"for her fole ufe; and that the money ari❝fing therefrom fhall not be liable to the

66

payment of the debts, or to the fale or "affignment of the faid George Anne Bella"my, or to the payment of the debts, power, "controul, of any perfon fhe may hereafter "marry. But in cafe of the death of the "faid George Anne Bellamy in the life-time "of my faid brother, then in trust, from and. "and immediately after her death, to transfer "the faid feven hundred pounds three per "cent. confolidated annuities to him, his. "executors, administrators, and affigns.

"All the reft, refidue, and remainder of "my perfonal eftate whatsoever or where"foever, that I fhall be poffeffed of at the "time of my decease, I do hereby give and. "bequeath unto my executors hereafter "named, in truft, to fell and difpofe of the "fame, with all convenient fpeed, next after

my decease; and with the monies arifing "from fuch fale thereof, purchase an an"nuity, to be fecured in their own names, " and at their own difcretion, for and du"ring the natural life of the faid George Anne "Bellamy. And I do hereby direct, and it "is my exprefs will and defire, that my faid "executors, and the furvivors of them, do "and fhall, from time to time, receive the "faid annuity, as the fame fhall from time

to time become quarterly due and pay"able, and then pay the fame perfonally to

"the

"the faid George Anne Bellamy; and whofe "receipt alone fhall, from time to time, be a "discharge to my executors and trustees for "the fame. And it is my further exprefs

will, intent, and direction, that the faid "annuity fhall be for her fole ufe; and that "the money arifing therefrom shall not be "liable to any debts, or to the fale or af"fignment of the faid George Anne Bellamy,

or to the payment of debts, power, or "controul, or difpofal of any person she may "hereafter marry.

"And lastly, I do hereby nominate, con"ftitute, and appoint, the aforefaid Wil"liam Bromfield, Efq; and the faid Mafon "Cornish, executors and trustees of this my "will, hereby revoking and making void "all former wills by me at any time here"tofore made, and hereby declaring this "my laft will and teftament. In witnefs "whereof, I the faid Henry Woodward have, "to this my laft will and teftament, fet my "hand and feal, this 20th day of January, "in the year of our Lord 1777.

"Signed,

" HENRY WOODWARD.

"Signed, fealed, publifhed, and declared "by the faid Henry Woodward, as and

"for his laft will and teftament, in the

"prefence of us,

"ANNE PITT,

"E. WILLET.

"No. 89, Wardour-ftreet, Soho."

Thus have I laid before you (I addrefs myfelf again to you) the contents of the laft will and teftament of my dear departed friend. Nothing can be more clearly expreffed, or more plainly intended for my benefit than it is.-One would imagine, that it was next to impoffible to counteract the kind intent of it.-And yet, from the most unaccountable perverfion of it, no benefit has, as yet, arifen to me from it.-Could the worthy teftator look out from his grave, and fee what steps have been taken, his honeft heart would bound with indignant pulfations. But I will not anticipate the circumstances.

G. A. B.

LE T

LETTER XCIV.

January 18, 17

T

HE very great attention I paid Mr. Woodward during his illness greatly affected my health, as he feemed not to be fatisfied with any other perfon's being near him, or doing any thing for him, but the fürgeons and myfelf. Indeed, his fituation was fo critical, that had he not been treated with the utmoft care, he could not have been retained in this world fo long. During the feven months of his indifpofition, I went into a bed but eleven nights. The eve of his departure I was fo greatly indifpofed, that nature, wearied out, could fupport no longer; and I was obliged to retire, leaving him to the care of a gentlewoman who was my intimate, and who, as he was very partial to her, fhared in giving her affiftance.

He bore this long and painful illness with the greatest refignation and fortitude. The morning of his death, Mr. Bromfield haftened. out of his room in tears; for upon his faying, "God b'w'ye, Harry!" my dying friend replied, with the utmoft compofure, and an affecting tendernefs in the modulation of his voice, Farewel! I fhall never fee you "more!" When I approached the bed to give him his medicine,, he regretted not

having fufficient power to repay my unwearied attention; and then taking me by the hand with fome agitation, he faid, "I "am going. Lord have mercy upon me!" and expired.

Thus ended a man, who was as eminent for rectitude, honour, probity, morality, and religion, as he was allowed great in his profeffion. And though eulogies to his memory were unneceffary, his worth, both as an actor and as a valuable member of society, being fo well known, yet it has been often a matter of furprize to me, that among the number of his friends and of his contemporaries at Merchant-Taylors School, there appeared no public tribute to his merit, except fome lines upon the occafion written by the reverend Mr. Madden.

Upon his demife, I gave way to that grief I had endeavoured to fmother during his life-time; and indeed, I must have been the moft ungrateful woman breathing, after the repeated obligations he had conferred upon me, had I not paid every tribute to his memory. So extreme were my forrows, that I was immediately feized with a fever, which for fome days rendered me infenfible.

At this time I was ftill indebted to Lazarus the jeweller, whom I have already mentioned. His fon-in-law Solomon being his. heir, upon hearing of the legacy Mr. Wood

ward