LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
BARON MEYER DE ROTHSCHILD.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPEOFATOR."]
Sin,—As one who knows something of the Rothschild family (though entirely unconnected with them), and of the excellent qualities of head and heart possessed by its members, I beg per- mission to offer a few remarks on the interesting and striking article in your valuable journal under the above heading. My object is not to controvert any part of its contents, hurt° supple- ment it, as it seems to me that it does very imperfect justice to the late Baron.
In that article be is spoken of merely as an art collector and as a racing man. Certainly, he was both. His splendid residence at Mentmore contains a collection of pictures, china, and other art treasures which evidence not merely the "vast wealth," but the nice discrimination and consummate taste of him who brought them together. A thorough Englishman in his habits and amuse- ments, he had a passion for horses ; he loved hunting ; he loved racing ;—and in the latter pursuit he was distinguished (as is justly observed in your notice of him) by straightforward honesty of purpose ; he wished to possess horses capable of winning the great races, and he spared no cost nor pains to succeed.
But Baron Meyer de Rothschild was something besides all this. It was not merely on selfish enjoyments that his superfluous riches were spent. His charities were large and unostentatious, his acts of kindness munificent. With assiduous care he promoted the welfare, moral and physical, of his tenantry and dependents, improving their dwellings, building cottages, and maintaining efficient schools. In private life he was alike blameless and beloved, and his death is felt by a large circle of relatives and friends as the removal hence of a good man ; by those who were near and dear to him it is mourned as a loss which no earthly consolation can supply. Surely not even "the philanthropist" will say this was an "ignoble life " ; nay, was there not even
something " noble " in it ?—I am, Sir, &c., J. C. F.
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