APPENDIX TO 
the leading circumstances of the 
case, was of opinion that they 
were fully proved, and he had 
therefore no. hesitation in pro- 
nouncing for the validity of the 
substance of the will, as contained 
in the affidavit of the children’s 
guardian. He also observed that 
Mr. Darbon had acted in a manner 
highly creditable to himself in 
taking the active part he had to 
obtain justice for the children 
under circumstances certainly of 
some difficulty. 
Shadwell and Shadwell v. Shad- 
well.— This was a question on the 
admission of an allegation, plead- 
ing certain alterations in the will 
of Lancelot Shadwell, Esq, late of 
Lincoln’s Inn, and Upper Gower- 
street, Bedford-square. 
It appeared that the deceased 
was an eminent conveyancer, and 
died on the 1st January last, pos- 
sessed of various estates and of 
personal property to the amount 
of about 23,000/. He left a wi- 
dow and thirteen children, seven 
by his former wife, and six by the 
last: He had, on the 5th of Fe- 
bruary, 1802; duly made his will 
attested by three witnesses. Se- 
veral alterations, however, had 
since taken place in his family 
circumstances. Four children had 
been born, two of whom are now 
living: his eldest daughter had 
married against his wishes: two 
of hissons had died abroad, and 
the nature of his property was 
much altered. He had in con- 
sequence repeatedly expressed his 
intention of altering his will, par- 
ticularly on account of his daugh- 
ter’s marriage ; and one day when 
at his country house at Plaistow, 
CHRONICLE. 
said he was going to town for 
that purpose, and on his return 
said hehad madethe alterations he 
intended. After his death one of 
the wills of Feb. 5, 1803, was 
found in a closet of which he kept 
the key amongst other papers of 
importance, with several altera- 
tions on it in the deceased’s hand- 
writing, such as the striking 
through the amount of some of 
the legacies, and the names of 
some of the children, and substi- 
tuting others, and confirming 
another will he had made, merely 
relating to some trust property in 
his name at the Bank. 
The admission of the allegation 
pleading these facts, was opposed, 
on the ground that they were not 
sufficient torepel the presumption, 
that the alterations were delibe- 
rative merely, and not intended 
to operate by the deceased ; and 
in support of this argument, the 
counsel relied much on the cir- 
cumstance of the deceased being 
the eminent conveyancer he was, 
in consequence of which, as they 
contended, he must have been so 
alive to the consequences ofhaving 
his will in so imperfect astate, as 
to render it very improbable that 
he should do so if he really meant 
the alterations upon it to take 
effect. 
Sir John Nicholl thought avery 
different inference was tobedrawn 
from the professional knowledge 
ofthe deceased. He knew very 
well that mere verbal alterations 
would be sufficient as to any be- 
quests of personal property ; and 
it was very likely that he who was 
somuch engaged with the business 
of others should (without mean- 
ing to cast any reflection on the 
265 
