Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-08-13
Prom the London Times Of July 8.


fe who listen win cteLulity the whispers Of
vanity, aud pursue with eagerntss the pbaatom of
name attend to the history Of one richer than
basselas- ven TO the history Of one Peter Thellus
son, late Of the city Of London, merchant. L is
partly detailed In the columns Of cur this days
laR report, but scarcely plain enough 10 be under
stood Without labor by non legal minds
10 Is nov siXty-two years since Peter ThelussoD
took stock Of bis worldly possessions, and found
that he had $500 600 IN money aud land of the an
nual value o. "a $40 Peter ThellussOn had salts
fed the ordinary ambition Of an English BurgeOis-
he had founded family. Peter Isaac, the son Of
his youth. and the prop Of bis house, vas heir 10
e35 600 a year in money and l4ud-and might
claim to be born gentleman. Peers and peresses
might hereafter spring in intermediate succession
from the loins Of that denizen Of diDgy little back
parlOr behind the bank The best men upon
Change envied he rich and prosperous Peter Thel-
usson, who had no object % ambition unsRti-fed
Peter was Of a fyrent mind; he had not nearly
money enough. Let other men be satisfied 10 found
one family; Peter was lucky euOagh to have three
sons, and he would found three families. Il vas
that he loved his sous or his sons sOus but it
Eas the hope aBd desire Of this magnifcently pos
thGmUs miser to associate his name in the future
generations with three colossal fortunes If he did
not love his sons, be did net hate them; he was
simply Indifferent 90 every bling except TO his
cherished object Peter Thellusson took the very
hest legal advice and made will tie left . few
'riAing legaoes, probably 20 shOW that,no unnsil
raj suJipahy to his children tainted that will Elih
mania. But his great fortune was all conveyed 10
trustees L was 70 accumulate untH every man
woman and child of the ofsprirg Of Peter and alive
or begotieH at the mOmeRt of Peters deuh' SHOULD
also be defuuot No one Of the children or grand
Children who had ever looked Peter in the face, or
trembled in his presence squaed at the sound OF
his harh hard voice, should ever be the rle9er tor
I Peters Eealfh. "ALd tn rich man also died
Twelve months after making this will, and sixty one
] F-, h. Peter
| bis unknown fathers The will was opened, and
created sensations which vhrated through the land
| IN widening circles Our law books picture to us
the blank disappointment OF the then LIVING rela-
tives the gentle cachinnail7ns OF past generation
/ Of lavyers and the Gaping wonder Of the general
pubie There we're three sons an six grandsOns Of
this malignant old merchant then sve-all destined
TO live the life Of Tanaus; 10 this great pagoda
Tree wing up before them yet never 20 pluck one
| unit Of its fruit. The terms OF the Will e joined
that when the last survivor OF the nine children ana
grandchildren should yield up his breath. then The
Charm was to end the great mOuRtain Of aocumulat
/ ed wealth was to be divided into three portions
onetb bird vas TO be given to each Of the 'eldes
male liueaI descendants Of his three sons. Having
thus done what he liked With his own, aud excludes
all his living progeny from all benefit, he ends VIII
/ a whine to the Legisla ure worthy of Shy'Ock ap
oeaIing against merey-he had earned his monsI
with honesty and industry, aud he hoped the legs
I lature would not alter his will.
OF course the first Ii ing that followed was
1 Chaneery suit of the fal est bulk. The eommol
sense view Of the WOi I'D have been 70 set asld
the will, as the product Of a diseased mind-a min
rendered morbid as to its dispOsing powers oy dEe
ling upon an irrational object. But Lords Lough
borough. ana Alvanley, aud EldOn, and judges
kindred sympathies, seem to have been led BY thei
love Of art 10 adnire the skill with which the tech
nioalies Of eur blessed real propertyfE fEE bad bee
sdaptad 70 the object Of this old trader. Perhaps
else, they saw sOmsthing eminentiy sane and MAJ
Ter of fact IN the good old sOrdid voice Of aeouur