ALEXANDER GORDON, THE ANTIQUARY. 143 



have and to hold the same unto the said John Hey wood, his heirs 

 and assignees for ever. Item, I give, devise, and beqvieath unto my 

 son Alexander Gordon, my own picture, together with all and sin- 

 gular the paintings, views, and other the representations by me the 

 said testator, painted, drawn, and represented, to have and to hold 

 the same, and each and any of them, unto my said son, his heirs and 

 assignees for ever." 



TJien, after dealing with his silver watch, gold ring, and his lot of 

 land in Ansonborough, with all the houses erected on it, in about as 

 many words; he next disposes of "all and singular other my pic- 

 tures hereinbefore not particularly given ;" and so, relieved of the 

 trouble of such secondary matters, he comes to the grand prize on 

 which his own fame, the fortunes of his heirs, and the enlightenment 

 of the world at large, are to depend, and thus proceeds : 



" Item, it is my express will and desire, and I do hereby order and 

 direct, that my said son shall, as conveniently as may be, cause to 

 be printed and published my book now remaining in manuscrijjt, and 

 tituled 'A Critical Essay towards the illustrating the History and 

 Chronology of the Egyptians and other most Ancient Nations, from 

 the earliest ages on record till the times of Alexander the Great,' 

 &c., &c. Item, I give, devise, and bequeath unto my said son two- 

 thirds parts, the whole in tliree equal parts to be divided, of all and 

 every such sum and sums of money that shall aiise and accrue from 

 the printing and publication of the said book, to have and to hold 

 the same unto my said son, his heirs and assignees for ever. Itein, 

 [ give, devise, and bequeath unto my said daughter, Frances Char- 

 lotte Gordon, the remaining third part or share of all and singular 

 such sum and sums of money so arising and accriiing from the print- 

 ing and publishing of the said book, to have and to hold the same 

 unto my said daughter, her heirs and assignees." 



Happily for his heirs, this precious bequest was accompanied with 

 more easily realisable property. We will hope that both Alexander 

 and Frances Charlotte Gordon estimated with all filial reverence the 

 invaluable Critical Essay ; but it is to be feared that, with the death 

 of the author, its only probable reader within the bounds of the 

 Province, or indeed of the whole Colonial settlements of North 

 America, had passed away. The circumstances and tastes of a young 

 Colony were not encouraging, whatever may have been the zeal which 

 animated the inheritors of tliis unique bequest. The convenient time 



