matter, and the tradition of it is handed down from one generation to another. It grows with the years in value and proportion, and looms up bigger and bigger in the haze which surrounds it. It is usually based upon the testimony of some long since deceased great-aunt or great-uncle, who is said to have described how some ancestor, desirous of remembering his relatives in America, and not knowing where they might be found, had the money put in Chan cery for them, where it has lain all these years! Upon such children's stories as these are based demands whose persis tence is only equalled by their unreasonableness. A request for a detailed statement as to where the ancestor died, his Christian name, the date when and the proceedings on which the money was paid into court, and other elementary essential facts is resented as an impertinence. The same vague statements are repeated and renewed offers are made of an increased contingent interest in the fund; which rarely is less than a million of dollars, and is more often a million sterling. Only a few weeks ago a claim was received here for money which was paid into a bank in London to the credit of the ancestors of the claimant in 1 690 — a date five years earlier than that of the establishment of the Bank of England, and when traders and merchants used to lodge their money with the goldsmiths in Lombard Street. Another correspondent stated that a great-uncle, when a lad, went upon a ship lying in some port in England, out of curiosity to see what a ship was like, and while inspecting the vessel it sailed for America. The involuntary passenger, who is said to have landed at Baltimore, appears to have had such an aversion to the sh1p that played this shabby trick upon him and to all ships in general that, when late in life he received word that his father in England had left him some money, he promptly destroyed the letter and the evidence of the legacy, fearing that if his children got word of it they might be tempted to cross the ocean! One of them, it seems, notwithstanding this precaution, found out the secret, and one of his remote descendants is now en deavoring to recover the money which, of course, is " in Chancery." Letters of similar import to this, and illustra ting every phase of cupidity and credulity, are received by almost every post at the United States Embassy and the Con sulate in London. Both the Ambassador and the ConsulGeneral have been compelled to prepare a printed circular which they use as a general reply to these applications, and in which they state that it is extremely probable that there is no such fund as represented in existence, and requesting that no expense be incurred in the fruitless attempt to real ize something out of it. In some instances the property over here consists of an estate belonging to some branch of a family which has numerous representatives in the United States. Lawyers perhaps are familiar with the incidents of the trial of two men, one of whom was a lawyer in good stand ing in the United States, and the other a colonel of a
regiment in the Civil War, who were indicted for, and found guilty at the Old Bailey, of obtaining money under false pretenses. They had to come over to England to represent the heirs in America of an estate here. They kept the credulous claimants in the United States in constant expectation of the realization of an immense fortune. Meetings were held and assessments were levied and willingly paid, and the large sums thus realized were sent to England to furnish the agents with money to prose cute the claim. There was, of course, nothing in the claim for any one — except the agents, and the latter are now picking oakum at Pentonville. Notwithstanding this inci dent, a claim is now being pushed with unusual energy to the Antrim estate, or fund, which is supposed to have been left by an Earl of Antrim to a branch of the family which would seem to have emigrated en bloc to the United States. One correspondent gravely asserts that the fund amounts to £15,000,000, and that a meeting will shortly be held in the United States to raise money to employ a solicitor in London to collect the fund. It is sincerely to be hoped that some man of courage in the legal profession will interfere to prevent innocent people from being defrauded in this way. For a few shillings it can be ascertained that there never was £15,000,000 at any one time in the Antrim family, and that no Lord Antrim ever left one one-hundredth part of this sum, or any part whatever, out of the family succession. The Antrims are an old Irish family, and their affairs have, it is probable, been managed for generations by the same firm of solicitors. These solicitors would not have the confidence of the family if they were not honest men, and being honest men, they will, by return post, assure any reputable correspondent that there is no shadow even of a foundation for the claim that is now being made. Furthermore, the Supreme Court Fund rules of 1886 provide that on the first day of March in every third year, the paymaster shall prepare and publish a list of the accounts or funds in Chancery of all sums over £50, or S250. There is nothing in the list to the credit of any descen dants of the Antrims. It is very appropriately stated in the last published list, " in order to remove misconception which appears to exist as to the magnitude of the funds (the amounts are not given), that of the balances standing to the credit of the accounts, one-half do not exceed .£150, and only one-sixteenth exceed £1000. The average amount is about S1800, and there are but two which are as large as $75,ooo." It is a matter of regret that these facts cannot be widely known in the United States, and that those who persist in indulging in the delusion that they are entitled to inheritances in Oireat Britain cannot be persuaded to submit their claims to reputable law yers before taking other steps. Honest advice on such pretensions would show that not one in ten thousand has any foundation. Stuff Gown.
