Montaigne, the celebrated essayist and philosopher, is stated to have got over any difficulties in the way of carrying out his testamentary intentions by the happy expedient of calling all the persons named in his will around his deathbed, and counting out to them severally the bequests he had made them. Any doubtful testator might usefully follow Montaigne’s example, but there is always the risk of the donor getting better, and finding himself penniless. A small farmer in Suffolk, England, being very ill, was advised by his affectionate relatives to distribute his money, and thus save legacy duty. He did so, but got well again; he did not, however, recover the amount he had distributed, and the poor old farmer had to seek relief from the parish. WILL OF NAPOLEON In Scott’s “Life of Napoleon Buonaparte,” published in 1828, is a complete copy of this celebrated document, the first division of which is as follows: “Napoleon. “This 15th April, 1821, at Longwood, Island of St. Helena. This is my Testament, or act of my last Will. I “1. I die in the apostolical Roman religion, in the bosom of which I was born, more than fifty years since. “2. It is my wish that my ashes may repose on the banks of the Seine, in the midst of the French people, whom I have loved so well. “3. I have always had reason to be pleased with my dearest wife, Marie Louise. I retain for her to my last moment, the most tender sentiments--I beseech her to watch, in order to preserve my son from the snares which yet environ his infancy. “4. I recommend to my son, never to forget that he was born a French prince, and never to allow himself to become an instrument in the hands of the triumvirs who oppress the nations of Europe; he ought never to fight against France, or to injure her in any manner; he ought to adopt my motto--‘Everything for the French people.’ “5. I die prematurely, assassinated by the English oligarchy.... The English nation will not be slow in avenging me. “6. The two unfortunate results of the invasions of France when she had still so many resources, are to be attributed to the treason of Marmont, Augerau, Talleyrand and La Fayette. “I forgive them--may the posterity of France forgive them like me! “7. I thank my good and most excellent mother, the Cardinal, my brothers Joseph, Lucien, Jerome, Pauline, Caroline, Julie, Hortense, Catarine, Eugénie, for the interest which they have continued to feel for me. I pardon Louis for the libel which he published in 1820; it is replete with false assertions and falsified documents.