Ancient, Curious, and Famous WillsHarris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
History
Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills
Harris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
Wills
“‘To my sister-in-law Mimma, I leave my triangular silver inkstand which
stands upon my best writing-table, together with one of the two little
boxes of Florentine mosaic which are in the same room.
“‘To my sister-in-law Vittoria, I leave the silver basin and vase of
English work which are in the case. To my niece Emma, wife of Agostino,
I leave all my lace. To her good mother, Contessa Garcia, I leave the
little service of silver-gilt, consisting of tray, coffee-pot,
cream-jug, sugar-bowl, and cups, with spoons, requesting her to accept
them as a remembrance of one who is grateful to her for all the kindness
she used towards him while he was in this world, and who prays her to
make use of the said objects for her _déjeûner_.
“‘G. Card. Antonelli.
“‘Rome, January 18th, 1871.’”
Then follow the attestation of the notary and the signatures of Cardinal
Antonelli’s lawyer, of the Prætor, and of the witnesses, and the note of
expenses of registration.
WILL OF MATTHEW ARNOLD
The estate of Matthew Arnold amounted to £1041. His will is in his own
handwriting, and is one of the shortest that ever came under probate: “I
leave everything of which I die possessed to my wife, Frances.”
WILL OF JEAN BAPTISTE ROBERT AUGER
Jean Baptiste Robert Auger, Baron de Montyon, was born in 1733 and died
in 1820; he was a French economist and philanthropist, and a friend of
Franklin. The Baron was a member of the King’s Government just before
the Revolution. Although by birth and social position an aristocrat, all
his heart was with the poor and suffering of the land.
In 1783 he founded several prizes, the chief one being a prize for the
most remarkably virtuous act on the part of any poor French citizen. By
his will he left a large sum of money for the purpose of “aiding
virtue,” as he said. “The doers of the actions honored,” the will
stipulated, “shall not be of a station above the middle classes of
humanity.” The annual award of these prizes is made by the French
Academy.
As years have passed, other rich philanthropists have added to the
original sum, until to-day the income is sufficient to award every year
a large number of prizes that are really of substantial aid to those who
receive them.
For a number of years after the Government had received the bequest, it
did not make any awards. During the Revolution the convention voted that
it did not approve of awarding any such prizes; so the principal was
allowed to accumulate. But during the reign of Napoleon it was turned
over to the newly restored Academy as the most capable and impartial
tribunal in the land, and the Academy, which is composed of forty
foremost men of letters in France, has had charge of the constantly
increasing fund ever since.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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