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act of business in the life of one who was so circumspect upon nearly 

 every other occasion, the characteristic precaution of our departed 

 fellow-member seems to have been forgotten by him. The will of 

 Mr. Gilpin is believed to have been prepared by him some weeks, 

 and perhaps even months, before it was executed. It was then writ- 

 ten by himself, without conference or consultation with any one. It 

 was not at any time exhibited or made known even to his wife, be- 

 tween whom and himself unlimited confidence prevailed. One offer 

 or more was made by him to that effect, which was declined by her 

 from motives of delicacy, or a feeling of tenderness and sensibility ; 

 and the contents were not actually known by her either before or 

 after its execution, either in the original draught or final copy by the 

 scrivener. He could scarcely have been aware of the extremity of 

 his illness, and how nearly he had approached its fatal end, or the 

 formal completion of the needful work would not have been delayed 

 so long. He may, in a condition of much and increasing feebleness, 

 have lost sight at the moment of the recent law of Pennsylvania, 

 forbidding at the approach of death bequests to bodies politic or per- 

 sons, in trust for religious or charitable uses. Or he may have 

 hazarded a construction of the terms of the statute, which will give 

 rise to difficulty. It would have been clearer and better for his 

 cherished views, if the will had been made perfect in all respects, 

 immediately after the original was written by his own hand. This 

 original was destroyed, and a copy, literal in all particulars, was 

 adopted. This was executed on the 17th of January, 1860, in the 

 presence of three witnesses, in due and sufficient form. The life of 

 the testator was then drawing towards its close, with all the percep- 

 tions of a bright intellect altogether unimpaired. He lived but twelve 

 days afterwards. On the 29th of January, 1860, he breathed his 

 last. Probate in the proper office was made on the od of February. 

 Each event occurred within less than thirty days of the date and 

 execution of the will. 



It has been feared by some that the course of these transactions 

 may prove to have been unfortunate for the ultimate objects of bounty 

 and public spirit, named in the testament. A calendar month cer- 

 tainly did not elapse between the date of the instrument and the 

 melancholy event which prevented the possibility of explanation or 

 correction by the hand that made it, if such should be found to have 

 been important. If these fears have any foundation, a counterpart 

 may be made to appear of the maxim which claims good fortune for 

 the legitimate offspring of discretion, by exhibiting evil fortune as 



