34 ALEXANDER GORDON, THE ANTIQUARY. 



His son appeai-s to have followed the last of the many professional 

 vocations of the versatile Scot, as I find among the members of " the 

 Union Kilwinning Lodge No. 4, Charleston, under the jurisdiction 

 of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasoiis of South Carolina," 

 Alexander Gordon, Attorney-at-Law, admitted in 1756. 



But the most interesting and authentic of all documentary evi- 

 dence is the last will and testament of the old antiquary, for a certi- 

 fied copy of which I am indebted to the courtesy of George Buist, 

 Esq., Judge of the Court of Probate of Charleston, the descendant of 

 the Rev. Dr. Buist, a Scottish clergyman of early colonial times. It 

 is dated the 22nd August, 1754, the testator being then "sick and 

 weak of body, but of sound mind, memory and understanding, 

 thanks be given to Almighty God for the same." It proceeds thus : 

 "As to the worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me 

 with, I give the same and dispose thereof in manner following," — 

 and then follows, very characteristically, this somewhat apocryphal ■ 

 " worldly estate : " "I give, devise and bequeath unto the Honorable 

 Hector Berenger De Beaufain, Esq., his picture, portrait, or effigies, 

 by me, the said testatoi', painted, drawn, and represented." In like 

 manner he bequeaths to the Reverend John Heywood a similar por- 

 trait of himself; while to his son, Alexander Gordon, he leaves "my 

 own picture, together with all and singular the paintings, views and 

 rejDresentations by me, the said testator, painted, drawn, and repre- 

 sented." He next apportions to his daughter, Frances Charlotte, 

 his silver watch, and to his son his gold ring : and then follow the 

 more substantial bequest to his son and daughter, of a lot of land 

 in Ansonborough, with the houses thereon, " with all and singular 

 other my pictures hereinbefore and not particularly given," with the 

 plate and household furniture, to be equally divided between them ; 

 and those all disposed of, the dying antiquary thus crowns his grate- 

 ful bequ.ests : "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 manuscript, and tituled, A Critical Essay towards the Elustrating 

 the History and Chronology of the Egyptians and other most ancient 

 nations, from the earliest ages on record till the time of Alexander 

 the Great, &c., &c., &c." ; and then the testator bequeaths to his said 

 , son two-thirds of all the profits to accrue from this invaluable publica- 

 tion, and to his aforesaid daughter the remaining third ! It is to be 



