The idea of this book is the writer’s own. It was inevitable that the idea should have been anticipated, but of such anticipation I was unaware until the book was under weigh. The nearest approaches which I have read are Mrs. Byrne’s “Curiosities of the Search Room: A Collection of Serious and Whimsical Wills” (1880), and Walter Tegg’s “Wills of Their Own: Curious, Eccentric, and Benevolent” (1876), to both of which I acknowledge indebtedness. But those who are interested should repair, if possible, to their entertaining pages. An earlier anticipatory volume is G. Peignot’s excellent “Choix de Testamens Anciens et Modernes, Remarquables par leur Importance, leur Singularité, ou leur Bizarrerie” (1829). Since these essays were written Mr. Virgil M. Harris, of St. Louis, Missouri, has published at Boston, U.S.A., a large collection of wills under the title, “Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills,” a work, however, distinct in scope and style from the present book. Scattered about these pages are instances of wills, &c., gathered from newspapers from time to time. This source, also, is gratefully recognised. Lastly, I have to express my thanks to Mr. Fincham, of Somerset House, for affording me facilities to introduce two or three excellent illustrations of my theme. Other references are mentioned in the text. If any work to which I am indebted in any respect has not been acknowledged, I trust I may be accorded a ready pardon. E. VINE HALL. _Wimbledon._ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE PREFACE 7 I. THE ROMANCE OF WILLS 13 II. WILLS NOT FULFILLED 59 III. DR. JOHNSON’S WILL 69 IV. DEATH-BED DISPOSITIONS 82 V. WILLS BY WORD OF MOUTH 93 VI. THE POLYCODICILLIC WILL 106 VII. EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY PIETY 113 VIII. THE DEAD HAND 123 IX. WILLS OF FANCY AND OF FANTASY 134 X. STRIFE 148 XI. LOVE AND GRATITUDE 159 XII. THE SERVANT PROBLEM 169 XIII. ANIMALS AND PETS 178 XIV. THE WAY OF ALL FLESH 187 XV. BURIALS AND FUNERALS 197 XVI. WILLS AND GHOSTS 230 The Romance of Wills and Testaments CHAPTER I THE ROMANCE OF WILLS I “The older I grow,” Mr. E. V. Lucas has said, “the less, I find, do I want to read about anything but human beings.... But human beings, as human beings, are not enough; they must, to interest me, have qualities of simplicity or candour or quaintness.”