The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-03
CHARLES DICKENS WILL.

PrFS risnaa, D ir the n for HI" i%ater hSs%sf Esc.
The will of Charles Dickens Is published 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
of a 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 pounds and all his per-
sonal jewelry except his watch C'the gold
repeater presented to me at Coventry'O, which,
with 'the chains and seals and all append
ages" he bequeaths to John Forster, who is
also the legatee of such of the manuscripts
of his published works as remained in his
possession at the time of his death. To his
eldest son Charles ne bequeaths his library of
printed books and all his engravings and prints.
For the other legacies, "Miss Ellen Lawless Ter
nan, late of Houghton place, Ampthill Square,
in the county of Middlesex, !" receives one thou
sand pounds, and all the servants who have
been in the family for one year have nineteen
guineas each. In a codicil the property in A
the Year Round" is given to "Charles Dickens,
the younger" a designation of his son which
would seem to imply that he desired this gentle
men to assume such a title rather than "Charles
Dickens, Jr., in like manner with the younger
Colman.
After having fully expressed his intentions in
legal technicalities, Mr.. Dickens concludes his
last will and testament as follows
'And lastly, as 1 have now set down the form OF
words which my legal advisers assure me are ne
NNElGA W. AbS BAAAA IN VI NhS hI Eht SCASAAhA
enjoin my dear children always to remember how
much they owe to the said Georgina HOgarth, and
never to be wanting in a grateful and afectioDate
attachment to her, for they know well that she has
been through all the stages OF their growth and pro
gress their ever usefnl, self-denying, and devoted
friend. And l desire here simply to record the fact
that my wife since our separation by consent has
been in 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. 1 emphattcally direct that /
be buried in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and
strictly private manner, that no public announce
ment be made of the time or place of my burial,
that at the utmost not more than three plain
mourning coaches be employed, and that those
who attend my funeral wear no scarf, cloak, black
bow, long hatband, or other such revolving absur-
dity. I direct that my name be inscribed in plain
English letters on my tomb without the addition OF
Mr. or Esquire 1 conjure my friends on no &C.
count to make me the subject of any monument,
memorial, or testimonial whatever. 1 rest my claim
to the remembrance of my country upon my pub.
lished 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 ouI
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and l exhOrt my
dear children humbly to try and Guide themselves
by the teaching OF the New Testament, in its broad
spirit, and to put no faith in any mans narrow con-
s~truction of its letter here or there. In witness where
of /, the said Charles Dickens, the ~testatOr, have to
this, my last will and testament, set my hand this
twelfth day OF May, in the year of our Lord one thou
sand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
"CHARLES DICKENS"