Lives of the Queens of England of the House of Hanover, volume 2 (of 2)Doran, Dr. (John)
History
Lives of the Queens of England of the House of Hanover, volume 2 (of 2)
Doran, Dr. (John)
Hanover, House of; Queens -- Great Britain -- Biography
The splendid tribute which the Nabob of Arcot had deposited at her feet
she divided among four of her daughters. The excepted daughter was the
Queen of Wurtemburg, whom she looked upon as exceedingly well provided
for. To the remaining four the careful mother did not bequeath the
glittering gems, but the value of them after they were sold, and after
certain debts were discharged from the produce of the sale. The four
princesses divided between them what remained. The jewels which she had
bought, or had received as birthday presents, were also to be divided
among the same four daughters, according to a valuation to be made of
them. The diamonds were valued at nearly a million. In ready money the
Queen left behind her only 4,000_l._
Frogmore was bequeathed to the Princess Augusta; and the plate,
linen, pictures, china, books, furniture, &c., were left to the four
princesses already named. Of her sons the testatrix made no mention,
nor to them left any legacy. There were other persons mentioned, but
who came off as badly as though they had never been named. Her Majesty
directed that certain bequests as set down in certain lists annexed to
her will, and to which due reference was made, should be paid to them;
but not only were no such lists so annexed, but it was ascertained that
her Majesty had never drawn any out herself nor directed any to be
drawn by others.
There _was_, however, another list, touching which the aged Queen had
been by no means so forgetful. This list contained a detail of property
which the testatrix declared she had brought with her, more than half
a century before, from Mecklenburgh Strelitz. Thither she ordered it
to be sent back--to the senior branch of her illustrious house. After
millions received from this country during her residence in it, she
would not testify her gratitude for such munificence by permitting it
or her family in England to profit by the handful of small valuables
she had brought with her from Strelitz. To the head of the house of
Mecklenburgh Strelitz reverted the few old-fashioned things brought
over here in the trunks of the bride; and, if they have been worth
preserving, the old-world finery of Sophia Charlotte of Strelitz and
England is now possessed by the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh, the
daughter of Charlotte’s son, Adolphus of Cambridge.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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