Mr. Holloway, one of the now not inconsiderable number of
millionaires, died on Wednesday, in his eighty-fourth year, with a fortune variously stated at from two to five millions sterling, but more probably,—at least if we count in it what he has spent on his Surrey lunatic asylum and his ladies' college,—approach- ing to the latter sum. Only the basis of his fortune was made by selling the famous pills and ointment. Mr. Holloway was a shrewd investor, and seemed almost unable to fail in selecting a profitable investment. During the last ten years of his life he had been endeavouring to spend his great fortune beneficently, by building near Virginia-Water Station a great asylum for curable lunatics,—who are, we believe, only to remain there for a limited
period,—aud by building near Eghani a vast ladies' college, con- taining upwards of 1,000 rooms, which he is also said to have endowed handsomely. It will, however, need an exceedingly hand- some endowment, if it is to succeed at a distance of twenty miles from London, and a much greater distance from either Oxford or Cambridge, for the teachers must be first-rate, and must be paid far more than the fees would pay them. In the neighbourhood of Oxford or Cambridge, such a building would have been a. great success. Where it is, its success will probably depend on its endowment. Of Mr. Holloway's benevolent intentions there is no doubt, and though we have made elsewhere some unfavour- able criticisms on the original source of his great fortune, we do not wish it to be doubted for a moment that we heartily respect the motive which impelled him to execute the works of his declining years.
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