Mr. Gladstone was compelled in his last budget to mention
the death of a private individual, Mr. Thornton, whose wealth was so 'enormous that the legacy duty received perceptibly affected the national revenue. Mr. Thornton, however, left only two and a half .millions, and the Cambrian, a respectable Welsh paper, now declares that the property of the late Mr. Crawshay, the ironmaster, the bulk of which is bequeathed to his youngest son, exceeds seven millions. If that statement is correct, of which we know nothing, but the Cambrian gives details, Mr. Crawshay must have been the largest, or nearly the largest, holder of personalty in Europe. The Botha- ohilds are said to hold their wealth as family rather than indi- vidual property, and we question if outside that powerful clan there is a man in Europe whose spendable wealth, apart from his settled lands, much exceeds five millions, and there are probably not ten who reach that figure.
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