Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-08-02
An Extraordinary French Will Case.

There lived in Paris for many years, in q
handsome house. No. 8 Qiai Voltaire, on the
opposite side Of the Scene from the Louvre, a rich
Portuguese gentleman, names Jose Joachim da
Grama Marchado, q gentleman Of the Chamber
of the King Of Portugal, aud titular councillor
OF the Portuguese Embassy. H. kept horses aud
carriages and livery servants, subscribed to
numerous charities, conducted himself in society
just like any other well-bred man, and spent
the income of his nrge fortune with MS much pru-
dence and clreumspeetOn as liberalitY. This gem
tleman died on June 9, 1861, at the age of 81,
leaving behini h.m no less than seventy one
testemcntary papers md codics, the validity Of
which is now disputed by the next of kin on the
ground that the test1tnr was not Of sound mud
The arguments of the counsel. which contend
that Commander MntchndO was insane, arc
drawn mainly from the tenor of the tesiumcutary
papers themselves, and from the contenia Of
an essay written by him many years ago, en-
til Il "Tho Theory of Rescmblances These
papers extend over a long series of years--lrom
1923 to l96l-and the allegation VI the next OF
Kin is that the tcstnt1r was all the while a
mOnomaniac, dcnominRto1 by what in French
jurisprudence, ia called liked idea" Sab.
joined are translalions Of snme OF the most re-
markable OF these documents:
"JAEUARY !, 1871, .he undersigned, being
in tho present enjoyment Of all my faculties, but
fearing 10 lose them by reason Of illness do or
dain that my person shall be confded to the
care of Susan Dibdin, my faithful companion,
and that the sum of $3000f. be pain to her every
month by my banker Such is my will, written
with my own hand"
II is curious that so long ago as thirty.eiaht
years before his death he should have made a
solemn affirmation of the soundness of his mind.
and ut the same timc expressed a fear that illness
might deprive him Of his faculties. Tho next
selection from the scventy-one papers is the fol-
lowing
'SePTGNBRR l, 1888. Il bequeath to NJ.
Lesson my ST. Georges microscope, all nv
frames ofbuIterlies insects, 60, except those
butterflies otmy own work, which are to he sent
to Lisbon. The portrait OF purta and nv own
portrait, painted by Seguiera, are also to be
seat 10 Lisbon. desire that my collection of
heads, illustrating the doctrine Of Gall, the stag
dogs and horses. the works relating to this doc
trine, my stuffed birds, a monument Of uieli-
gonce and industry, may remain 10 my family.
as if they had been 4 fef of my father make
tho same disposition Of my camens from NJ. dc
| Souza. 1t was from these materials that com
posed my Theory of Resemblances and they led
me to the important discovery of colors ia the
study Of natural sciences bequeath to the
Royal Athsn@um of Paris sum Of lO, ,00Of., the
interest OF which is 70 be given to professor of
natural history, who will explain the influence
OF the color mud the marks on the skin upon the
character of animals. -Four lessons. at 6OE
each, will suffice. desire that my body may be
kept as long as possible, and put in a leaden
coffin. My body is to be taken straight 10 the
Pere Ia Chase Cemetery. The least possible
money is to be spent on the funeral "a useless
expenditure of vanity.) The model Of nv tomb
is TO be that which made for my starting this
bird, belng embalmed, its body will be laid with
mine. The model Of my tomb is to be sent TO
Lisbon. My horses are TO follow my hearse
without being made to drag my carriage NV
Wallet will carry in cage ono OF my iavorite
birds. particularly prohibit the invitation of
any one whatsoever to my funeral My servants
will accompany me to my grave that will be
last testimony Of gratitude on their part for all
the good that had done them.
"JUHE II, 1s38.-My birds arc to be looked
after by women and not by men, These women
are to be selected from n province known to
produce benevolent persons. Care must be
taken to feel their heads above the ear. 10 sec
that the part is quite smooth the lower part of
the head should he we'll developed, and the form
obloDg. A young professor shall be attached to
the Anthen@um; prizes shall be given annually
for essays on human resemblances, and upon the
Importance of color in the organic kingdom.
"APRIL 10, lSd5.-Regulalion for my burial.
! oFdain, or to speak more correctly, since my
domestic government will be brought TO nm
end by my denth, ] earnestly request that
my funeral may be conducted in the following
manner; l shall be buried at in the nftere
noon, ut the hour when tho rocks OF the LouVre
are in the habit of coming 10 my house to get their
di1ner, and only the people Of my house will
follow the hearse TO Pere ll Chase The hearse
will be modelled upon and sketched 10 my ante
room (the funeral Of the poor.J Six simpla
mourning carriages, 20 children I the Society of
st Nicholas, oni 70 o! the Society Of Christian
Schools will follow Cueh child is TO receive 20
francs, have been "a member OF both societies |
ever since have resided in France. Nv body
Is to be embamed by d.. Suguot who will be
paid 0OO francs Tor doing it.
"MARcH "a, lS54-l bequeRth to the Society
for the Protection of Animals sum of 90 |
OOOf,, the interest Uf which Is to be M. |
piled in the following manner An annual sum |
OF 6OOt to be given 10 n sergeant de Vile, or |
my other person, VINO il to stand at the end of |
the bridge des SAnz Peres, just opposite nv
windows, with paeard on his hat, on which
shall be written Society for the Profession of
Animals-J. j. la GRAMA MARcHADo.' lis
duty will be 10 present cart. drivers aud cAbmen
from ill-treating their horses. Ills hours of
duty will be from u to c. The remaining 5OOf
is to be divided into two parts, and given ms a
prize from the author Of the THEORY Of Re-
semblances,' to those cOaohmen who NAV bring
their nurses into TIE stable without whipping
them, as is too much the custom"
The Tribunal Of First instance held TINT the
testater was Of unsOund mind, and that mainly
on the grounds expressed in the following clause
of their Judgment; ',Considering that although
in the work Published by the testator, under the
title Of Theory Of Resemblances,' there are