The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-29 00:00:00

A CHARITABLE BEQUEST IN DANGER

Some three or four years ago there died a venerable spin
ster, Miss Agnes Hamilton by name, who had for a long
time managed, and that with signal success, a grocery
business in Hutchesontown. Sho left about £20,000, the
chief part of which was invested in heritable securities.
Forty years before, that is, in 1821, she had caused a will
to be made, indicating how she wished her means to be
disposed of. In this deed, after providing respectably for
a sister and a servant, she directed that the interest of the
balance should be expended in the payment of annuities,
not exceeding £4 each, to decayed natives of the barony of
Gorbals, or persons who had lived there for 40 years, their
moral character being good, and their age not under 65. The
execution of this trust—the whole patronage and guar-
dianship of the fund, she confided to the managers
of the barony—a body who then boasted a vigorous life,
such as gave fair promise that it would be permanent. It is
exceedingly probable that the sum she possessed when the
will was made was small in comparison with the value of
her estate when she died ; but there is ample evidence that
through all the intervening years, and amid the accumula-
tions which they witnessed, she continued steadily to cherish
her benevolent purpose. Twice over, in 1834 and in 1854,
trifling changes were made on the deed by the addition of
codicils, though its leading provision was left unaltered.
But, prior to her death, the office of " Manager of the
Gorbals" was swept away. The Municipal Extension Act
was, as is well known, the death of all separate and indt
-
tha
pendent jurisdiction in the barony. Henceitthheap s
trPlennt pre-
there is no tine in a position to administer
citiely according to the manner in which it was devised.
The question arises, shall this hitch utitsearloywfrunusedreartet
theh the
careare -
tention of the testatrix? The estate
e Court of Seesion. A
of a judicial factbr appointed
by
7next of kin to the deceased
movement has been made by
to have her testament wbolltt;es
et aside, so that the funds
h ught by some philanthropic
may come to them. It
i 8
that there are valid grounds for
and public-spirited
resisting are a number of poor and aged
this applicrireo:atil securing the fulfilment of Miss
Hamilton's design. suit the description given
folk living in the GorTbahelseantwl:
benefit. It is hard to see
of those whom
she
directly intervene for their prutec•
how others
haved themselves a just standing-ground
lion ; but they
on which
to go before the court. That step has been re-
solved upon. Thoseinterested in the business wish, how-
ever, some token of public countenance and aid. To that,
we think, they are extremely well entitled. '1 he object of
the bequest is one of the most exemplary kind—one of
which even )ir. Gladstone, with all his horror of death-
bed charitieg and the abuses which they engender, would
feel himself constrained to akprove. In point of
equity there can be no quelition that the Vitae pre-
sented is a good one ; no case could- well be stronger
In point of actual law there is every reason to hope
for a favourable decision; the Dundee people are about
to celebrate the recovery of a sum designed for the esta-
blishment of an hospital there, which was made under cir-
cumstances greatly more inauspicious and problematical
than those that exist here. Some money will be needed ero
even a venture can be made towards trying the case ; but
it is surely impossible that any serious embarrassment can
arise on that score. We learn, at any rate, that steps will
be immediately taken to bring the whole matter under
public notice ; and we have tue confidence that a generous
,and public-spirited interest will be evinced in regard to it
—.North British Mail.

CAPTAIN GRANT IN SCOTLAND.—Captain
the hero of the. Nile, arrived in Elgin on Thursday night,
and was the guest of Mr. Alexander Cameron, writer.
Captain Grant, we understand, is on his way to Dingwall,
on a visit to his mother, who tesides there. Arrangements
are making in Nairn, his native town, for giving him a
public entertainment and presenting him with the freedom
of the burgh.--. Elfin Courier,