American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-07-26
THE THELLUSSON ESTATE.

a
the will of the late Peter Thellusson, Esq. AS this
will is one OF the most extraordinary testaments
ever made short account Of it may not be unin
teresiing TO our readers.
Peter Thellusson, a merchant in London, died or
the 2lst Of July, 1897, leaving about 700,o0Ot. o
productive personal property, real estate in Eng
land worth 100000. and two plantations 10 thu
West Indies. His wife, three sons, three daugh
ters and ten grandchildren were living al the tint
of his death.
BY his last will he gave to his wife his country
house at Plaisow, his furniture, carriages, &c ant
an annuity Of 2,l40t SO long as she remained wi
dow but in case she married again, the house ano
furniture were to be sold, and her annuity reduced
to 575L.
TO each of his sons, lie gave 7,600L.-mskIng
with the money already advanced 10 them $4,000
each. "This provision he says, land the grea
success they have met with in business, VIII be sui
hcient to procure them comfort and it is my ear
nest wish and desire, that they will avoid ostenta
ton, vanity, and pompous show" And IN anothe
part of his will he says, in relation to his sons,
most earnestly hope and parry TO God that they VII
never quit business"
To each of his unmarried daughters, he gave
10000. to be forfeited if either Of them married
at all during his lie time; or married alter hi
death, without the consent of his wife and execu
tors: and TO his married daughter, he gave an an
nuity of 1901. and some small legacies.
After some further legacies to his brother hi
executors and several friends, he gave all the resi-
due OF his estate consisting of about 60o,000L II
personal property, and OF land yielding an annua
income Of 4,500l.) to certain friends, az trust, tt
receive the rents, interests, and profits, and 10 inves
the in the purchase OF lands as last as receiv
ed, so hat the whole might accumulate during thu
lives of his three sons and the lives of their son:
which might be living at the time OF his death, ane
the lives of any sons OF his grand sons which might
be horn during his own life, and long The last
survivor OF any of these should live. He then d
rected, thai at the death OF such last survivor, the
accumulated fund should be divided into three parts
ard that one part should be conveyed to the eldest
male lnea deseendant of each of his three sons
and upon failure Of such descendant of either q
his sons, that share TO go TO the others; and upon
failure OF all such lineal male descendants, the
whoi to go TO the sinking fund towards paying the
national debt.
Vsrious computations have been made OF the
probable value OF this accumulated property at the
,ime Of its ultimate division founded of course on
he probable duration of the lives of the Testator's
descendants. The lorest calculation makes il
nineteen millions Of pounds sterling or S84S6o,-
600, about t'centy eight millions one hundred and
tTenty thousand dollars to share
1t is worthy of remark, that the Testator had nc
amily, but lived with them all in habits of friend
ship and confidence though he determined thai
not one Of them who was living during his own life
should enjoy his property. 1t is equally remarka
BILE, that while he inculcated so earnestly habits o
Industry and irugalIty on his sons, he should pro
vide such enormous fortunes for his remote descen
danIs 1t doubtless originated in vanity
The provisions Of this will excited so much at
en,ion, that 1t gave rise to an act of Parliament
48. Geo III chap. 98] prohibiting any person
Tor the future from settling tevisns property
for the purpose Of mutation, for alonger periot
han twenty years after the death Of the granto
or tes'aor-being the longest time in which funt
could be wanted for the benefit Of minor children
" III. journal.
TIE twelve Common Law Judges of England
edecided, unanimously, that grandson, through
daughter, does not come within the description
male llnesl descent" rhis opinion was given il
| reference to a question Arising out of the famous
| Theusson will
| Great complaints are made Of the delays in III,
Court of Chancery in England. To show how ex
pensive all chancerv litigation is. it was stated
among other facts. in debate in Parliament, tina
The late Mr. Ricardo. experimenting some cones
ABOUT The disposition OF portion OF his property
had set aside in his will The sum Of 100000! 4
meet the expenses of the anticipated chancery suit
commission OF the two houses OF Parliament hac
been appointed to inquire into the subject, at III,
head OF which the Lord Chancellor himself wa
placed
! Richmond, Va. July l5-The Grand Jury so
the Superior Court of Law for The trial OF Crmna
causes, returned into Court last evening at half pas
six, after most laborous and diligent inoul,y anc
| brOup hi in Dnp UlDIrpd md .NIuo