The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-04-11 00:00:00

A SINGULAR BEQUEST.

An eccehtric squire named Tancred, who died a
ccutury and a quarter ago, furnished occupation for
the House of Commons, one day last week. He was
the owner of Whixley-hall, Yorkshire. He liked cock-
fighting and bull-baiting, a run across country, a pipe
awl his pot ; but be hated women, and resolved that,
sooner than his estate should go to his sisters, he would
found a charity with it. He had a large park with
plenty of deer, and a great wall round it, which he
had built at enormous expense ; and this he expressly
directed should be kept up with all the buiblings on the
property exactly as he left them. They were neither
to be altered nor improved. The rental of the estate
—now valued at 4:5,000 a year—he ordered to be
applied to the erection of a hospital for the main-
tenance of twelve decayed gentlemen, and the founding
of certain exhibitions at Cambridge and Lincoln's
Inn. Alas, for the vanity of testaments ! The
will immediately became the subject of a Chancery
suit, and the Lord Keeper of that day forth-
with ordered the deer aid the wall to be put
down. The rents, however, were still preserved
for the twelve decayed gentlemen " who had
borne arms in the service of their country ;" and they
were still required to comply with the wishes of their
benefactor, one of which was, that they should (line to-
gether every day, and drink to the memory of the
founder. So far, however, VIM this arrangement from
being prodnctive of good fellowship, that the Charity
Commissioners found them snarling at one another
like so many wild dogs, and leading a most unhappy
existence. The Commissioners, after a thorough in-
vestigation into the circumstances of the charity, re-
commended a scheme by which the number of
pensioners should be reduced to four, and that the fair
should be out.penaioners ; and with regard to the
stunentships, that the property should be divided in a
certain ratio between the students and the pensioners.
The scheme of the Commissioners was embodied in a
bill which was sulmlitted to Parliament last year, and
was r.-ferred to a select committee. .

On the report of that committee a bill was founded,
and Mr. Bereidoril Hope blot Wednesday afternoon
moved that it should be read a second time. After a
mart debate, it was thrown out by 83 votes to 69.
The cause of its rejection was the ineertion of a clause
which would have limited the benefits of the charity
to members of the Church of England. The HUUS,
Commons would not stand such illiberality, though it
was supported by pathetic appeals to the intentions of
the testator. If the wishes of testators were thus de-
liberately set at nought, it was argued there would be
no more testators. It is to be hoped there will be no
more of the Tancred sort. Let men learn to do good
with their money while they live. Bequests like this
Tanered Charity do nothing but mischief.

ENGLISH BIRDS IN NEW ZEALAND.
The venture of the Acclimatization Society to bring
out from London by the Warrior Queen an extensive
importation of English song birds has proved a com-
plete PIICI.WW, under the careful management of Mr.
Edward Bill, and his son (sari the New Zealand Exa-
miner). Out of those shipped there are 524 on board,
all of which have arrived in fine- health and condition.
They col:opine 110 otarlings, 95 thrushes, 65 black-
birds, 42 chaffinches, 60 linnets, 22 hedge sparrows, 40
goldfinches, eight green linnet, eight yellowhammers,
50 larks, three house sparrows, two mountain spar-
rows, two reed sparrows, and ten red poll linnets.
There are also three white swans, a peacock and pea-
hen. The greatest mortality was among the robinn
and the sparrows, all the robins having died. Judging
by the fine healthy appearance of the birilm, and the
cleanliness of their several apartments, She poci..ty
could lilt have made us better dame in the appoint.
merit of a manager, it being apparent that Alr. Bills
thoroughly understatals the habits of the differeut
kinds. On one or. anion, during the inte,a,e, ama
br.ke lin hoatd, shah-ft water a foot deep in the deck-
house, where the birds were caged. Some loss occurred
through this. (Inc of the larko had a leg broken,
which was amputated by Mr. Bills. It is now healthy,
and as sprightly as any of the others. Mr. Lblls
brings out on his own account, for Bale, 60 canaries,
eight handsome goldfinch mules, eight song linnets,
and three goldfinches. On arrival a number of the
members of the Acclimatization Society, including
Mr. Clifford, boarded the ship, and were highly pleased
with the succeosful t, riiiinati. in of their ventur...