THE COUNT OF CHAMBORD'S FORTUNE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3323, 26 November 1883, Page 3

THE COUNT OF CHAMBORD'S FORTUNE.

(From “ Truth.”) Great indignation is felt at the will of the Count de Chambord. The respect in which he was generally held is fast disappearing. The basis of his fortune, say those who criticise bis unpatriotic testament, was drawn from France. Few persons had any idea of the great value of the jewels which were given by the Directory as family property to the Duohesse d’Angouleme, when she was exchanged for the republican hostages taken by Austria. In the fifteen years in which Louis XVIII. and Charles X. reigned she and her husband had huge civil list pensions, and no expenses to speak of. They lived at the expense of these kings and invested their savings in public stocks and real estate. Their notary purchased for them and for the Duchesse de Berry a few hundred acres of swamp atEngtenfor a trifling sum. When they were in exile this investment brought them a large fortune. A Legitimist was the ostensible proprietor. About eleven years ago he advised the Count de Chambord to sell the share that bad come to him through his aunt and speculate in building lots in Vienna. This was done, and the profits on the venture were enormous. There were few more intelligent investors than the Comte do Chombord. He early saw the importance of M. de Lesseps’ Suez enterprise, and took the opportunity presented by the fulfilment of a vow to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to visit the Isthmus. There he was for a week the guest of Lesseps, who demonstrated to him the feasibility of bis scheme. Suez shares were at that time very much below par. An important sum was spent in buying them, and they now figure high in the inventory of personality which is to be divided between the Duke of Parma and the Comte de Bardi. The Comtesse do Chambord will not insist on her right under the will to enjoy a life estate in all but the money that is to benefit specific legatees. She will bo satisfied with retaining Frohsdorf, and with an annuity which will enable her to keep up the existing household and the stables until the horses drop off from old age. Her dowry, which is a royal fortune, will otherwise be enough for her. The ■tables have cost on an average, £6OOO a year. I believe that a Bill will bo hurried through the Chambers next session to nip litigation about the Chateau de Chambord in the bud. The Government will claim it as part of the State domain. It was bought and given by the Communes of France to the Comte de Chambord when he was Due de Bordeaux, to prevent it falling into the hands of the la Bonde Noire and being •demolished for building materials. The Communes did not make the present pour les beaux yeux of the Prince, but because he was to have been King. If he had inherited the throne it would have ceased to be private property, and would have been annexed to the national domain. It is contended that the Comte do Chambord was de facto King for a day at Rambonillet. I do not know to what extent prescription can bar a State right to landed or other aerty. But a law of the Chamber 1 be easily passed which would put a stop to all litigation. Had the Comte de Chambord lived as a King with a civil list, he would have boon able to leave twice as much to his nephews as he has done. His wealth and liberality explain why legitimacy has so

long survived since 1830. If ho had had the thrifty disposition of, say the Duke of Edinburgh, he must have died as rich as Rothchild. The sixty horses, domesticity, news agencies, provincial journals, and Royalist Committees ate deep into his income, and ha did not grudge them what they cost. I think his legacies to his nieces are shabby. They come in for only £4OOO a-piece—-just enough to buy themselves some nice mourning jewellery. Salic divine right is It receives that arbitrary rale of grammar about the superior worthiness of the masculine gender as absolute truth.