, 1874-04-05
Curious Wills

The author OF 's Flemish Interiors contributed
the following to the Illustrated London Netcs:
Will OF 81. Helloin, Juge De Palx.-Gh:s
gentleman, we'll known as magistrate and re-
siding on his own landed property, close to Caen.
in Normandy, died in tho mouth Of June, 1s23
He was OF eccentric habits, and Of the calrest
and most placid disposition: Nothing vas eve. W
known to ruf1e his equanimty or disturb tht
reposo and tranquility OF his domestic arrange
1ccuts. He lived aud died unmarried, and
PASSED his life either reclining on conch OF
living in bed Even when exercising his Judcla
functions he maintained this recu1nbent attitude;
his bedroom became his audience chamber,
and he gave judgment in horizontal position.
his body lazilY stretched out and bis head thrown
back on a down pillow. This luxurious life.
however, did not suficc to protect him from thu
inovitabls lot of morta!s and M. Heloin II oue
time felt That bis end was not far of. Cndo1
these circumstances be made his will. apparent"
ly with the intention Of proving his fidelity 70
lis traditions, for he dec-eea thereby that - lie
should be buried at night in his bed, and in tbs
position in which death should surprtHe hlm-
with bs mattress. sheets, blankets, pillows, and.
in short, all that constituted the belongings OF
bedstead." AZ there was some difficulty n car
tyint out such . clause, an enormous pit "as
dug and the deceased was lowered into h'a last
resting place. exactly as ne had died, nothing
around or about him having been altered
Boards we're placed above the bedstead. in ortor
that the earth when filled in again should not
trouble the reposo OF this lmperturbabe qtioEst
Will Of Daniel Martinett (an officer IN tho
East Inda Company 3 sSeryice).-Among original
Wills 1aay certainly be reckoned that OF Daniel
Nartinets Dying very poor, this singular fel-
low bcqucathed hia debts to the Governor OF
Bengal, who generously accepted the oquiroca1
legacy. We ha:dly tknow whether to admire
more The sang-froid OF the testator OF the bon
honie of tho legatee. Tho principal diapodl-
TONS which constitute the will are AZ fol-
lows: I, the undersigned Daniel Ia1tinett, boin3
rerfectly sound in mind, though weak Ia body,
nS.r. I'LL sNr., ri 51+
~. recommend my soul to God, and hopa
to obtain OF Him pardon for all 1ay SINS 2.
Az to this miserable body. rs it has seen enough
OF the pomp- OF this lower world, all that !io-
sire is that it may be put away in An old green
chest Eave,' to avoid all EXPENSE for, having
Ilyod the life OF prodiga]. would fain die tho
death OF q nigga1d~ :. aIy burial is to coar
nothing. I won tho amount of It's expenses
from the undertaken ut gntno Of billiards wo
had together. in the presence OF Messrs. Thomas
Norrce aud William Parkes, at Inc hou.e OF
the SAID William Parkes, in February LAST,
l. request that the Rev. Henry Eut-
Ter will read over my body the prayers
usual at burials, and. moreover, tnat be VIII
preach sermon On the first Sunday after ny
DEATH taking for his text theze worls OF 9olo-
mon 'An is vanity!" In consideration OF
this service, be4ueash to him all my hypocrisy,
--he needs It to be an honest man. as times 20.
5. ] belaeath to the Governor of Bengal, Hen!F
vansittart. the Office OF paying sny sum or salns
which may 10 found 1t ray death that ! owe -
any person in needy circumstances, the wno1t,
cannot amour: to more than 800 rupsca e. I
give my Eible and PRAYER. book 70 the lev. AenrT
Butler. aud my sabre 10 Capt; Knox, because l
sincerely believe that he has not onl7 tn9
skill but the coura5e to ESQ t.. ha:5
been. during my l,fe an object Of ridicnle to \
fashinnat,le gentleman, and the bntt Of nl3 HaT-
casns' It "a possible my conduct may h2vo
been been %aomeEhat extraordinary hope 70 10
able to forgive him. As hare nothing nothing 70 ,sa7o
have anything 70 say to them. However, they
have not troubled themselves much ABOUT mo
for FOR some time only wish them all very .gncd
health and Ilhopo that my bFothers and sistcr3
RE than 1 hava.-[signed) Danisl Iartine:t." "
IiIs will WAS depositeti in the RegistEy-O.Sco' at
ca!cuI.a after t.io death Of tie testnsoz, which
tooA pla:a In 132l