CHAPTER VI

WILLS OF FAMOUS FOREIGNERS

“Farewell! a long farewell, to all my greatness!”

WILL OF THE MARQUIS D’ALIGRE

Before quoting the will of the Marquis d’Aligre, we will recall a little

incident of his life, which, though it serves to show his character,

does not prepare us for the various phases of his shrewd and humorous

mind.

One day the marquis went to pay a visit to the Duc de X., one of his

friends, a man of scrupulous propriety and a great stickler for

etiquette. Hardly had he taken leave, after an hour’s chat, before the

duke perceived on the mantelpiece a pair of brown gloves; he looked at

them and then drew back with horror; these gloves of an indescribable

hue had evidently once been white! and it was actual wear that had

tinted them. The tips of the fingers were twisted about and stiff, and

the gaping buttonholes testified to their protracted and loyal service.

No housemaid would have worn them to clean her stoves.

The duke took his tongs, seized the gloves, and laying them on a folded

newspaper, rolled them up with precaution, and having written on a slip

of paper, “Gloves belonging to a great nobleman, one of the largest

landowners in France,” he fixed it with a pin to this singular parcel.

Not many minutes later arrives the valet of the marquis, who, presenting

himself before the duke, begs to know, not without some embarrassment,

and blushing up to his ears, whether his master had not forgotten his

gloves. Needless to say they were forthwith handed to him.

We now proceed to the will of this gentleman, of which we propose to

transcribe the most remarkable clauses, which, however, we must remark,

seem to have been penned in a spirit of justice.

“Art. IV.--I leave to M. de Boissey, my blessing, to compensate him for

the curses which M. Pasquier heaped upon him every day. May it be of use

to him on the judgment-day.”

“Art. VII.--I withdraw from M. A ..., and M ... x the sums I had left

them by a former will; they have so often proclaimed that I am a man who

would cut a farthing in four, that I would on no account oblige them to

change their opinion.”

“Art. IX.--I advise Madame de Pomereu, or those she may authorize, to

pay to the _charcutiers_ of Paris the sum of 10,000 francs in

remembrance of their predecessors, who before the Revolution dealt for

their ham and other smoked meats at the Hôtel d’Aligre, Rue St. Honoré.

“Art. X.--I leave 20,000 francs a-year to the _invalide_ who, being on

guard on the Pont des Arts in 1839, and, judging from the shabbiness of

my dress that I was in distress, paid for me the five centimes toll.”

“Art. XIII.--Considering that virtue ought to be encouraged, I

consecrate 100,000 francs yearly to the formation of fifty dowries of

2000 francs in favour of fifty _Rosières_. The Mayor of Nanterre, who

finds these maidens every year, will be good enough to undertake the

distribution. If by chance his commune should not furnish him the

necessary contingent, he is authorized to address himself to the Gymnase

Theatre.

“Art. XIV.--I leave 200,000 francs a-year to the ‘Phalansterians’; but

they are only to receive this sum on the day on which they shall have

transformed the ocean into orangeade, and gratified mankind with that

appendage he needs to make him equal to the gibbon.”

“Art. XVI.--Taking compassion on the poor of the first arrondissement, I

desire that the value of the cereals harvested on my land at the next

harvest shall be distributed to them in its entirety.

“Art. XX.--Finally, I leave to my relatives, oblivion; to my friends,

ingratitude; to God, my soul. As for my body, it belongs to my family

vault.”

The brother of the testator was put into the will for a legacy so

absurdly disproportionate to what he considered he had a right to expect

that the following not very maturely considered observation thereon

appeared in a newspaper of the date (1847):

“The celebrated Crœsus who has just died has revealed in his will

certain little peculiarities of which few suspected him. He was a great

protector of rats; and on the day but one before that of his death he

was at the races with four of these animals in his calêche. He had a

brother who gave him very good advice on this subject, like the Cléante

of ‘Tartuffe,’ to whom he replied by a little posthumous epigram,

indicative of his churlish disposition; he has left him, out of his

large fortune, a dole of 20,000 francs per annum. There is no revenge so

hard and bitter as that of an old man. There are, we venture to think,

many brothers, all the same, who would be very glad of a fraternal

legacy of eight hundred a-year, and, moreover, we know nothing of the

provocation that may have been given; like Lord Campbell, ‘we should

like to hear the dog’s story.’”

Possibly the old Marquis felt the separation he contemplated between

himself and the fortune he had amassed, but if he entertained any

malicious sentiments against those to whom he was obliged to leave what

he could not take away with him, he seems to have been fully justified

in the somewhat severe animadversions he has passed on some of his

legatees.

To a lady relative, who had been full of attentions for him, he left a

broken cup, jeering her with the taunt that while she thought she was

taking him in he was laughing in his sleeve at the grimace she would

make when she found that it was he who had got all her little gifts, her

smiles and favors out of her, knowing all the while that he had no

intention of repaying them as she expected.

“As for you,” he says at the end of the will, “you, my good and

admirable valet, who have so long taken me for your dupe, you will now

learn that it is you who have been mine; when at the conclusion of my

dinner you thought I was applauding your economy and your zeal, in

carefully putting together the remains of bottles of wine and keeping

them for the next meal, it never occurred to you that I was well aware

you took for your own use whole bottles. When you came with tearful eyes

and coaxing voice to wait on me the moment I was suffering from any

trifling indisposition, presenting to me my _tisanes_ with an assumed

air of condolence and anxiety, you little thought how my instinct,

following you into the servants’ hall, guessed the language in which you

expressed yourself there. ‘The old fellow,’ you used to say, ‘can’t last

much longer, and then I shall come in for my hard-earned legacy.’

“Well, my dear fellow, I am sorry to tell you this was all a mistake,

and you have got to learn that masters are not always so much stupider

as you suppose than their servants.

“As for you, my relatives, who have been so long spelling upon this

fortune, on which ‘I had concentrated all my affections,’ you are not

going to touch a penny of it, and not one of you will be able to boast

that you have squandered the millions which the old Marquis d’Aligre had

taken so many years to hoard up.”

CARDINAL ANTONELLI’S WILL

The great wealth Cardinal Antonelli, who died in 1876, is reported to

have left, has aroused special interest with regard to his will, and

given rise to endless gossip, not only as to its contents, but

concerning the document itself. At first it was reported that it could

not be found; then, that it had disappeared in some remarkable manner;

that it had been purposely destroyed; that the cardinal had made no

will; and many other _canards_ were circulated. Later, however, the

_Libertà_ announced that it was in the hands of the public notary in the

Piazza San Claudio, where it could be seen, but that only those having a

direct interest in its contents could be permitted to examine it.

Subsequently the _Popolo Romano_ published the document _in extenso_,

together with the notary’s statement concerning it, as follows:

“REPERTORY NO. 187

“Reigning His Majesty Victor Emmanuel II., by the grace of God and the

will of the nation, King of Italy.

“I, the undersigned, public notary, certify that among my acts under the

hereafter-inscribed day is to be found the registered report of the

deposit of the holograph testament of the defunct Most Eminent Cardinal

Giacomo Antonelli, made at the instance of the illustrious advocate,

Signor Antonio Bachetoni, to the following effect:

“The year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six on Thursday, the

twenty-third day of the month of November, in Rome. Before me, Scipione

Vici, public notary, having my office upon the Piazza San Claudio, No.

93, and inscribed in the Council of Notaries of the district of the

Collegio di Roma, assisted by the undersigned witnesses, qualified

according to law, and in the presence of the illustrious advocate Signor

Enrico Simonetti, Prætor of my mandament, duly executed at his

residence, situated in Via Gesù e Maria, No. 28, and of the Signori

Jacopini Torollo, son of the late Giovanni Batta, of Arcidosso, in the

Province of Grosseto, domiciled Via Orsoline No. 2, and Filippo

Ciavambini, son of the late Petito, of Ascoli, domiciled Via de’ Specchi

No. 3, both employés, has personally appeared the illustrious advocate

Antonio Bachetoni, son of the late Giovanni, native of Spoleto,

domiciled in Rome, in Via del Corso No. 509, of full age, being

juridically qualified, and known to me, notary, who, in consequence of

express instructions received from the noble Signori Conti Gregorio,

Angelo, and Luigi Antonelli, brothers german, has applied to me to

deposit with me notary, certain papers, which they assert contain the

last testamentary dispositions of the aforesaid defunct Most Eminent and

Most Reverend Signor Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli, who passed from among

the living on the sixth day of the current November, as results from the

certificate of the Board of Health, given the 22nd day of November,

1876, and which I insert (Appendix No. 1). Wherefore, in presence of the

aforesaid Signor Prætor and of the aforesaid witnesses, he has consigned

to me an open envelope, on the outside of which was found written,

‘Testament of Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli,’ and having examined the

contents of the same, they were found to consist of two sheets of paper

folded in quarto, and another small envelope, of which the requisite

description will be made in its proper place. Opening the two sheets, it

was found that they were in one handwriting and consisted of six pages

written throughout, and the seventh upon the half only, followed by the

date ‘Rome, January 18, 1871,’ and by the signature ‘G. Card.

Antonelli.’ On the third page an interlineation of fifteen words was

observed, and on the fifth and seventh pages the insertion of a word in

each without any marginal note or erasure, as follows:

“‘WILL OF CARDINAL GIACOMO ANTONELLI

“‘Desiring to dispose of my property now that, by the grace of God, I

find myself sane in mind and body, using the faculties which I have as

Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, with this document, by me written and

subscribed, I make herewith my last will and testament. Before

everything else I recommend my poor soul to the infinite mercy of God,

trusting that through the intercession of the Most Holy Immaculate Mary,

and of my patron saints, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. James, and St. Louis,

He may grant me remission of my sins, and make me worthy of the eternal

glory of Paradise. I forbid the dissecting or embalming of my body after

death in any way or for whatsoever motive, and order that it be interred

in the burying-place of my chapel in the Church of Sta. Agata alia

Suburra, near my good mother.

“‘The funeral shall be made according to custom in the church which it

shall please the Holy Father to appoint. During the eight days following

my death I order that a hundred masses a day be celebrated, with the

alms of thirty sous for each mass.

“‘A part of these masses shall be caused to be celebrated by the

Mendicant Friars. I humbly beg the Holy Father to accept the respectful

offering I make him of the crucifix standing on my writing-table, having

the cross inlaid with lapis-lazuli, and at the base the kneeling

Magdalene, within the centre of said base a bas-relief, representing the

Addolorata, and other ornaments in silver. I pray him to accept with

paternal goodness this object as a homage from the most devoted and

faithful of his subjects, who dies tranquil in the conscience of never

having failed in duty towards his sacred person, and the conviction of

having always with all earnestness and honesty served him in the true

interests of the Church and of the State. Before proceeding to dispose

of my private fortune, I declare that I do not possess any other capital

beyond that which came from the heritage of my excellent father, or

which I have been able to acquire through the means left me by him. I

protest, therefore, against all the calumnies which on that and on any

other account whatsoever have been in so many ways circulated through

the world, before God who is to judge me, and before Him I forgive from

my heart all those who have tried to do me evil.

“‘If, in doing my duty, I may have caused displeasure to anyone, I have

the conscience of never having had even the intention of injuring anyone

whomsoever. I direct my heirs to consign to the persons whom I have

thought it my duty to remember some memoranda which I shall leave

written in a sealed paper by me subscribed.

“‘I leave to the Hospital of Santo Spirito, for one time only,

twenty-five francs, and other twenty-five francs to the Holy Places of

Jerusalem.

“‘To my Titular Church of Santa Maria in Via Lata, I leave my white

_tonacella_. The red one I leave to the Church of Sta. Agata alla

Suburra, the _commenda_ of which I hold. The violet _pianeta_ I leave to

the monastery of St. Marta, of which I am protector.

“‘The sacred hangings and altar-plate of my private chapel I desire may

be preserved for the chapel of my house on the Quirinal, and they shall

belong to the heir to whom I assign the said house.

“‘I institute as universal proprietary heirs my dearest brothers,

Filippo, Gregorio, Luigi, and Angelo, my nephew, Agostino, son of

Gregory, and my other nephew, Paolo, son of Luigi, to each of whom, as I

shall say afterwards, I assign and determine such portion of the

property and of the objects as I will they may possess, and I will that

each of them may bear the respective legacy-duty according to the value

of the share falling to him.

“‘All my possessions, furniture, gold, silver, precious objects, titles,

and effects whatsoever, the credits, and the little money that may be

found in my possession at the time of my death, except the collection of

stones and other things of which I shall dispose hereinafter, I assign

to my brothers as above, Filippo, Gregorio, Luigi, and Angelo, and I

pray them to accept this my disposition as a proof of the sincere

affection which I have always borne them equally, and as an attestation

of the gratitude I have always entertained towards them for the

affection which they have shown me under all circumstances.

“‘I assign to my nephew Agostino, heir as above, my house in Rome,

situate near the Quirinal, bought from Conte Vimercati, with everything

which is in the said house at the moment of writing this present will;

so that, if at the moment of my death any objects of whatsoever kind be

found there which are now in my apartment at the Vatican these I declare

to belong to my brothers as above. I assign also to my aforesaid nephew

the altar-furniture of my private chapel at the Vatican. I assign him

also the collection of marbles, with the cabinets containing them,

exactly as they are in my apartment at the Vatican.

“‘I declare, however, that in the aforesaid collection I do not mean to

comprehend the rock crystals and other objects which are kept in three

other separate cabinets, one of which contains medals, which I declare

to belong to my brothers as above. I assign to my nephew, Paolo, son of

my brother, Luigi, heir as above, all the property I possess in the

territory of Ceccano and adjoining territories, with all that is to be

found in it, nothing excluded, with the following conditions--that is,

that my brother, Angelo, having had the patience to occupy himself

always with the administration of my possessions in Ceccano and

adjoining territories, I ordain that neither my said nephew nor any

other person have any right or title whatsoever to take him to account

for the aforesaid administration, he having always done everything with

my full understanding and having always regularly transmitted to me all

the rents of the aforesaid properties.

“‘I dispose, moreover, that all that shall exist at the time of my death

of products or rents, as well natural as civil, from the said properties

as above, for two seasons following the same, including that in which my

death shall happen, shall be freely enjoyed by him as legatee,

continuing to hold the administration as he did during my lifetime,

exonerating him again from any rendering of account whatsoever. I

dispose also that the heir shall not enter into possession of the

aforesaid property until after two seasons as aforesaid after my death.

“‘I leave besides, as a legacy to my said brother, Angelo, the two large

silver vases with bas-reliefs on their bowls which are to be found in my

writing-room of my apartment in the Vatican, and I request my said

brother to accept and preserve them as an attestation of my affection

and a recognition of all the affectionate regards he has shown towards

me during my life. And I also request of all my heirs that all the

legacies of furniture, pictures, and other objects may be preserved and

used in their respective families, avoiding under any circumstances that

any portion of them be sold by public auction.

“‘Finally, I direct that all my said heirs shall amicably divide my

heritage among themselves in the portions according as I have assigned

them, making of them a simple familiar description for their own

guidance. I also leave to all my servants for their natural lives; to

those in my service at the time of my death, and who have served me for

more than twenty-five years, the full monthly wages they received when I

was alive; to those who have served me for more than fifteen years I

leave two-thirds of their monthly wages; and to those who have served me

for less than ten years, one-third of their monthly wages. In the

enjoyment of this disposition, notwithstanding that it is unnecessary to

declare it, I intend that the two ecclesiastics who form part of my

household shall be comprised. I expressly prohibit that any of the

aforesaid shall, for whatsoever reason, effect mortgages upon the

property which constitutes my heritage or upon that of my heirs for the

purpose of securing any assignments I have left them, and I declare that

I have made the said assignments solely under the express condition that

they do not affect any such mortgage; and if any or all of them should

think fit to do so, then I declare that ipso facto they are excluded

from the prescription of the said assignment, which is none other than a

gratuitous liberality, and I give them instead one hundred scudi for

once only.

“‘G. Cardinale Antonelli.

“‘Rome, 18th January, 1871.’

* * * * *

“The small envelope enclosed with the above bears on the outside the

following inscription: ‘For my heirs.’ The contents, being taken out,

consisted of a small sheet of paper written evenly in the same

handwriting, on the first two pages throughout, and a part of the third,

and at bottom the date--Rome, 18th of January, 1871, and the signature,

‘G. Card. Antonelli.’ There are neither erasures nor marginal notes,

interlineations nor additions. The tenor of this little sheet is as

follows:

“‘My heirs are to pay the following legacies:

“‘To my good sister Rosalia, married Sanguigni, 5000 francs.

“‘To my niece Anna Sanguigni, married to Count Pocci, 5000 francs.

“‘To my niece Lucia Antonelli, 5000 francs.

“‘To my niece Teresa Antonelli, 5000 francs.

“‘To my niece Innocenza, married Bornana, the _bénitier_ with silver

bas-relief representing the Nativity, which stands near my bed.

“‘To my nephew Agostino, the watch which stands on the little table,

with the arms of the Holy Father, given me by His Holiness on occasion

of the Centenary of St. Peter.

“‘To my nephew Domenico, the other pocket-watch, with my arms.

“‘To my nephew Paolo, the watch, with gold chain, which I wear every

day, with my arms on one side and my cipher on the other.

“‘To my nephew Pietro, twelve silver _couverts_ of those which I use

daily.

“‘To my sister-in-law Mariana, one of my pair of great silver lamps,

whichever she chooses. The other I leave to my sister-in-law Peppina.

“‘To my sister-in-law Mimma, I leave my triangular silver inkstand which

stands upon my best writing-table, together with one of the two little

boxes of Florentine mosaic which are in the same room.

“‘To my sister-in-law Vittoria, I leave the silver basin and vase of

English work which are in the case. To my niece Emma, wife of Agostino,

I leave all my lace. To her good mother, Contessa Garcia, I leave the

little service of silver-gilt, consisting of tray, coffee-pot,

cream-jug, sugar-bowl, and cups, with spoons, requesting her to accept

them as a remembrance of one who is grateful to her for all the kindness

she used towards him while he was in this world, and who prays her to

make use of the said objects for her _déjeûner_.

“‘G. Card. Antonelli.

“‘Rome, January 18th, 1871.’”

Then follow the attestation of the notary and the signatures of Cardinal

Antonelli’s lawyer, of the Prætor, and of the witnesses, and the note of

expenses of registration.

WILL OF MATTHEW ARNOLD

The estate of Matthew Arnold amounted to £1041. His will is in his own

handwriting, and is one of the shortest that ever came under probate: “I

leave everything of which I die possessed to my wife, Frances.”

WILL OF JEAN BAPTISTE ROBERT AUGER

Jean Baptiste Robert Auger, Baron de Montyon, was born in 1733 and died

in 1820; he was a French economist and philanthropist, and a friend of

Franklin. The Baron was a member of the King’s Government just before

the Revolution. Although by birth and social position an aristocrat, all

his heart was with the poor and suffering of the land.

In 1783 he founded several prizes, the chief one being a prize for the

most remarkably virtuous act on the part of any poor French citizen. By

his will he left a large sum of money for the purpose of “aiding

virtue,” as he said. “The doers of the actions honored,” the will

stipulated, “shall not be of a station above the middle classes of

humanity.” The annual award of these prizes is made by the French

Academy.

As years have passed, other rich philanthropists have added to the

original sum, until to-day the income is sufficient to award every year

a large number of prizes that are really of substantial aid to those who

receive them.

For a number of years after the Government had received the bequest, it

did not make any awards. During the Revolution the convention voted that

it did not approve of awarding any such prizes; so the principal was

allowed to accumulate. But during the reign of Napoleon it was turned

over to the newly restored Academy as the most capable and impartial

tribunal in the land, and the Academy, which is composed of forty

foremost men of letters in France, has had charge of the constantly

increasing fund ever since.

The award of prizes is made with much ceremony at a public meeting of

the Academy on a certain fixed day every year. One of the most eloquent

members of the Academy is chosen to tell in an “oration” to whom, and

why, the prizes for that year have been awarded. If all these “orations”

could be collected and published, they would make one of the most

inspiring books ever written.

Part of each bequest is set aside to employ investigators to make

thorough inquiries about each request for a reward. Such requests are

never permitted to come from the person to be rewarded, nor from his

family. Generally, the people in a small town or village send a joint

petition to the Academy, requesting the reward for one of their members.

Among the recent rewards is the characteristic case of Laurentine

Armenjon, a girl from the mountains of Savoy. She is eighth in a family

of fifteen children. When nine years old, her youngest sister was

carried away by gypsies, and from grief and distress over this, the

mother lost her reason. Ever since, now ten years ago, Laurentine has

had charge of the brothers and sisters, older as well as younger; and of

the bedridden demented mother besides, while the father is away in the

fields toiling for his scanty living.

A gift of one thousand francs was sent to one of the most remote islands

of the South Pacific, to three nuns who are surely among the most heroic

of living creatures. The Island of Mangareva, where they live, is a

leper colony. It is not likely that one of these women will ever leave

this lonely desolate spot, so far away from the land of their families

and friends that news from home comes only once in six months. The

nearest civilization lies forty days’ journey over the ocean. Many nuns

have gone before these three to voluntary exile on this island, but they

have all succumbed within a few years; one or two were driven insane by

the very loneliness and desolation of the life. Though they knew this in

advance, yet these three women from Brittany have consecrated the rest

of their lives, be they long or short, to God’s service there.

No prize is ever granted for one act of heroism; but every award is made

to a person who has devoted years of patient service to some good cause.

Moreover, the awards are rather aids than prizes, granted in order to

enable the person awarded to carry on some good work to even greater

usefulness.

WILL OF LORD BACON

Lord Bacon in 1625, bequeathed his soul and body to God, while his name

and memory he left to men’s charitable speeches and to foreign nations

and the next ages.

WILL OF THE DUKE OF BRUNSWICK

“To-day, the 5th of March, 1871, Hôtel de la Metropole, Geneva.

“This is our Will or Testament,--We, Charles Frederic Auguste William,

by the Grace of God Duke Sovereign of Brunswick and of Luneburg, &c.,

being in good health of body and mind, declare--

“1. That we revoke by the present all testaments or writings prior to

this one. 2. We wish that after our death our executors here named shall

cause our body to be examined by five of the most celebrated physicians

and surgeons in order to make sure that we have not been poisoned, and

to make an exact report in writing, signed by them, of the cause of our

death. 3. We wish that our body be embalmed, and if better for its

preservation, petrified, according to the printed method adjoined. We

wish our funeral to be conducted with all the ceremony and splendour due

to our rank of Sovereign Duke. 4. We wish our body to be deposed in a

mausoleum above the ground, which shall be erected by our executors at

Geneva, in a dignified and prominent position. The monument shall be

surmounted by an equestrian statue and surrounded by those of our father

and grandfather of glorious memory, after the design attached to this

testament in imitation of that of the Scaglieri at Verona; our executors

shall construct the said monument ad libitum of the millions of our

succession, in bronze and marble, by the most celebrated artists. 5. We

make the condition that our testamentary executors shall not enter into

any sort of compromise with our unnatural relations--Prince William of

Brunswick, the ex-King of Hanover, his son, the Duke of Cambridge, or

any one else of our pretended family, their servitors, their agents, or

any other person whatever. 6. We wish our testamentary executors to use

every means to put themselves in possession of our fortune remaining in

our Duchy of Brunswick, in Hanover, in Prussia, in America, or

elsewhere. 7. We make as a condition that our executors respect and

execute all the codicils and legacies which we have the intention to

make in favour of our surroundings. 8. We declare that we leave and

bequeath our fortune--that is, our chateaux, domains, forests, estates,

mines, saltworks, hotels, houses, parks, libraries, gardens, quarries,

diamonds, jewels, silver, pictures, horses, carriages, porcelain,

furniture, cash, bonds, public funds, bank-notes, and particularly that

important part of our fortune which has been taken from us by force and

kept since 1830, with all the interests in our Duchy of Brunswick, to

the city of Geneva. 9. We leave to Mr. George Thomas Smith, of No. 228,

King’s Road, Chelsea, in England, administrator-general, grand treasurer

of our fortune, 1,000,000f., and we nominate him executor in chief of

this testament. We likewise appoint M. Ferdininant Cherbuliez, advocate

at Genoa. This testament is entirely written and signed by our hand, and

sealed with our arms.

“DUKE OF BRUNSWICK.”

WILL OF LORD BULWER-LYTTON

The will of the late Lord Bulwer-Lytton, who died in 1873, contained

special directions as to the examination of his body, in order to

provide against the possibility of his being buried whilst in a trance,

which appeared to be an apprehension of his. The will further provided

that the funeral expenses should be limited to what was usual, simply,

in the interment of a private gentleman; and that any epitaph which

might be intended for his tomb should be written in the English

language.

WILL OF EDMUND BURKE

Edmund Burke is believed to have been born in Dublin on the 12th day of

January, 1729; he died on the 8th day of July, 1797. His gifts of

oratory impressed the people of his time, and have remained models ever

since; he must ever be held in affectionate esteem by Americans, for his

speeches on “American Taxation” and “Conciliation with America” are

regarded as the most brilliant examples of his eloquence and

statesmanship. Had his counsels been adopted, the War of Independence

would have been averted. Burke left strict injunctions that his burial

should be private, and in spite of a great demand for his interment in

Westminster Abbey, he was laid to rest in the little church at

Beaconsfield, a few miles from Windsor.

His will remains on file at Somerset House, London, and the testament is

here given as it there literally appears:

“If my dear Son & friend had survived me, any Will would have been

unnecessary but since it has pleased God to call him to himself before

his Father, my duty calls upon me to make such a disposition of my

worldly affairs as seems to my best Judgment most Equitable and

reasonable; therefore, I, Edmund Burke, of the parish of Saint James,

Westminster, though suffering under sore and inexpressible affliction

being of sound and disposing Mind and not affected by any bodily

infirmity, do make my last will and Testament, in manner following;

First, according to the Ancient good and laudable Custom of which my

Heart & understanding recognizes the propriety, I bequeath my soul to

God, hoping for his Mercy thro’ the only Merits of our Lord and Saviour

Jesus Christ; my Body I desire, if I should die in any place very

convenient for its Transport thither (but not otherwise), to be buried

in the Church at Beaconsfield near to the Bodies of my dearest Brother &

my dearest Son, in all Humility praying that as we have lived in perfect

Amity together we may together have a part in the Resurrection of the

Just; I wish my Funeral to be (without any Punctiliousness in that

respect) the same as that of my brother and to exceed it as little as

possible in point of Charge, whether on Account of my Family or of any

others who would go to a greater expence, & I desire in the same manner

and with the same Qualifications that no Monument beyond a Middle sized

Tablet with a small and simple inscription on the Church Wall or on the

Flagstone be erected; I say this because I know the Partial kindness to

me of some of my Friends, but I have had in my life time but too much of

noise and compliment: as to the rest it is uncertain what I shall leave

after the Discharge of my Debts which when I write this are very great.

Be that as it may, my Will concerning my worldly substance is short. As

my entirely beloved, Faithful & affectionate Wife did during the whole

time in which I lived most happily with her take on her the charge &

Management of my affairs, assisted by her son, whilst God was pleased to

lend him to us, did conduct them (often in a state of much derangement

and embarrassment) with a patience and prudence which probably have no

example, & thereby left my Mind free to prosecute my publick duty or my

Studies or to indulge in my relaxations or to cultivate my friends at my

pleasure; so on my Death I wish things to continue as substantially they

have always been. I therefore by this my last and only Will devise,

leave & bequeath to my entirely beloved and incomparable Wife, Jane Mary

Burke, the whole real Estate of which I shall die seized, whether Lands,

Rents or Houses, in absolute Fee simple; as also all my Personal Estate,

whether Stock, Furniture, Plate, Money or Securities for Money Annuities

for lives or Years, be the said Estate of what nature, Quality, extent

or description it may be, to her sole uncontrolled Possession &

disposal, as her property in any manner which may seem proper to her to

possess or to dispose of the same (whether it be real Estate or Personal

Estate) by her last will or otherwise; it being my intention that she

may have as clear and uncontrolled a right and Title thereto and therein

as I possess myself as to the use, expenditure, Sale or devise. I hope

these Words are sufficient to express the absolute and unconditioned,

unlimited right of compleat Ownership. I mean to give to her the said

Lands and Goods and I trust that no words of surplusage or ambiguity may

vitiate this my clear intention; there are no persons who have a right

or I believe a disposition to complain of this bequest which I have only

weighed and made on a proper consideration of my Duties and the

relations in which I stand. I also make my wife, Jane Mary Burke,

aforesaid, my sole Executrix of this my last Will, knowing that she will

receive advice and assistance from her and my excellent Friends D^{r.}

Walker King & D^{r.} Lawrence, to whom I recommend her & her concerns,

though that perhaps is needless, as they are as much attached to her as

they are to me. I do it only to mark my special Confidence in their

affection, Skill and Industry. I wish that my Dear Wife may, as soon

after my Decease as Possible (which after what has happened she will see

with Constancy and resignation), make her last will with the advice and

assistance of the two persons I have named; but it is my wish also that

she will not think herself so bound up by any bequests she may make in

the said Will & which whilst she lives can be only intentions, as not

during her life to use her property with all the Liberty I have given

her over it, just as if she had written no Will at all but in everything

to follow the directions of her own Equitable and Charitable Mind and

her own prudent and measured understanding. Having thus committed every

thing to her Discretion I recommend (subject always to that Discretion)

that if I should not during my life give or secure to my Dear Niece,

Mary C. Hairland, wife of my worthy Friend, Capt^{n} Hairland, the sum

of a thousand pound or an Annuity equivalent to it, that she would

bestow upon her that Sum of Money or Annuity Conditioned and limited in

such manner as she, my Wife aforesaid, may think proper by a Devise in

her Will or otherwise, as she may find most convenient to the situation

of her affairs without pressure upon her during her life; my Wife put me

in Mind of this which I now recommend to her; I certainly some years ago

gave my Niece reason to expect it but I was not able to execute my

intentions. If I do this in my life time this recommendation goes for

nothing. As to my other Friends, Relations, and Companions through Life,

and especially to the Friends and Companions of my Son, who were the

dearest of mine, I am not unmindful of what I owe them, if I do not name

them all here and mark them with tokens of my Remembrance I hope they

will not attribute it to unkindness or to a want of a due Sense of their

Merits towards me. My old Friend and Faithful Companion, Will. Burke,

knows his place in my heart. I do not mention him as Executor or

Assistant. I know that he will attend to my Wife, but I chose the two I

have mentioned as from their time of Life of greater activity. I

recommend him to them. In the Political World I have made many

connections and some of them amongst persons of high rank; their

Friendship from political became personal to me and they have shewn it

in a manner more than to satisfie the utmost demands that could be made

from my love & sincere attachment to them. They are the worthiest people

in the Kingdom; their intentions are excellent, and I wish them every

kind of success. I bequeath my brother in law, John Nugent, & the

friends in my poor Sons list, which is in his Mother’s hands, to their

protection as to them & to the rest of my Companions who constantly

Honoured and Cheered our House as our Inmates I have put down their

names in a list that my Wife should send them the usual remembrance of

little Mourning Rings as a token of my remembrance. In speaking of my

Friends to whom I owe so many obligations I ought to name specially Lord

Fitzwilliam, the Duke of Portland and the Lord Cavendishes with the D.

of Devonshire the worthy head of that Family. If the intimacy which I

have had with others has been broken off by a Political Difference on

great Questions concerning the State of things existing and impending, I

hope they will forgive whatever of general human Infirmity or of my own

particular Infirmity has entered into that contention. I heartily

entreat their forgiveness. I have nothing Further to say. Signed &

Sealed as my last Will and Testament this 11^{th.} day of August, 1794

being written all with my own hand. Edm. Burke--in the presence

of--Dupont--William--Webster--Walker & King.

“In reading over the above Will I have nothing to add or essentially to

alter but one point may want to be perfected & explained. In leaving my

Lands and Heredits to my wife I find that I have omitted the Words which

in Deeds Create an Inheritance in Law. Now tho’ I think them hardly

necessary in a Will yet to obviate all doubts I explain the matter in a

Codicil which is annexed to this--(sic) 22 1797.--Edm. Burke.

“I Edm. Burke of the parish of Beaconsfield, in the county of Bucks,

being of sound and disposing Judgment and Memory, make this my last will

and testament, in no sort revoking but explaining & confirming a Will

made by me and dated the eleventh of August, in which will I have left,

Devised and Bequeathed all my estate of whatever nature and Quality the

same may be, Whether lands, Tenements, Houses, Freehold or Leasehold,

Interests, Pensions for lives or years, Arrears of the same, Legacies or

other debts due to me; Plate, Household Stuff, Books, Stock in Cattle &

Horses & utensils of Farming & all other my Goods and Chattels to my

dear Wife I: M: Burke in as full & perfect manner as the same might be

Devised, Conveyed or transferred to her by any Act or Instrument

whatsoever; with such recommendations as in my Will aforesaid are made &

with a wish that in the discharge of my Debts the course hitherto

pursued may be as nearly as possible observed, Sensible however that in

payment of Debt no exact rule can be preserved; the same is therefore

left to her Discretion, with the advice of our Friends whom she will

naturally Consult. The reason of my making this will or Codicil to my

former Will is from my having omitted in devising by that Will my Lands

and Heredits to my Wife aforesaid, the full and absolute Property

thereof & therein I have omitted the legal Words of Inheritance. Now

tho’ I think those words however necessary in a Deed are not so in a

Will, yet to prevent all Question, I do hereby devise all my Lands

Tenements and Heredits as well as all other property that may be subject

to a strict Rule of Law in Deeds & which would pass if left undevised to

my Heirs. I say I do devise the same Lands tenements and Hereditaments

to my Wife, Jane Mary Burke, and her Heirs for ever in pure absolute and

unconditional Fee simple. I have now only to recommend to the kindness

of my Lord Chancellor L^{d.} Loughborough, to his Grace the Duke of

Portland, to the most Honorable the Marquiss of Buckingham, to the

R^{t_.} Hoñble W^{m.} Windham & to D^{r.} Lawrence of the Commons and

Member of Parliament, that they will after my death continue their

Protection and favour to the Emigrant School at Penn & will entreat,

with a weight on which I dare not presume, the R^{t.} Hon. W^{m.} Pitt

to continue the necessary allowances which he has so generously and

charitably Provided for those unhappy Children of Meritorious Parents;

that they will superintend the same, which I wish to be under the more

Immediate care and direction of D^{r.} King and D^{r.} Lawrence, & that

they will be pleased to exert their influence to place the said young

Persons in some Military Corps or other Service as may best suit their

dispositions & Capacities, Praying God to bless their endeavours. Signed

and sealed as a Codicil to my Will or a Confirmation and Explanation

thereof agreeably to the Note which some days ago I put to the end of

it. This 29^{th.} January 1797. Edm: Burke, in the presence of--Walker

King--Rich^{d.} Bourke--Ed: Nagle.”

WILL OF QUEEN CAROLINE

The will of Queen Caroline was drawn up by her directions on Sunday, the

5th day of August, 1821, within a few days of her death. It appears that

on this same day she sent for the undertaker, by name Busch, to measure

her for her coffin. Finding he did not come, she, a second time, ordered

a servant to go for him, and then gave precise orders desiring it might

be made of cedar-wood, and that it should bear this inscription:

CAROLINE OF BRUNSWICK,

Born 17th May, 1768,

Died 7th August, 1821.

Aged 54.

The outraged Queen of England.

This desire she again mentioned by a special codicil to her will.

As the remains of this princess were to be buried at Brunswick, on the

arrival of the coffin at Colchester, it was deposited in the chapel for

the night, with a guard of honor to watch it. During this time, it

appears, the executors, and some others who formed the _cortège_ in

attendance--Lord Hood, Sir Robert Wilson, Count Vassali, Messrs.

Lushington, Wilde, and others--managed to introduce themselves into the

chapel by night, and caused the plate in question to be nailed on.

On the following morning, however, much to the discomfiture of these

gentlemen, and notwithstanding their protestations, this was removed and

was replaced by the following, drawn up by an heraldic council and

approved by the Government:

“Depositum serenissimæ principissæ Carolinæ Ameliæ Elizabethæ, Dei

gratiâ reginæ consortis augustissimæ, potentissimi monarchæ Georgii

quarti, Dei gratiâ Britanniarum regis, fidei defensoris, regis Hanovriæ

ac Brunsvici et Luneburgi ducis. Obiit vii. die mensis Augusti, Anno

Domini mdcccxxi. ætatis liv.”

And it so remains.

WILL OF LORD CHESTERFIELD

One of the most prominent of those whose wills were proved in 1773 was

the “great” Lord Chesterfield, the arbiter on all matters of politeness,

whose famous “Advice to his Son” was so summarily criticised by Dr.

Johnson. This “first gentleman in Europe” of his day, left the bulk of

his property to his godson, Philip Stanhope, with a very unfashionable

and unpalatable restriction: “The several devises and bequests

hereinbefore and hereinafter given by me to and in favour of my said

godson Philip Stanhope, shall be subject to the condition and

restriction hereinafter mentioned; that is to say, that, in case my said

godson Philip Stanhope shall at any time hereafter keep, or be concerned

in the keeping of, any race-horse or race-horses, or pack or packs of

hounds, or reside one night at Newmarket, that infamous seminary of

iniquity and ill-manners during the course of the races there, or shall

resort to the said races, or shall lose in any one day at any game or

bet whatsoever the sum of £500, then, and in any of the cases aforesaid,

it is my express Will, that he my said godson shall forfeit and pay out

of my estate the sum of £5000 to and for the use of the Dean and Chapter

of Westminster, for every such offence or misdemeanour as is above

specified, to be recovered by action for debt in any of his Majesty’s

Courts of Record at Westminster.”

WILL OF JOHN DRYDEN

John Dryden, of Ashbye, Northampton, died in 1684. He left the following

curious preamble to his will:

“I, John Dryden, of Ashbye, in the county of Northampton, gentleman, doe

make and ordeyne my last will and testament in manner following: First,

I bequeathe my soule to Almightie God my Creator, by the merits of whose

son Jesus Christe, my Savior and Redeemer, I doe believe to be saved,

the Holy Ghost assuring my spirit that I am the elect of God. My bodie

to be buried in the church of Ashbye, and although I doe not allow of

pompe in burialls, yet, for some reasonable considerations, I will that

the stone I have allready prepared shall be layde upon my grave, and my

arms and my wyve’s graven in brass thereupon. Notwithstanding, if God

call mee far from Ashbye, then should it yet be thought necessary to my

executors to bring me hither, I refer that to their discressions, and

soe doe I the place of my buriall, whether in the place aforesaiyde or

in the churchyard, or els in the church.”

WILL OF EDWARD IV

It is almost certain that Edward IV left a will, but it has never been

discovered. The editors of the royal wills rationally conjecture that it

was destroyed during the usurpation of his brother, Richard III, as it

has never been found.

WILL OF SIR CHARLES FELLOWES

Sir Charles Fellowes, the author and antiquarian, died in 1860. He left

by his will Milton’s watch to the British Museum. His wife, who died in

March, 1874, left her collection of watches (many of which had belonged

to celebrities) to the same institution.

WILL OF LORD EDWARD FITZGERALD

The will of this unfortunate nobleman was made under very singular

circumstances, after he was mortally wounded in the desperate struggle

with Major Sirr, and while in confinement in Newgate, Dublin, where,

whatever his political errors, he seems to have been treated with

needless severity.

“Even for the purpose of drawing up his will, which he wrote on the 26th

May, 1798,” says Moore, “no person at all connected with his own family

was allowed to have access to him, and Mr. John Leeson, who executed the

instrument, sat in a carriage at the door of the prison, while Mr.

Stewart, the government surgeon, communicated between him and the

prisoner during the transaction.”

“I, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, do make this as my last will and testament,

hereby revoking all others; that is to say, I leave all estates, of

whatever sort I may die possessed of, to my wife, Lady (Pamela)

Fitzgerald, as a mark of my esteem, love, and confidence in her, for and

during her natural life, and on her death to descend, share and share

alike, to my children, or the survivors of them; she maintaining and

educating the children according to her discretion; and I constitute

her the executrix of this my last will and testament.

“Signed, sealed, and delivered, May the 26, 1798.

“In presence of ... ALEXANDER LINDSAY.

“GEORGE STEWART.

“SAMUEL STONE.”

WILL OF GARRICK

David Garrick, who was born at Hereford in 1716, was originally intended

for business, and consequently was sent to an uncle settled at Lisbon as

a merchant, but showing no aptitude for this calling nor yet for the

law, to which he applied himself subsequently, he plunged into the life

of a comedian, and first appeared at Ipswich in 1741. In October of the

same year, however, he came out in London, and obtained great success at

one of the small theaters in the character of Richard III. In 1742 he

went to Dublin, where he was enthusiastically received, and thence

returned to London, where his fame and fortune were shortly made. At

length, in 1747, he was able to purchase Drury Lane Theatre, obtained a

renewal of its privileges, and retained the management for nearly twenty

years; for on the 10th of June, 1776, he took leave of the public, and

retired after obtaining £2200 for what had originally cost him £320. His

withdrawal from the stage was universally and profoundly deplored; he

only survived his retirement three years, but he died full of honors and

possessed of considerable wealth. His death took place in London on

Wednesday, 20th of January, 1779.

The stir made by his funeral was surprising, but scarcely greater than

that produced in Paris a century later, at the interment of Déjazet: the

procession was formed by seventy mourning-coaches, twenty-four of which

were filled by the _élite_ of English society. Arrived at Westminster

Abbey, the corpse was met by the Chapter; the Bishop of Rochester

officiated, and the remains of Garrick were interred close to the

monument of Shakespeare.

There is nothing remarkable in his will, which disposes of his fortune

in a spirit of fairness, liberality, and benevolence. It was made the

year previous to his death:

“I, David Garrick, at this present occupying my house in the Adelphi, do

deposit in the hands of Lord Camden, of the Right Hon. Richard Rigby, of

John Patterson, and of Albany Wallis, Esquires, my house at

Hampton-on-the-Thames, in the county of Middlesex, with the two islands

dependent thereon, the temple and the statue of Shakespeare, my house in

the Adelphi, with the furniture and pictures contained in the two said

houses, to be delivered up to Eva Maria Garrick, my wife, in order that

she may enjoy the same during her natural life, and that she may reside

there.

“I give and bequeath to my said wife all my linen, plate, china, horses,

carriages, and wine that may be contained in my cellars in both my

houses.

“I give her furthermore £1000, payable immediately after my decease, and

£5000 payable a year after.

“I give and bequeath to my said wife £1500 per annum during the term of

her natural life, and as long as she shall reside in either of my

before-mentioned houses, and £1000 should she quit England and settle

whether in Scotland or Ireland.

“I give and bequeath to my nephew, David Garrick, the dwelling-house,

farms, garden, and tenements and lands situated at Hampton, save and

except that bequeathed to my wife.

“I deposit in the hands of my said executors the freehold of Hendon,

with my right and patronage over the church of the said freehold, with

directions to sell it, and to employ the produce according to my

hereinafter-mentioned desires.

“I give, after the decease of my wife, the statue of Shakespeare and my

collection of old plays to the British Museum.

“I give to my nephew, Carrington Garrick, the rest of my library, with

the exception of books to the value of £100 in favour of my wife and at

her choice.

“I give to the institution established for the relief of impoverished

actors, the houses I bought along with Drury Lane Theatre.

“I give to my brother, George Garrick, £10,000; to my brother Peter,

£3000; to my nephew Carrington Garrick, £6000; to my nephew David

Garrick, besides the dowry I agreed to pay him on the day of his

marriage, the sum of £5000.

“I deposit in the hands of my executors the sum of £6000 in favour of my

niece Arabella Shaw, wife of Captain Shaw.

“I give to my niece, Catherine Garrick, the sum of £6000, to be paid to

her on the day on which she shall marry or attain her majority.

“I give to my sister, Mercia Doxey, the sum of £5000; and to the niece

of my wife actually residing with us at Hampton, the sum of £1000.

“Should the above-named legacies exceed the fund assigned to their

payment, each legatee shall submit to a reduction in his legacy,

proportioned to its amount, until the death of my wife; after that

event, and on the sale of Hampton, the sums thus withheld shall be made

up out of the amount produced by that sale.

“Should there, on the other hand, be more than sufficient to cover these

legacies, I will that such surplus be divided in equal portions among my

nearest relations according to the order observed with those who die

intestate.

“In pursuance of this my last will, I name the within-mentioned my

executors, and in token thereof I here sign and seal this document with

my arms this 24th day of September, 1778.

“(Signed) DAVID GARRICK.

“Sic transit gloria mundi.”

* * * * *

By this testament it appears that David Garrick, the portionless son of

a half-pay captain, had earned by his own unaided talents a fortune

amounting in money to nearly £50,000, besides his superb estate at

Hampton, with its islands, farms, orchards, and appurtenances; his

property at Hendon; his houses in London; the theatre at Drury Lane; his

costly furniture, valuable plate, china, wines, library, statues,

pictures, and other works of art, horses, carriages, etc.

When we compare this splendid fortune with that of Shakespeare, who

could only leave to his wife his “second best bed, with the furniture,”

we are tempted to wonder why the fickle goddess should have so much more

highly favored him who exhibited the fruits of genius than him who

produced them.

WILL OF LORD HAILES

Lord Hailes (Sir David Dalrymple), a Lord of Session, appointed in 1766,

died in 1792, apparently without a will. Great search was made, no

testamentary paper could be discovered, the heir-at-law was about to

take possession of his estates, to the exclusion of his daughter and

only child, and Miss Dalrymple prepared to retire from New Hailes, and

from the mansion-house in New Street. Some of her domestics, however,

were sent to lock up the house in New Street, and, in closing the

window-shutters, there dropped out upon the floor, from behind a panel,

Lord Hailes’ will, which was found to secure her in the possession of

his estates.

WILL OF THOMAS HOOD, THE POET

“DEVONSHIRE LODGE, NEW FINCHLEY ROAD,

“ST. JOHN’S WOOD, February 7th, 1845.

“It is my last Will and desire that ‘Nash’s Hall’s’ be given, in my

name, to my dear William and Georgiana Elliot, in recognition of their

brotherly and sisterly affection and kindness.

“My ‘Knight’s Shakspeare’s,’ for a like reason, to dear Robert Elliot.

“‘Chaucer or Froissart,’ as he may prefer, to F. Reseigh Ward, Harvey,

Phillips, and Hardman, to select a book apiece for remembrance.

“‘Nimrod’s Sporting’ to Philip de Franck.

“All else that I possess, I give and bequeath to my dear wife, to be

used for her benefit and that of our dear children, whom God bless,

guide and preserve.

“With my farewell love and blessing,

“To all friends,

“THOMAS HOOD.”

WILL OF LORD HOWDEN

Hamilton _v._ Dellas.--Before Vice-Chancellor Sir James Bacon.--The

loss, vexation, and complexity so frequently occasioned by intestacy,

was in a partial measure manifested by the lapse in the will of the late

Lord Howden, and serves in good stead to show how guarded persons should

be to see, not only that they leave a properly prepared and executed

will, but likewise that no lapse is left unsupplied. In the case of Lord

Howden, although the lapse was only trifling, considering the vast

wealth of his lordship, yet it was represented by a considerable amount.

The case is a very curious one, as Lord Howden held a very high status

in England, being a peer of the realm, and had taken the oath and his

seat in the House of Lords; he was also a G.C.B., lieutenant-general in

the army, and Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of York. Notwithstanding

all these ties, in 1850 he sold his estate at Grimston Park, in

Yorkshire, and all his real estate in England, and went to Spain as

Minister Plenipotentiary, in which position he continued till 1857, when

he went to France, and resided on an estate near Bayonne, which he

acquired about that time, and where he built a château called “Casa

Caradoc,” in which he generally resided up to the date of his death. In

1863 he visited Scotland, and then wrote a letter declining to come to

England, and expressing his intention of never doing so again; he

likewise, in certain legal proceedings taken in England, claimed to be

domiciled in France, _sine animo revertendi_. Lord Howden had made

separate wills relating to his personal property in England and in

France, and the confusion arose respecting one-fourth of that in

England, the person to whom it had been bequeathed having died during

his lordship’s lifetime. The question was to whom this undisposed of

personalty should belong, as by English law the whole of it would pass

to Lady Rose Meade, as his lordship’s nearest relation and sole

next-of-kin, while, according to French law, a moiety only would pass to

Lady Rose Meade, who was his lordship’s nearest relation on the father’s

side, and the other moiety amongst his lordship’s nearest relations on

the mother’s side. The case therefore rested on the point, whether Lord

Howden’s domicile was English or French at the time of his death, and

the Vice-Chancellor said that, in the absence of authority, he should be

sorry at this time of day to decide that a peer could not take up his

permanent residence abroad. There was nothing to prevent any one, be he

peer or peasant, from leaving the country to reside abroad. He then

distinguished the cases of persons actually officers in the army, and

the cases known of an Anglo-Indian domicile. On the facts, he said, it

was clear that Lord Howden had acted so as to acquire a French domicile.

There was only the question of the article in the Code Napoleon, which

clearly only related to the acquisition of civil rights, and not the

question of domicile at all. He therefore declared the domicile of Lord

Howden to have been French.

WILL OF DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON

Dr. Samuel Johnson is one of the foremost figures in English literature;

his will, copied by Boswell, is an interesting document:

“In the name of God, Amen! I, Samuel Johnson, being in full possession

of my faculties, but fearing this night may put an end to my life, do

ordain this my last will and testament.”

This will was written the 8 day of December, 1784. Sir John Hawkins and

the distinguished painter, Sir Joshua Reynolds, were executors. A

codicil written on December 9, 1784, is several times the length of the

will written the day before. Both in the will and in the codicil,

Francis Barber, a negro man-servant, is made the chief beneficiary. It

is said that the amount received by Barber under this will, exclusive

of an annuity on the sum of $3750, was about ten thousand dollars. A

copy of his great French dictionary, as well as a copy of his own

dictionary, were given to Sir Joshua Reynolds. A striking provision in

Johnson’s will, is the following clause:

“I bequeath to God, a soul polluted by many sins, but I hope

purified by Jesus Christ.”

The celebrated letter written by Dr. Johnson to Lord Chesterfield, from

a point of combined politeness, satire, and irony, has probably never

been surpassed, and was doubtless a just resentment of the treatment he

had received from his patron. The date of this letter is given by

Boswell and other authorities, as February 7, 1775; the true date is

1755, for it was in that year that his Dictionary was completed. A brief

history of this letter is as follows:

Boswell in his “Life of Johnson,” says the story was current that the

great philosopher was kept waiting in Lord Chesterfield’s antechamber

upon the occasion of a visit to him; that Dr. Johnson was violently

provoked when the door finally opened, and out walked Colley Cibber, an

English actor and dramatist. Johnson himself, however, told Boswell that

there was no truth in this story, but that during his years of struggle,

Lord Chesterfield had studiously neglected him. When the Dictionary was

on the eve of publication, Lord Chesterfield attempted, in a courtly

manner, to conciliate Dr. Johnson by writing two articles in _The

World_, a leading London paper, in commendation of the work; the courtly

device failed of its effect.

Johnson said to Boswell, “Sir, after making great professions, he had,

for many years, taken no notice of me; but when my Dictionary was coming

out, he fell a scribbling in _The World_ about it. Upon which I wrote

him a letter expressed in civil terms, but such as might show him that I

did not mind what he said or wrote, and that I had done with him.” And,

he added, “This man, I thought had been a lord among wits, but I find,

he is only a wit among lords.” The letter follows:

“TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF CHESTERFIELD

“February 7, 1755.

“MY LORD,

“I have been lately informed, by the proprietor of _The World_,

that two papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended to the

public, were written by your lordship. To be so distinguished is an

honour, which, being very little accustomed to favours from the

great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to

acknowledge.

“When, upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your

lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the

enchantment of your address, and could not forbear to wish that I

might boast myself _Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre_;--that I

might obtain that regard for which I saw the world contending; but

I found my attendance so little encouraged, that neither pride nor

modesty would suffer me to continue it. When I had once addressed

your lordship in public, I had exhausted all the art of pleasing

which a retired and uncourtly scholar can possess. I had done all

that I could; and no man is well pleased to have his all neglected,

be it ever so little.

“Seven years, my lord, have now passed, since I waited in your

outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door; during which time I

have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is

useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of

publication, without one act of assistance, one word of

encouragement, or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not

expect, for I never had a patron before.

“The shepherd in ‘Virgil’ grew at last acquainted with Love, and

found him a native of the rocks.

“Is not a patron, my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man

struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground,

encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to

take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has

been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am

solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want

it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity, not to confess

obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling

that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron, which

Providence has enabled me to do for myself.

“Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to

any favourer of learning, I shall not be disappointed though I

shall conclude it, if less be possible, with less; for I have been

long wakened from that dream of hope, in which I once boasted

myself with so much exultation,

“My Lord, your lordship’s most humble,

“Most obedient servant,

“SAM. JOHNSON.”

WILL OF MR. GEORGE HENRY LEWES

The will, dated November 21, 1859, of Mr. George Henry Lewes, the

celebrated author, formerly of Holly Lodge, South Fields, Wandsworth,

but late of The Priory, North Bank, Regent’s Park, who died on November

20, 1879, was proved by Mary Ann Evans, the sole executrix, the personal

estate being sworn under £2000. The testator gives to his three sons,

Charles Lee, Thornton Amott, and Herbert Arthur, all his copyright and

interest of every description in all his literary and dramatic works,

and the residue of his real and personal estate to his executrix.

WILL OF MARIA CRISTINA, QUEEN DOWAGER OF SPAIN

The will (dated 1874), with a codicil (dated 1875), both made in Paris,

of her Majesty the Queen Doña Maria Cristina de Borbon y Borbon, who

died on August 22, 1879, in France, was proved in London. The personal

estate in England is sworn under £6000. The testatrix directs that 5000

recited masses shall be performed for her soul, 5000 for the soul of her

late husband, 1000 for the souls of her deceased children, and 500 for

the souls of her deceased grandchildren, to be performed by poor priests

in churches to be selected by her executors, the alms for each mass to

be ten reals. She bequeaths money to the needy poor and sick of several

towns. Special directions are given as to her numerous papers; they are

divided into four classes, viz. her business papers, political papers,

confidential papers, and intimate private papers; her secretary, Don

Antonio Maria Rubio, is charged with the arranging of them, and he is to

deliver the papers of the first three categories, sealed up, to her son,

Don Fernando, and the papers of the last-named category to her daughter,

Doña Maria Cristina, also sealed up; they are not to be opened until the

expiration of forty years from her decease, and the testatrix states

that she so orders not for her own sake or from any want of confidence

in her children, but with views of delicacy towards the many persons she

has had political relationship with during her long and checkered

career. If upon examination any papers are found among her own property

belonging to her first husband, or the Government of Spain, they are to

be delivered to her august daughter, the Queen Isabella, for eventual

transmission to the successor of her first husband in the crown of

Spain, “say her grandson King Alfonso.”

WILL OF MICHAEL EYQUEM DE MONTAIGNE

Montaigne, the celebrated essayist and philosopher, is stated to have

got over any difficulties in the way of carrying out his testamentary

intentions by the happy expedient of calling all the persons named in

his will around his deathbed, and counting out to them severally the

bequests he had made them. Any doubtful testator might usefully follow

Montaigne’s example, but there is always the risk of the donor getting

better, and finding himself penniless. A small farmer in Suffolk,

England, being very ill, was advised by his affectionate relatives to

distribute his money, and thus save legacy duty. He did so, but got well

again; he did not, however, recover the amount he had distributed, and

the poor old farmer had to seek relief from the parish.

WILL OF NAPOLEON

In Scott’s “Life of Napoleon Buonaparte,” published in 1828, is a

complete copy of this celebrated document, the first division of which

is as follows:

“Napoleon.

“This 15th April, 1821, at Longwood, Island of St. Helena. This is my

Testament, or act of my last Will.

I

“1. I die in the apostolical Roman religion, in the bosom of which I was

born, more than fifty years since.

“2. It is my wish that my ashes may repose on the banks of the Seine, in

the midst of the French people, whom I have loved so well.

“3. I have always had reason to be pleased with my dearest wife, Marie

Louise. I retain for her to my last moment, the most tender

sentiments--I beseech her to watch, in order to preserve my son from the

snares which yet environ his infancy.

“4. I recommend to my son, never to forget that he was born a French

prince, and never to allow himself to become an instrument in the hands

of the triumvirs who oppress the nations of Europe; he ought never to

fight against France, or to injure her in any manner; he ought to adopt

my motto--‘Everything for the French people.’

“5. I die prematurely, assassinated by the English oligarchy.... The

English nation will not be slow in avenging me.

“6. The two unfortunate results of the invasions of France when she had

still so many resources, are to be attributed to the treason of Marmont,

Augerau, Talleyrand and La Fayette.

“I forgive them--may the posterity of France forgive them like me!

“7. I thank my good and most excellent mother, the Cardinal, my brothers

Joseph, Lucien, Jerome, Pauline, Caroline, Julie, Hortense, Catarine,

Eugénie, for the interest which they have continued to feel for me. I

pardon Louis for the libel which he published in 1820; it is replete

with false assertions and falsified documents.

“8. I disavow the ‘Manuscript of St. Helena,’ and other works, under the

title of Maxims, Sayings, &c., which persons have been pleased to

publish for the last six years. These are not the rules which have

guided my life. I caused the Duc d’Enghien to be arrested and tried,

because that step was essential to the safety, interest, and honor of

the French people, when the Count d’Artois was maintaining, by his

confession, sixty assassins at Paris. Under similar circumstances, I

would act in the same way.”

In the second division of the will are thirty-five bequests to

Buonaparte’s generals and others who had been associated with him the

whole amounting to five million six hundred thousand francs. He says,

“These sums will be raised from the six millions which I deposited on

leaving Paris in 1815; and from the interest, at the rate of five per

cent, since July, 1815.” He further directs that the excess of five

million six hundred thousand francs shall be distributed as a gratuity

amongst the wounded at the battle of Waterloo, and others of his

soldiers; the amounts to be paid, in case of death, to the widows and

children of the legatees.

In the third division, he speaks of his “private domain of which no

French law can deprive me.” This “private domain,” he estimates to

exceed 200,000,000 of francs. This amount, together with his plate,

jewels and other property, he bequeaths, one-half to the surviving

officers and soldiers of the French army who had fought for the glory

and independence of the nation; the distribution to be made in

proportion to their appointments in active service. He appoints Counts

Montholon, Bertrand and Marchand the executors of his will.

The instrument concludes: “This present will, wholly written with my own

hand, is signed, and sealed with my own arms.”

Affixed to this will is a codicil consisting of many parts and numerous

items, such as would well befit the great Emperor to possess. The

minutest detail is shown in an itemized statement of these articles.

Among others, might be mentioned, medals, watches, gold ornaments,

spurs, libraries, cravats, daggers, and hundreds of other articles. He

directed Marchand to preserve his hair, from which bracelets were to be

made, to be sent to the Empress Marie Louise, to his mother, brothers,

sisters, nephews, nieces, to the Cardinal, and one of larger size to his

son. In this codicil he again expresses the wish that his ashes should

repose on the banks of the Seine in the midst of the French people whom

he loved so well.

In the fourth codicil, Napoleon gives ten thousand francs to the

subaltern officer Cantillon, who had undergone a trial on the charge of

having endeavored to assassinate the Duke of Wellington, of which he was

pronounced innocent. Napoleon writes, “Cantillon had as much right to

assassinate that oligarchist, as the latter had to send me to perish

upon the rock of St. Helena.”

In the fifth codicil to the will is a reference to Empress Marie Louise,

“my very dear and well beloved spouse.” He adds, “This is my codicil, or

act of my last will, the execution of which I recommend to my dearest

wife, the Empress Marie Louise.”

There are seven codicils to this will, all written at Longwood, by his

own hand, the last being dated the 25th day of April, 1821. Ten days

after writing this codicil, he died, May 5, 1821.

Napoleon’s deep affection for his son, François Charles, is evidenced

throughout the will by numerous bequests, comprising the greater part of

his personal belongings and articles that he most prized.

He also evinced great solicitude for his generals and those who were

with him in his many campaigns, which is manifested by the gifts to

them, not only in his will, but in several of the codicils thereto.

The instrument, though of the very greatest interest, is too lengthy to

be fully set out. The reader is referred to Scott’s “Life of Napoleon

Buonaparte” for the details of this famous will. The death of the Duke

of Reichstadt, July 22, 1832, only son of the first Napoleon, left Louis

Napoleon the representative of his family. He was elected President of

France in 1848 and promised to restore its glories. It is said that many

of the legacies mentioned in his uncle’s will were paid by him.

WILL OF LORD NELSON

The battle of Trafalgar was fought October 21, 1805. At daylight Nelson

hoisted the signal, “England expects every man to do his duty,” and gave

the order to close in and the game of death began. Each side had made a

move. Nelson retired to his cabin and wrote the following codicil to his

will:

“October 21st, 1805.--In sight of the combined fleets of France and

Spain, distance about ten miles. Whereas the eminent services of Emma

Hamilton, widow of the Right Honourable Sir William Hamilton, have been

of the very greatest service to my king and country, to my knowledge,

without ever receiving any reward from either our king or country.

_First_: That she obtained the King of Spain’s letter, in 1796, to his

brother, the King of Naples, acquainting him of his intention to declare

war against England: from which letter the ministry sent out orders to

the then Sir John Jervis to strike a stroke, if the opportunity offered,

against either the arsenals of Spain or her fleets. That neither of

these was done is not the fault of Lady Hamilton: the opportunity might

have been offered.

“_Secondly_: The British fleet under my command could never have

returned the second time in Egypt, had not Lady Hamilton’s influence

with the Queen of Naples caused a letter to be written to the Governor

of Syracuse, that he was to encourage the fleet being supplied with

everything, should they put into any port in Sicily. We put into

Syracuse, and received every supply; went to Egypt and destroyed the

French fleet. Could I have rewarded these services, I would not now call

upon my country; but as that has not been in my power, I leave Emma,

Lady Hamilton, therefore, a legacy to my king and country, that they

will give her an ample provision to maintain her rank in life.

“I also leave to the beneficence of my country my daughter, Horatia

Nelson Thompson; and I desire she will use in future the name of Nelson

only.

“These are the only favours I ask of my king and country, at this moment

when I am going to fight their battle. May God bless my king, and

country, and all those I hold dear!

“NELSON.

“Witness {HENRY BLOCKWOOD.

{T. M. HARDY.”

* * * * *

Shortly after, while his ship, the _Victory_, was grappled with the

_Redoubtable_ and chained fast to her, Nelson was struck by a musket

ball fired from the yards of the _Redoubtable_. He called for his

trusted captain, Hardy, and said: “They have done for me now, Hardy--my

back is broken.” And soon after, he died; but not before adding, “I

would like to live one hour, just to know that my plans were right--we

must capture or destroy twenty of them.”

There is a splendid monument to Nelson in Trafalgar Square, London, but

the English did not respect his wishes with reference to Lady Hamilton.

As a matter of fact, she was arrested on a charge of debt and

imprisoned, and practically driven out of England, although the sisters

of Lord Nelson believed in her and respected her to the last. She died

in France in 1813. The daughter, Horatia Nelson, lived until 1881. She

was a strong and excellent woman; she married the Reverend Philip Ward,

of Teventer, Kent, and raised a family of nine children. One of her sons

moved to America and made his mark upon the stage and also in letters.

WILL OF FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

“Rich in honors,” says the _New York World_, Florence Nightingale died

“leaving the world, which had paid tribute to her as it has to few

women, her debtor.” She was known by the various names of “The

Lady-in-Chief,” “The Lady with the Lamp,” “The Lady of the Crimea,” in

reference to the service she rendered Great Britain and the world on the

battle-fields of the Crimean War.

* * * * *

Longfellow wrote of her:

“On England’s annals through the long

Hereafter of her speech and song

That light its rays shall cast

From portals of the past.

A lady with a lamp shall stand

In the great history of the land

A noble type of good,

Heroic womanhood.”

The lamp referred to is the nurse’s lamp with which she used to make her

nocturnal rounds of the hospitals when all was silent.

She was born in Florence, Italy, May 12, 1820, of wealthy, English

parents, and died at her home in England, August 14, 1910. She was given

the name of the place of her birth.

Her will, recently taken from the Records of Somerset House, London, is

in the following words:

“I, Florence Nightingale, Spinster, declare this to be my last

Will, revoking all wills by me heretofore executed.

“1. I appoint my Cousins, Henry Bonham Carter, Esquire, Samuel

Shore Nightingale and Louis Hilary Shore Nightingale, Esquires

(sons of my late Cousin, William Shore Nightingale), and Arthur

Hugh Clough, Esquire, to be the EXECUTORS of this my Will.

“2. I give my executors all my books, papers (whether manuscripts

or printed) and letters relating to my Indian work (together with

the two stones for Irrigation maps of India at Mr. Stanford’s,

Charing Cross, and also the woodcut blocks for illustrations of

those works at Messrs. Spottiswoodes), upon trust, in their

absolute discretion or in that of the survivors or survivor of them

to publish or prepare for publication such part, if any, as they or

the majority of them for the time being may think fit, and I give

them a sum of two hundred and fifty pounds for those purposes. And

without limiting the exercise of such discretion I should wish my

executors to consult my friend, Sir William Wedderburn, in the

matter of such publication. And I declare that if my executors,

within three years from my death, have taken no, or only partial,

steps to publish or before that time have decided not to publish

anything, the said sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, or any

unexpended part thereof, shall fall into the residue of my estate.

And subject to the foregoing, I authorize my executors to destroy

all or any of the above mentioned books and papers, stones and

blocks or otherwise to dispose of the same as they may think fit.

“3. I bequeath to the children of my late dear friend, Arthur Hugh

Clough and his widow, my Cousin, Blanch Mary Shore Clough, the sum

of seven thousand pounds to be divided between them in the

following proportions:

“To the said Arthur Hugh Clough two thousand pounds;

“To Blanch Athena Clough two thousand five hundred pounds, and to

Florence Anne Mary Clough two thousand five hundred pounds. I

bequeath to each of them, the said Samuel Shore Nightingale and

Louis Hilary Shore Nightingale, the sum of three thousand five

hundred pounds. To each of them, Rosalind Frances Mary Nash and

Margaret Thyra Barbara Shore Nightingale (daughters of my said late

Cousin, William Shore Nightingale) the sum of one thousand five

hundred pounds. I bequeath five hundred pounds to the said Henry

Bonham Carter as a tiny sign of my gratitude for his wise and

unfailing exertions in connection with our Training Schools for

Nurses, and also the portraits of Sir Bartle Frere Mohl Hallam

Bunsen and the Sidney Herberts. And I also give to him a further

legacy of one thousand three hundred pounds for his objects, and to

Joanna Frances Bonham Carter a legacy of one hundred pounds. I give

to Francis Galton two thousand pounds for certain purposes and I

declare that the same shall be paid in priority to all other

bequests given by my Will for charitable or other purposes. I give

one hundred pounds to Mary Ureth Frederica, the daughter of William

Bacheler Coltman and Bertha Elizabeth Shore Coltman, his wife, and

fifty pounds to each of their sons, William Hew Coltman and Thomas

Lister Coltman. I bequeath three hundred pounds to J. I. Frederick,

Esquire, Secretary of the Army Sanitary Commission, three hundred

pounds to Sir Douglas Galton of Chester Street, London. I bequeath

one hundred pounds each to Mary and Emily, daughters of the late

Dr. William Farr of the General Register Office; two hundred and

fifty pounds to Mother Stanislaus, Reverend Mother of the Hospital

Sisters in Great Ormond Street, for her objects; one hundred pounds

to John Croft, Esquire, late Instructor of the Nightingale Training

School at St. Thomas’ Hospital, and two hundred and fifty pounds to

the Mother Superior at the time of my death of the Devonport

Sisters of Mercy. I direct my executors to purchase out of my

estate an annuity of sixty pounds on the life of Miss Crossland,

late ‘Home Sister’ of the Nightingale Training School at St.

Thomas’ Hospital. And also an annuity of thirty pounds on the life

of Miss Vincent, now Matron of St. Marylebone Infirmary. And I

bequeath to each of those ladies respectively the annuity so

purchased on her life absolutely: each annuity to commence from the

date of my decease. I bequeath one hundred pounds to Miss Styring,

now Matron of Paddington Infirmary; one hundred pounds to Miss

Spencer, now Lady Superintendent of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary; one

hundred pounds to Madame Caroline Werckner, who nursed the French

Prisoners in the Franco-German War at Breslau (now at Lymington);

one hundred pounds to the daughters of Margaret, wife of Sir Edmund

Verney, in equal shares; one hundred pounds to the daughters of

Frederick W. Verney (youngest son of the late Sir Harry Verney) in

equal shares; Five hundred pounds to Paulina Irby of Serajevo,

Bosnia, for her objects; One hundred and fifty pounds to Peter

Grillage (from Balaclava) and Temperance, his wife, whose maiden

name was Hatcher, now at Ridgway, Plympton, Devon, to be equally

divided between them and in case one of them should predecease me

the survivor to take the whole; Fifty pounds toFanny Dowding now

McCarthy, formerly in my service; One hundred pounds to Robert

Robinson now residing at 101 West Street, Grimsbury, Banbury; One

hundred and seventy five pounds to my servant, Elizabeth Mary

Coleman, if living with me at the time of my decease, and to Ellen

Pearce twenty five pounds under the same condition; One hundred

pounds to William Rathbone, Esquire, M.P. as a feeble sign of

heartfelt gratitude for his

unbounded goodness to the cause of Trained Nursing and to me; Two

hundred and fifty pounds to the said Sir William Wedderburn for

certain purposes; One hundred pounds to each of my executors as an

acknowledgment of his trouble in executing the provisions of my

Will, in addition to any other legacy left to him. I bequeath one

hundred pounds to Mr. William Yeomans of Holloway House, with

thanks for his kindness to the people of Holloway for me; I leave

twenty pounds for a small gold cross or crucifix to be chosen by

the said Henry Bonham Carter for Miss Pringle, formerly Matron of

St. Thomas’ Hospital.

“4. I give and bequeath the following specific legacies (namely),

the jewels from the Queen and the bracelet from the Sultan and the

other medals and Orders, together with my engraving of the ground

round Sebastopol, to the Managers for the time being of the Reading

Room at Herbert Hospital, or at Netley or at Aldershot or at some

other place where soldiers may see them, as my executors may in

their absolute discretion decide. All my prints, framed or

otherwise (except those that I may otherwise dispose of), and

including those of the Queen and Prince Albert given me by the

Queen at Balmoral, in one thousand eight hundred and fifty six, and

of Landseer’s ‘Highland Nurses’ to my executors to be distributed

by them amongst the Nightingale Training Schools for Nurses and

those connected with us, in such manner in all respects as my

executors may in their absolute discretion decide. The framed

Michael Angelo photographs, the portfolio of Venice photographs

from Mrs. Bracebridge, the two lovely water colour sketches of

Embley, and the copy of Turner’s ‘Rock’ by Louisa Elenor Shore

Nightingale, my father’s watch and spectacles, the book case in the

drawing room given me by the said William Shore Nightingale and

Louisa Eleanor, his wife, the portrait of Sir John McNeill, the

little Soutari clock and the box (Miss Coape’s) with all the

‘stuff’ in it, _i.e._ annotated in pencil by Mr. Stuart Mill and

Mr. Jowett, with their letters, et cetera, upon it, to the children

of the said William Shore Nightingale, living at my death, to be

divided amongst them in such manner as they shall agree upon, and

in default of agreement as my executors, other than the said Samuel

Shore Nightingale and Louis Hilary Shore Nightingale, shall

determine. The cutlery given me by the town of Sheffield and any

Tallboy or book case or tall stand for papers he may choose to the

said Samuel Shore Nightingale. The ‘Colas’ bronze of Sophocles, all

copies of the printed three volumes entitled ‘Suggestions for

Thought,’ the three volumes of Quetelet given me by Mr. Quetelet

with my M. S. papers in the same parcel, and my Dante in three

volumes quarto with illustrations, to the said Rosalind Frances

Mary Nash. The sketch of the older Parthe to Mrs. Hawthorn, a

bookcase or tallboy and the picture of the head of Christ with the

Crown of Thorns (Nazarene), in my room, to the said Louis Hilary

Shore Nightingale. The Titian ‘Virgin’ with the two sides of

Angioletti and the (rare) cast of the Avignon Crucifix to the said

Margaret Thyra Barbara Shore Nightingale. To each of them, the said

Samuel Shore Nightingale and Louis Hilary Shore Nightingale,

Rosalind Frances Mary Nash and Margaret Thyra Barbara Shore

Nightingale, such six of my books as they shall select. The picture

of Gordon in ‘The last Watch’ to the said Louisa Eleanor Shore

Nightingale. The Bible given me by Pleasley to the said Frederick

W. Verney. The Michael Angelo Sistine Chapel ceiling, stretched on

two screen poles, and my chatelain with the blue seal ring, etc.

upon it to the said Bertha Elizabeth Shore Coltman. The desk given

me by Lea to Beatrice Lushington during her life, and after her

death to the said Louis Hilary Shore Nightingale. The framed ‘Nile’

given me by the said Henry Bonham Carter and the Models of Highgate

Infirmary and Chapel made by Patients there to Sibella, the wife of

the said Henry Bonham Carter. The prints which belonged to dear

Hilary, namely the Correggio ‘Magdalen’ and ‘Christ in the Garden,’

the large Michael Angelo of Isaiah (all framed), also a packet of

papers of Hilary’s (in my despatch box) to be divided between Alice

Bonham Carter and her sister, Elinor Dicey, or if either of them

should die before me, all the said articles to the survivor, but if

neither of them should survive me I direct that the said papers

shall be burnt. The large framed photograph of her father, Sidney

Herbert, given me by his wife, to Mary Herbert, now Baroness Hugel.

The large framed Madonna di San Sisto (with a little secret

between us about Gwendolen’s likeness) to Maude, wife of the said

Frederick W. Verney; such of my blue books, War Office, India and

Statistical and Hospital Reports and Books as he shall choose to

the said J. J. Frederick, and the remainder of them to the said Sir

Douglas. The volume of Prince Albert’s speeches given me by the

Queen, with her autograph in the book, to the said Henry Bonham

Carter. The life of the Prince Consort given me by the Queen, with

her autograph in it, and the Athens photograph book given me by

Emily Verney to the said Margaret Verney. The Illustrated New

Testament and Prayer Book to my two little Goddaughters, Ruth,

child of the said Margaret Verney, and Kathleen, child of the said

Frederick W. Verney. The Roman Catholic books in English or French,

some of which were given me by the Reverend Mother Clare of

Bermondsey, who died in one thousand eight hundred and seventy

four, to the said Mother Stanislaus; my Schiller to Miss Shalders,

formerly Governess to the children of Mrs. Frederick Verney, and to

Blanch Mary Shore Clough some article to be selected by her out of

my personal chattels, not subject to other destinations.