The Arkansas Advocate

Curious Wills. -There are certain solemn and impressive associations connected with the "Last Will and Testament" of any human being. When a person is preparing a document of this
description, and pointing out the manner in which he wishes his property to be disposed of, after his death, it must come feelingly home to his bosom that in a few years perhaps days, he will cease to exist; and that men, in speaking of him, will say. " he was."

One would naturally suppose that at such a time no symptoms of levity would be exhibited; and that the last place to look for a receptacle of jokes would be in the Will of a deceased person. Neither should we expect to find there evidence of uncharitableness, a hardened heart, or unforgiving disposition.

That such unchristian feelings sometimes predominate, when a man is preparing this important paper, which is only to be read after his decease, we think the following curious abstracts from original Wills found in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, (Eng.) will clearly show:

GEORGE Applebee, late Rector of St. Bride's, London, proved August 7, 1733:-" My body, after being dressed in a flannel waistcoat, instead of a shirt, an old surtout coat, and breeches without linings or pockets, an old pair of stockings--shoes, I want none, (having done walking) and a worsted wig, if one can be got, I desire may be decently interred."

STEPHEN Swaine late of Clave. Southwark. proved February, 1770:--

I give and bequeath unto [blank], and Mary his wife, the sum of six-pence a piece, to buy them a halter, for fear the sheriffs should not be provided."

WILLIAM BRACKETT, Esquire, late governor of Plymouth, proved October, 1782:-"I desire my body may be kept as long as it may not be offensive, and that one of my toes or fingers may be cut off to secure a certainty of my being dead. I also make this farther request, to my dear wife, that as she has been troubled with one old fool, she will not think of marrying a second."

WILLIAM WILLIAMS, late of the island of Jamaica, esquire, deceased, proved October 21, 1768:--" I give and bequeath to that most abandoned, wicked, vile, detestable rogue and imposter, who has assumed, and now does, or lately did, go by the name of [blank], pretending to be a son of mine, one shilling only, to buy him a halter, wherewith to hang himself, being what he hath for a long, a very long while past, deserved from the law, and hands of the hangman, for his great and manifold villainies."

JOHN Goss, late of the city of Bristol, mariner, deceased, proved May 19. 1796.-"My executrix to pay out of the first moneys collected, unto my beloved wife, Hester Goss, (if living) the sum of one shilling, which I give her, as a token of my love, to buy hazelnuts, as I know she is better pleased with cracking them, than she is with mending the holes of her stockings."

JOHN Davis, late of Clapham, Surrey, woollen manufacturer, deceased, proved January 21,1788:--" I give and bequeath to Mary [blank], (daughter of Peter Delaporte.) the sum of five shillings, which is sufficient to enable her to get drunk with. for the last time at my expense; and I give the like sum of five shillings, to Charles Peter, (the son of the said Mary.) whom I am reputed to be the father of, but never had, nor never shall have any reason so to believe."