“I give to my sister, Mercia Doxey, the sum of £5000; and to the niece of my wife actually residing with us at Hampton, the sum of £1000. “Should the above-named legacies exceed the fund assigned to their payment, each legatee shall submit to a reduction in his legacy, proportioned to its amount, until the death of my wife; after that event, and on the sale of Hampton, the sums thus withheld shall be made up out of the amount produced by that sale. “Should there, on the other hand, be more than sufficient to cover these legacies, I will that such surplus be divided in equal portions among my nearest relations according to the order observed with those who die intestate. “In pursuance of this my last will, I name the within-mentioned my executors, and in token thereof I here sign and seal this document with my arms this 24th day of September, 1778. “(Signed) DAVID GARRICK. “Sic transit gloria mundi.” * * * * * By this testament it appears that David Garrick, the portionless son of a half-pay captain, had earned by his own unaided talents a fortune amounting in money to nearly £50,000, besides his superb estate at Hampton, with its islands, farms, orchards, and appurtenances; his property at Hendon; his houses in London; the theatre at Drury Lane; his costly furniture, valuable plate, china, wines, library, statues, pictures, and other works of art, horses, carriages, etc. When we compare this splendid fortune with that of Shakespeare, who could only leave to his wife his “second best bed, with the furniture,” we are tempted to wonder why the fickle goddess should have so much more highly favored him who exhibited the fruits of genius than him who produced them. WILL OF LORD HAILES Lord Hailes (Sir David Dalrymple), a Lord of Session, appointed in 1766, died in 1792, apparently without a will. Great search was made, no testamentary paper could be discovered, the heir-at-law was about to take possession of his estates, to the exclusion of his daughter and only child, and Miss Dalrymple prepared to retire from New Hailes, and from the mansion-house in New Street. Some of her domestics, however, were sent to lock up the house in New Street, and, in closing the window-shutters, there dropped out upon the floor, from behind a panel, Lord Hailes’ will, which was found to secure her in the possession of his estates. WILL OF THOMAS HOOD, THE POET “DEVONSHIRE LODGE, NEW FINCHLEY ROAD, “ST. JOHN’S WOOD, February 7th, 1845. “It is my last Will and desire that ‘Nash’s Hall’s’ be given, in my name, to my dear William and Georgiana Elliot, in recognition of their brotherly and sisterly affection and kindness. “My ‘Knight’s Shakspeare’s,’ for a like reason, to dear Robert Elliot. “‘Chaucer or Froissart,’ as he may prefer, to F. Reseigh Ward, Harvey, Phillips, and Hardman, to select a book apiece for remembrance. “‘Nimrod’s Sporting’ to Philip de Franck.