HOW LORD BECONSFIELD GOT A FORTUNE.
Moot people are aware that Lord Beaccnafieid had a considerable fortune bequeathed to him by a lady admirer of hiogeniuß ; bat probably few knew that the lady was of tha Hebrew race, and fa war still know the attendant circumstances of the remarkable bequest. About the time of the Great Exhibition of 1851 a lady, unknown to him, wrote to Mr Disraeli several times asking for an interview with him. Being one of the Royal Commissioners of the Exhibition he was much engaged, and beyond a polite acknowledgment of the letters, he took no »tcp» towards a compliance with the request But his fair correspondent was not to be put aside by the great, statesman's neglect, and next wrote to hia wife asking for an interview. She added with tree feminine tact and precaution, that there was no unworthy motive at the bottom of her anxiety, for she was sixty years of age, and almost at the end of her earthly career. This request was granted ' and the visitor explained that she was a widow of an Indian officer of some distinction ; that she had no family ; and that, being herself a Jewess, and an ardent admirer of Mr Disraeli's literary and political genius, ehe desired to will her fortune to him. Mrs Disraeli afterwards communicated this to her husband, who treated the matter as a jjke, and m the midst of hlB amusement penned a note to his admirer to say that he had no objeotion to become her heir if she were so minded. A day or two afterwards, as Mr Disraeli waa leaving home for the House of Commons, hia valet handed him a lettfar, which he put into the pocket of hit overcoat, to read at a more convenient season. It remained m hia coat-pocket for some weeks, and his valet, snrpriied to find it there unopened, took it at onoa to his master. Mr D.sraell opened the letter, and found m it a note from the lady saying that she quite understood hit hesitancy with regard to a personal interview with a stranger, but as a proof that •he was m earnest, ahe euoloaed a ohtqae for £1,000, which he would no doubt find useful In paying his expenses at the next election. Mr Disraeli then called upon his fair correspondent to thank her for her acceptable gift, upon which she Bhowtd him a will m which she had bequeathed to him all her property, only stipulating that he and Mrs Disraeli should pay her a holiday visit twice a-year at Torquay. Four or five years after this the lady died and Mr Disraeli found hitmelf possessed of £40,000 or £50,000 m cash a quintity of plate, jewels, a fine library, and a handsomely-appointed he. use. With the money be paid off his debts, and was enabled to make a new and favorable itirfe m the world, free from pecuniary worry or enoumbrance. — ''Jewish Herald."
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1659, 10 September 1887, Page 3
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496HOW LORD BECONSFIELD GOT A FORTUNE. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1659, 10 September 1887, Page 3
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