352 



resulting from its absence at a critical moment. At the same time 

 a signal proof may be afforded how the uniform facility with which 

 discretion and success have gone along hand-in-hand together, with 

 scarcely a failure, during a somewhat protracted life, may together 

 cease as it approaches its close. 



The will is peculiar, and strongly indicative of the character of 

 the framer. With some small exceptions, the great bulk of a large 

 estate is given in terms of warm affection and gratitude to the writer's 

 amiable wife for her life. This is happily subject to no sort of con- 

 tingency. It will take effect and be enjoyed by her in immediate 

 and undisputed possession. This large endowment is accompanied 

 by requesting her, however, to pay therefrom to his mother, whom 

 he mentions in terms of the strongest endearment, annually, during 

 her life, the sum of two thousand live hundred dollars. He gives 

 to his wife absolutely all his furniture of every description, plate, 

 and wines, except his books, manuscript and printed, and his pic- 

 tures, statues, and works of art; and of these she is to have the 

 uncontrolled use and possession during her life. Should his mother 

 outlive his wife, he gives her, during her life, the income of his 

 estate. Subject to the gift, devise, and bequest to his wife and 

 mother, which he desires to be carried into full effect, he gives to 

 the executors and trustees named in the will all his estate, real and 

 personal, in trust for the following purposes. After the death of his 

 wife and mother, whichever shall last occur, and after the entire 

 payment of certain bequests, then to appropriate, &c., the rest and 

 residue of the estate, as it may then be, in three equal parts. First, 

 one-third part to certain trustees named, in trust, to invest and rein- 

 vest the same at interest in public stocks of the city of Philadelphia ; 

 and after a period of ten years, and as much longer as they may 

 deem expedient, then to appropriate the income accumulated up to 

 that time to the erection of a fire-proof library building, to be a part 

 of a fire-proof edifice of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, when 

 one shall be erected, to be in itself fire-proof, entirely distinct from 

 any other portion of the said edifice, though connected with and 

 forming a part of it; and to be designated "The Gilpin Library of 

 the Historical Society of Pennsylvania." After the Society's edifice 

 and this library building shall be finished, then to appropriate to the 

 use of the Gilpin Library animally the entire income of the said one- 

 third part of the rest and residue, and to continue to invest and rein- 

 vest the principal in the public stocks aforesaid. He also directs the 

 executors and trustees of his will to deliver to the last-named trus- 



