Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-08-17
The VIII of CHARLES Dickens.

The will of Charles Dickens is pub
lished in full in the London papers. 1t
is described as having been written in
blue ink on a sheet of ordinary letter
/ paper. The main body of the text was
evidently copied from the careful draft
ola competent legal man. A provision
OF the interest on eight thousand pounds
for life is made for Mrs. Dickens. To
Miss HOgarth he gives eight thousand
and all his personal ieWelTy except his
watch (ithe gold repeater presented to
me at COventTy'), which, with the
chains and seals and all appendages,' he
bequeathes to John Forster, who is also
/ the legatee of such of the manuscrpts Of
| his published works as remained In his
/ possession at the time of his death. To
/ his eldest son Charles he bequeathes his
| library of printed books and all his en-
! cravings and prints: For the other leg
| atees, Miss Ellen L,awless Tenan, late of
HOughtOn Place, Ampthill Square, in
the county Of MiddleseX, receives one
thousand pounds, and ali the servants
who have been in the family for
for one yearhave nineteen guineas each.
In cOdicil the property in AU the Y60r
around is given to Charles Dickens,
the younger a designation of his son
which would seem to imply that he de-
sired this gentleman to assume such a
a title, rather than Charles Dickens,
Jr., in like manner with the younger
Coleman.
After having fully expressed his in
tentiOns in legal technicalities, Mr.. |
Dickens concludes his last will and tes-
lament as follows:
"And lastly, as I have now set down /
the form of words which my legal ad- /
visers assure me are necessary to the /
plain objects of this my will, I solemnly |
enjoin my dear children always to re-
member how much they owe 10 the said /
GeOrgina HOgarth, and never to be
wanting in a grateful and affeetionate
attachment to her, for they know well |
that she has been through all the stages
of their growth and progress their ever
useful selfdenying and devoted friend.
And desire here simply to record the
fact that my wife since our separation
by consent has been In the receipt from
me of an annual income of six hundred
pounds; while all the great charges Of a /,
numerous and expensive family have
devOlved wholly upon myself. I en-
direct that ] be btlrried in an
unOstentatiOuS, and strict
Iy private manner, that no public an
be m9de of the time and
place OF my Dufia, that to the utmost
not more than three plain mourning
coaches be employed, and that those
who attend my funeral wear no scarf. II
cloak, black bow, long hatband, or 9TH
er such revolving absurdity. 1 direct
that my name be Inscribed in plain En-
glish letters on my tomb without the s
of Mr. or Esquire I IcOniure J
my friends ON no account to make me ,
the subject Of any monument, memoir j
ial or testimonial whatever. I rest my
claims TO the remembrance Of my cOun-
try upon my published works, and to :
the remembrance Of my friends upon !
their experience OF me; in addition !
thereto commit my soul TO the mercy :,
Of God through our Lord and Saviour ,
Jesus Christ, and / exhOrt my dear
children to try to guide themselves by G
the teachings Of the New Testament in 9
It's broad spirit, and to put no faith in Q
any mans narrow construction Of its q
etter here or there. In witness where Z
If I, the said Charles Dickens, the test '
ltor, have to this my last will and tes-
ament set my hand this twelfth day Of Il
Nay, in the year of our Lord one thOus- n
md eight hundred and siXty-nine. s.
CHARLES DICKENS. Is