathed to royal rela-
tlYes- 1t has even been said that the
reason for concealment was the fear of
disclosure of such enormous savings as
would prejudice the civil list for the fu-
tUre.
On reliable authority it is now stated
that the gross amount of Queen Victoria S
private fortune. including investments IN
real estate, cash in bank and personal
property. outside of what rightfulIy be
ionged to the crown. is about So eco 900.
Inc bulk OF this consists of city property
N which she invested. The remainder
stands in the shape Of the cash balance Of
her personal account al the CCutts Bank.
IN investments in freehold property the
Queen usually acted on the advice of Vis-
count Cross. with whose ability as a man
OF affairs she first became acquainted as
plain Mr. Cross when he was a member of
the Disraeli cabinet The Queens interest
IN her personal business was anything but
perIunctOry- The character Of the prop
erty IN which her adviser suggested in
yeStment, its condition occupancy and
prospective value. we're all critically dis
cussed before she would give the royal
sanction for the amount to be withdrawn
from her private banking account
On the other hand she was careful to
insist that the revenues So derived should
be kept absolutely apart from the privy
purse or other Semi-State funds Her pri-
vate banking account with Coutts stood
in the name of her personal treasurer, Sir
Fleetwood Edwards. At regular intervals
there was a rigid inspection Of her bank
book with the checks drawn. It was by no
means an uncommon occurrence for par
ticular items to be questioned where rea-
son for the draft did not appear OF the
surface or had escaped her memory In
this. as in everything else, the Queen was
a thorough business woman
The subject of a memorial 10 Victoria
begins 10 take definite shape commit
tee was formed yesterday to take charge
Of the project including Lord Salisbury.
Lord BalfOur Of Burleigh, Arthur ]. Bal
four Earl Cadogan, Joseph Chamberlain,
Akers Douglas. Lord George Hamilton,
Lord RoSebery, and Sir Henry Campbell
BanneTman- Just what form the memorial
VIII take may not be decided for a long
t4LIlt ne eL-t-t us t'SlSitLOh - ~ mani
il thoroughly national in every respect
Suggestions without end have flooded
the papers as to the character of the ne
mortal Hospitals, schools. libraries. and
public philanthrOpic institutions Of all
kinds have been suggested, but whatever
decision the committee may reach une
thing IS practically certain. the Queens
memorial statue in London viii exceed
anything of the kind now standing here
The site of the statue is exciting consid-
cradle controversy. The suggestion has
been made 10 utilize the green in front of
the houses OF Parliament, where the stat
Ues Of four Prime Ministers Of the Victc-
rian era are already in place. These ere
Melbourne. PalmerstOn. Derby. and Bea-
consdeId. To the north front Of the green
are places for two more Gladstone aud
Salisbury are naturally suggested to fill
these vacancies With such surroundings
a monument INTELLECTUALLY in harmony
with the adjoining Westminster Abbey and
Parliament houses IS deemed a fitting
memorial TO Queen Victoria