"Newstead Abbey, August 12. 1811.
"Sir,
"I enclose a rough draught of my intended will, which I beg to have
drawn up as soon as possible, in the firmest manner. The
alterations are principally made in consequence of the death of
Mrs. Byron. I have only to request that it may be got ready in a
short time, and have the honour, to be,
"Your most obedient, humble servant,
"BYRON."
* * * * *
"Newstead Abbey, August 12. 1811.
"DIRECTIONS FOR, THE CONTENTS OF A WILL TO BE DRAWN UP IMMEDIATELY.
"The estate of Newstead to be entailed (subject to certain
deductions) on George Anson Byron, heir-at-law, or whoever may be
the heir-at-law on the death of Lord B. The Rochdale property to be
sold in part or the whole, according to the debts and legacies of
the present Lord B.
"To Nicolo Giraud of Athens, subject of France, but born in Greece,
the sum of seven thousand pounds sterling, to be paid from the
sale of such parts of Rochdale, Newstead, or elsewhere, as may
enable the said Nicolo Giraud (resident at Athens and Malta in the
year 1810) to receive the above sum on his attaining the age of
twenty-one years.
"To William Fletcher, Joseph Murray, and Demetrius Zograffo[22]
(native of Greece), servants, the sum of fifty pounds pr. ann.
each, for their natural lives. To Wm. Fletcher, the Mill at
Newstead, on condition that he payeth rent, but not subject to the
caprice of the landlord. To Rt. Rushton the sum of fifty pounds
per ann. for life, and a further sum of one thousand pounds on
attaining the age of twenty-five years.
"To Jn. Hanson, Esq. the sum of two thousand pounds sterling.
"The claims of S.B. Davies, Esq. to be satisfied on proving the
amount of the same.
"The body of Lord B. to be buried in the vault of the garden of
Newstead, without any ceremony or burial-service whatever, or any
inscription, save his name and age. His dog not to be removed from
the said vault.
"My library and furniture of every description to my friends Jn.
Cam Hobhouse, Esq., and S.B. Davies, Esq. my executors. In case of
their decease, the Rev. J. Becher, of Southwell, Notts., and R.C.
Dallas, Esq., of Mortlake, Surrey, to be executors.
"The produce of the sale of Wymondham in Norfolk, and the late Mrs.
B.'s Scotch property[23], to be appropriated in aid of the payment
of debts and legacies."
[Footnote 22: "If the papers lie not (which they generally do),
Demetrius Zograffo of Athens is at the head of the Athenian part of the
Greek insurrection. He was my servant in 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, at
different intervals of those years (for I left him in Greece when I went
to Constantinople), and accompanied me to England in 1811: he returned
to Greece, spring, 1812. He was a clever, but not _apparently_ an
enterprising man; but circumstances make men. His two sons (_then_
infants) were named Miltiades and Alcibiades: may the omen be happy!"
--_MS. Journal._]
[Footnote 23: On the death of his mother, a considerable sum of money,
the remains of the price of the estate of Gight, was paid into his hands
by her trustee, Baron Clerk.]
* * * * *
In sending a copy of the Will, framed on these instructions, to Lord
Byron, the solicitor accompanied some of the clauses with marginal
queries, calling the attention of his noble client to points which he
considered inexpedient or questionable; and as the short pithy answers
to these suggestions are strongly characteristic of their writer, I
shall here give one or two of the clauses in full, with the respective
queries and answers annexed.
"This is the last will and testament of me, the Rt. Honble George
Gordon Lord Byron, Baron Byron of Rochdale, in the county of
Lancaster.--I desire that my body may be buried in the vault of the
garden of Newstead, without any ceremony or burial-service whatever,
and that no inscription, save my name and age, be written on the tomb or
tablet; and it is my will that my faithful dog may not be removed from
the said vault. To the performance of this my particular desire, I rely
on the attention of my executors hereinafter named."
_"It is submitted to Lord Byron whether this clause relative to the
funeral had not better be omitted. The substance of it can be given in a
letter from his Lordship to the executors, and accompany the will; and
the will may state that the funeral shall be performed in such manner as
his Lordship may by letter direct, and, in default of any such letter,
then at the discretion of his executors."_
"It must stand. B."
"I do hereby specifically order and direct that all the claims of the
said S.B. Davies upon me shall be fully paid and satisfied as soon as
conveniently may be after my decease, on his proving [by vouchers, or
otherwise, to the satisfaction of my executors hereinafter named][24]
the amount thereof, and the correctness of the same."
_"If Mr. Davies has any unsettled claims upon Lord Byron, that
circumstance is a reason for his not being appointed executor; each
executor having an opportunity of paying himself his own debt without
consulting his co-executors."_
"So much the better--if possible, let him be an executor. B."
[Footnote 24: Over the words which I have here placed between brackets,
Lord Byron drew his pen.]
* * * * *
The two following letters contain further instructions on the same
subject:--