Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-05-31
Some Curious Wills.

Mr.. William Tegg has just published
in London an entertaining volume
called "Wills of Their Own" in which
he presents many remarkable wills of
eccentric persons: Among the most
curious of these is that of Edward Wort
ley Montagu, son of Mr.. Montagu, Am
bassador to Constantinople in ZIG by
Lady Mary WORTHY MOntagu, his wife,
the supposed SapphO of Pope.
"After some bequests 'tO my noble
and worthy relation, the Earl Of
the will adds: Il do not give his lord
ship any further part Of my property
because the best part of that he has con-
trived to take already. Item, to Sir
Francis-I give one word of mine,
because he has never had the good for
tune to keep his own. Item, to Lord
M give nothing, because know
he'll bestow it on the poor. Item, to
@, the author, for putting me in his
travels, 1 give five shillings for his wit,
undeterred by the charge Of extrava-
gance, since friends who read his book
consider five shillings too much. Item,
to Sir Robert VI leave my pOliti-
cal opinions, never doubling he can well
turn them into cash, who has always
found such an excellent market in
which to change his own. Item, my
cast-off habit of swearing give to Sir
Leopold D., i'm consideration that
no Oaths have ever been able to bind him
yet,"
Perhaps even more eccentric than
this is the last will and statement Of Mr..
Daniel Martinett, of Calcutta. The
following clauses are full Of a grim
humor:
''The undertaker;s fees come to moth
ing, as won them from him at a game
of billiards in the presence of Mr.. ThOm-
as Morrice and William Perkes, at the
said William Perkes' house, in February
last. furthermore request, as it is not
only customary, but As l sincerely b
lieve the prayers of the good availeth,
and are truly consistent with decency,
that the Rev. MI. Butler read the prayers
which are customary at burials, and
also preach funeral sermon on Sunday
next after my decease, taking his text
from Solomon, 'All is vanity In con-
sideration of which, over and above his
fees, bestow upon him all my hypO-
crisy, which he wants as modern
good man; but as my finances are low,
and cannot conveniently discharge his
fees, l hope he will please accept the
will for the deed. As it lies not i'm my
power to bequeath anything to my rela-
tions at home, / shall say nothing con-
cerning them, as they have not for
these six years past concerned them
selves about me; excepting that hear
tily wish them all well, and that my
brothers and sisters may make a more
prosperous voyage through this life
than have DONE"
The great Lord Chesterfield seems to
have had an equal sense of humOr, for
by one of the clauses of his will, proved
shortly after his death i'm 1873, he pro-
vided that
''In case my said godson, Philip STAN
hope, shall, at any time hereafter, keep,
or be concerned i'm keeping of, any race
horses, or pack of hounds, or reside one
night at Newmarket, that Infamous
seminary of iniquity and ill-manners,
during the course of races there; or
shall resort to the said races, or shall
lose i'm any one day, at any bet or game
whatsoever, the sum of f5OO; then, in
any of the cases aforesaid it is my express
will that he, my said godson shall for
ACht anu Odt va tSe-htS thS sum va
Is 900 for the use of the Dean and Chap
ter OF Westminster"
Similarly Mr.. Davis, of Clapham, left,
"The sum of IS to Mary Davis, daugh-
ter Of Peter DelapOrt, which is sufficient
to enable her TO get drunk for the last
time at my expense"
And London bookseller, Mr.. Parker,
left i'm 1855, legacy of f50tO Eliza
beth, whom, through my foolish fond
ness, made my wife, without regard
to family, fame or fortune; and who,
in return, has not spared, most unjustly,
to accuse me of every crime regarding
human nature, save highway robbery"
To these instances may, perhaps, be
added the testament of Mr.. James
Robbins, who, in 1869,
"Set his face and will in favor of his
widow wearing widows weeds. He
ordered, In the event Of my dear wife
not complying with my request to wear
widows cap after my decease, and in
the event of her marrying again, then.
and in both such cases, the annuity which
shall be payable to her out of my estate
shall be f2O per annum, and not f3O."