Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-07-19
From tn, London Time', Of the goth June

The license of testaneniary disposition enjoyed Ia this
country sometimes defended the ground that
you 10 deprive man of the power Of dsposing OF his
property alter DEATH you would take from him of the
strongest motives foe economy and accumulation. How
much these amiabe propeHstes Of human nature require
stimulating shall not stop ~ enquire but the advantage
ought to be very to compensate Tor the misery the
uncertainty and the scandal occasiOncd by the folly
pride, aud caprice of who aspire govern the dcst
mics Of pOserity ana to intervene in which the in
eSorabe law Of human nature would To ntcrdct to
them.
Never however have we met with a case in which the
attempt Of the dead 70 dictate to the living and the -trug
gle pride perpetuatc it, honOrs beyond the grave
have presented a painful andhumilng view vi hu-
nature than the will Of John William seventh aud
last Earl Of Bridgewater awaiting it, Interpretation
at the hands Of the highest Judicial tribunal ia the land
liy this will, which made in lS23-when dukedomS
aud marquisaes u higher premium than they are
uowthe Earl Of Bridgewater left the then Lord Afford
for life aud TO his issue in tail with remainder his
brother Charles Gus. for life and his ISSUE with certain
remandIs over estates computed the value of UOO
ayear, subject To proviso that If Lord Afford should die
without having acquired the dignity Of Duke Marquis
Of rdgewatef the devise his children should lie void
and that if he should attain the said dignity until FIVE
years after he became Lord Brownlow the devise should
be void Whether this devise be valid il the queS.
ton which the House OF Lords has decide Lord Al
ford died in 1851 without having acquired the dgnites
question, aud the appeal Is lodged to Try whether his in
iInt heir is 10 be dsnherted for this cause OF not
We do not venture to prognOsticate whether law will in
this instance be placed III its ordinary anthcsis
mon sense but, II the provi+O be upheld, only
i'm
What part in life did Lord BrIewater dc-nc for the
object o: his cruel aud capcious bounty! lie cent lin
tOft1 not to conquer dragon chimsrd, but mar
qusate not 10 deliver princes from durance vile
but to restore the shadowy entity Of eschcaed duke
dom. His life to be long and wearsome ,royellin,
and crawling, endless turning aud Winding pursuit
Of mere rank at all times aud by all means and
To him alone OF oil Her Msic-y- subjects forbidden
under the highest peuites-cJuutci indeed IN millions
the right OF free thought and independent action II
cursed with ccarinteect and uOquencc il WIS the wish
nj the fla flazn mfr
poyed not for tie good Of his country the benefit
Of hs species but that they should be- prOsttued u the
service Of those Who could giyca maruisae, and still
more aDiscty laid at the feet Of who could turn
l the marquisaio into dukedOm This mighty nheri
| lance sa1dled with a trust aud duty wa.
cast upon it. posscssOr which he bound 10 satisfy
lIt might be Indifferent rank but unless be were also
Indifferent to the pOssespn Of ample fortune he VII.
bound devote every shilling political corruption and
il the mcancr arts by which rice from small begin
ngs 10 the eEternhl- aud tappng Of rank aud dignity
What life of anxiety did this noble estator dc-tne fD
the object Of his bounty After the death Of Lord Brown
low five years were the allotted period 10 which the ,
vas 10 be reached. and " not reached IN that time 10,
Inheritance forfeited The ordinary terms aud change
Of political parto' thc vicssitudc which M, II men cat
look on with equanimity would be 70 him the
the most cruel aud we'll founded anxiety y e strang,
caprice lie would find J.. destiny bound no ~ith thos,
With whom he had concern, and trembling IN the bal
ance with the fate Of parties with whom he had sympa
Thy and no counerion Every vote whch such perior
gave cithcr a. peer or AZ commoner, he would fee
that he might bc disinheritng bis innocent children an,
stripping them OF the succession 70 pdnccy Inheritance
. Taking the matter from another point Of view, hos
strange " seems that person who puts low estimate
upon the manner in which dignips are attained a. ~,
bf' Of Fidgewater should YET oyince much anxict
for fheiT sttainmcnt II a dukelom or fnatqu.ata III
prize gwen Wy the free uctcred, aud unsolicited grac
OF the Crown, reward Tor shining merits and orninen
public services, u j. easy Imagine that the attainment
such au object would be matter Of ambition 20 Whic
this noble pctonHge might justly direct the efforts ~ Nj
successors But tis evdcuty not his view TIE Eti
OF Bud2cwatcr thought that any possessed Of lafg
iotuuc had nothing % do bot 70 will il IN order becom
duke and that he did not do II for lack of mo
tive because ko did desire the end not because he H
not possess the means Tie gave the means aud he con
sdcred that he supplied the motive when he declare
those means forfeited " tho object attained
the Eurl Of BridgcWater public He aud public me
from very near point Of view and from very con
manding position. nobeman Of ancientneage the po
SCISSOR OF an enormous fortune connected by marriage
blood with many nolle families he knew as well a. an
one conld the tien position Ofths Eugl aristocracy an
Ihe means BY which that position mig BE- attained IN