Mr. CONGREVE's Laſt Will and Teſtament, WITH CHARACTERS OF HIS WRITINGS.
BY Mr. DRYDEN, Sir RICHARD BLACKMORE, Mr. ADDISON and Major PACK.
To which are added, Two Pieces, viz.
- I. Of rightly Improving the preſent Time. An Epiſtle from Mr. CONGREVE to the Right Ho⯑nourable RICHARD Lord Viſcount COBHAM.
- II. The GAME of QUADRILLE. An ALLEGORY.
LONDON: Printed for E. CURLL in the Strand, 1729. (Price One Shilling.)
A TRUE COPY OF THE Laſt Will and Teſtament of William Congreve, Eſq
[1]E' Regiſtro Curiae Praerogat. Cantuar. Extract.
THIS is the laſt Will of me William Congreve, of the Pa⯑riſh of St. Clement-Danes, Weſtminſter, in the County of Middleſex, Eſq made [2] the twenty-ſixth Day of February, Anno Dom. 1725; And firſt I deſire, and direct, that my Funeral ſhall be pri⯑vately performed, without the leaſt Oſtentation, and the Place where, I refer to my Executor to appoint.
I give to the ſeveral Perſons here⯑in after named, the reſpective Lega⯑cies following (that is to ſay) To * * * * * * * * * ** my Intention is, that the following Legacies be given to the reſpective Perſons herein named, as if they were inſerted in the blank Space left in this Will for that pur⯑poſe.
IMPRIMIS, I give and bequeath to Anne Jellet, twenty Pounds a Year during her Life.
[3] Item, To William Congreve, Son of Colonel William Congreve of Highgate, and my Godſon, three hundred Pounds.
To Mrs. Anne Congreve, Daughter to my late Kinſman Colonel Ralph Congreve of Clarges-ſtreet, two hun⯑dred Pounds.
To Mrs. Anne Bracegirdle, of How⯑ard-ſtreet, two hundred Pounds.
To Mrs. Francis Porter, fifty Pounds.
Item, To Mrs. Deborah Rooke, one hundred Pounds, with all my Linnen and Apparel; for other leſs Legacies, I leave them as ſpecified in a Codi⯑cil incloſed in the Duplicate of this Will, and left in the Cuſtody of the Dutcheſs of Marlborough * * * * * * **
[4] ALL the Reſt and Reſidue of my Eſtate, the ſame conſiſting in perſonal Things only (not having any Lands, or other real Eſtate) I give and be⯑queath to the Dutcheſs of Marlbo⯑rough, the now Wife of Francis Earl of Godolphin in the County of Corn⯑wall; but not ſo as to veſt in him the ſaid Earl of Godolphin, the equitable Right and Intereſt of ſuch Reſt and Reſidue, but that the ſame and every Part thereof; and the Intereſt, Pro⯑duce, and Benefit thereof; ſhall and may, at all times, from and after my Deceaſe, be had and received by her the ſaid Dutcheſs, namely, Henrietta, Dutcheſs of Marlborough, to her ſole and ſeparate Uſe, and wherewith her ſaid Husband, or any after-taken Huſ⯑band, of her the ſaid Dutcheſs of Marl⯑borough, ſhall not intermeddle, or have [5] any controuling Power over, nor ſhall the ſaid Reſt and Reſidue, or the Inte⯑reſt and Produce thereof, be liable to the Debts and Incumbrances of the ſaid Earl of Godolphin, or of any af⯑ter-taken Husband, of her the ſaid Dutcheſs of Marlborough, in any wiſe; but ſhall be had and received, iſſued and paid, as ſhe the ſaid Dutcheſs of Marlborough, ſhall by writing under her Hand, from time to time direct and appoint; and her own Acquittance ſhall be a ſufficient diſcharge for all, or any Part of the Eſtate ſo given to her as aforeſaid. And in Confidence of the Honeſty and Juſtice of him the ſaid Francis Earl of Godolphin, I do hereby conſtitute and appoint him, the ſole Executor of this my Will, in Truſt, for his ſaid Wife, as aforeſaid. [6] In Witneſs whereof, I have hereun⯑to ſubſcribed my Name, and ſet my Seal, the Day and Year aforeſaid.
- TIMO. KIPLIN,
- THOMAS SWAN.
THE Duplicate WILL and CODICIL.
[7]THIS is the laſt Will of me William Congreve, of the Pa⯑riſh of St. Clement-Danes, Weſtminſter, in the County of Middleſex, Eſq made the twenty-ſixth of February, Anno Dom. 1725. And firſt I deſire and direct, that my Funeral ſhall be pri⯑vately performed without the leaſt O⯑ſtentation, and the Place where, I re⯑fer to my Executor to appoint. I give to the ſeveral Perſons herein af⯑ter-named, the reſpective Legacies fol⯑lowing (that is to ſay) To * * * * * * * * **
[8] Legacies intended to be inſerted in the blank Space of this Will, and which I deſire may be paid, tho' any Thing ſhould prevent my inſerting them with my own Hand, in Man⯑ner as I have filled up the other Blanks in the ſame.
IMPRIMIS, To Anne Jellet, twen⯑ty Pounds a Year for her Life.
Item, To my Godſon William Con⯑greve, Son of Colonel William Con⯑greve of Highgate, three hundred Pounds.
Item, To Anne Congreve, Daughter of the late Colonel Ralph Congreve of Clarges-ſtreet, two hundred Pounds.
[9] Item, To Mrs. Anne Congreve, Her Mother, and to Colonel William Con⯑greve of Highgate, each twenty Pounds.
Item, To Mrs. Anne Bracegirdle of Howard-ſtreet, two hundred Pounds.
Item, To Mrs. Deborah Rook, one hundred Pounds, and all my wearing Apparel and Linnen of all Sorts.
Item, To Mrs. Francis Porter, fifty Pounds.
Item, To Peter Walter, Eſq of St. Margaret Weſtminſter, twenty Pounds.
Item, To Richard Lord Viſcount Cobham, and Richard Lord Viſcount Shannon, twenty Pounds each.
Item, To Charles Mein, Eſq and Mr. [10] Edward Porter, and Mr. Joſhua White, twelve Pounds each.
Item, To her Grace Henrietta Dutcheſs of Newcaſtle, I give and be⯑queath the Dutcheſs of Marlborough's Picture, by Kneller.
Item, To the Lady Mary Godolphin, youngeſt Daughter to the Dutcheſs of Marlborough, I give and bequeath her Mother's Picture Enamelled, in Mi⯑niature, together with my white Bril⯑liant Diamond Ring.
Item, To Colonel Charles Churchill, twenty Pounds, together with my Gold-headed Cane.
Item, To all and each of my Do⯑meſtick Servants, a Year's Wages, and proper Mourning.
[11] Item, To the Poor of the Pariſh, ten Pounds.
ALL the Reſt and Reſidue of my Eſtate, the ſame conſiſting in perſonal Things only (not having any Lands, or other real Eſtate) I give and be⯑queath to Henrietta, Dutcheſs of Marl⯑borough, the now Wife of Francis Earl of Godolphin in the County of Corn⯑wall; but not ſo as to veſt in him the ſaid Earl of Godolphin, the equitable Right and Intereſt of ſuch Reſt and Reſidue, but that the ſame and every Part thereof; and the Intereſt, Pro⯑duce, and Benefit thereof; ſhall and may, at all times, from and after my Deceaſe, be had and received by her the ſaid Dutcheſs of Marlborough, to her ſole and ſeparate Uſe, and where⯑with her ſaid Husband, or any aftertaken [12] Husband, of her the ſaid Dutcheſs of Marlborough, ſhall not in⯑termeddle, or have any controuling Power over, nor ſhall the ſaid Reſt and Reſidue, or the Intereſt and Produce thereof, be liable to the Debts and In⯑cumbrances of the ſaid Earl of Godol⯑phin, or of any after-taken Husband, of her the ſaid Dutcheſs of Marl⯑borough, in any wiſe; but ſhall be had and received, iſſued and paid, as ſhe the ſaid Dutcheſs of Marlborough, ſhall by writing under her Hand, from time to time direct and appoint; and her own Acquittance ſhall be a ſufficient Diſcharge for all, or any Part of the Eſtate ſo given to her as aforeſaid. And in Confidence of the Honeſty and Juſtice of him the ſaid Francis Earl of Godolphin, I do hereby conſti⯑tute and appoint him, the ſole Executor [13] of this my Will in Truſt, for his ſaid Wife as aforeſaid. In Witneſs whereof, I have hereunto ſubſcribed my Name, and ſet my Seal, the Day and Year aforeſaid.
- WILLIAM HUMPSTONE,
- GEORGE THORPE,
- JONATHAN WHITE.
WHEREAS I William Congreve, did by my laſt Will and Teſtament, bearing Date the ſixth Day of Februa⯑ry 1725; affix a Schedule of Lega⯑cies, written in my own Hand, over a blank Space left for that Purpoſe in the ſaid Will; I do hereby revoke and annual thoſe Legacies, excepting ſuch as are bequeathed to Perſons related to me, and bearing my own Hand; as alſo what is therein bequeathed to Mrs. Anne Jellet, and Mrs. Anne Bracegirdle; which ſaid Legacies, I do hereby con⯑firm, and do hereby revoke and annul, all other Legacies therein mentioned, or in the Counter-part of the ſaid Will, more at large ſet down; which Counter-part is by me left in Cuſtody of her Grace, Henrietta, Dutcheſs of Marlborough, my ſole Executrix, as is ſpecified in the ſaid Will and Counter-part [15] thereof; be it underſtood, that my Intention is by this Writing to revoke thoſe Legacies, not herein confirmed as above-mentioned, in ſuch manner only as to leave them abſolutely in the Power and Determination of the above⯑named Henrietta Dutcheſs of Marlbo⯑rough, my ſole Executrix, either to pay, or refuſe to pay to them, to take from them, or add to them, as ſhe ſhall judge the Perſons therein named, eſpeci⯑ally my Domeſtick Servants, therein mentioned, or not mentioned, may have merited of me,
- JOSEPH LEE.
- WILLIAM HUMPSTONE.
PROBATUM Londini cum quatuor Codicillis ſive ſchedulis teſtamentis, annex: tertio Die Menſis Februarij 1728. Coram venli viro Georgio Paul, legum Doctore ſurrog: &c. Jurato prenobilis, & honli viri Franciſci Comitis: de Godolphin, Extris unici, &c. Cui, &c. De bene & Jurat. Lata prius ſententia definitiva pro valore, & validitate dicti teſtamenti prout, ex actis curiae liquet.
Mr. CONGREVE died about five o'Clock, on Sunday Morning, January the 19th 1728-9, at his Houſe in Surrey-ſtreet in the Strand, in the 57th Year of his Age; and on the Sunday following, January 26th, his Corps lay in State in the Jeruſalem Chamber; from whence, the ſame Evening, be⯑tween the Hours of Nine and Ten, it was carried, with great Decency and Solemnity, into King HENRY the VIIth's Chapel in Weſtminſter-Abbey, and Interred near the late Earl of Godol⯑phin. The PALL was ſupported by, I. the Duke of Bridgewater. II. Earl of Godolphin. III. Lord Cobham. IV. Lord Wilmington. V. The Honourable George Berkeley, Eſq VI. Brigadier⯑General Churchill. And Colonel Con⯑greve followed the Corps as Chief Mourner.
CHARACTERS OF Mr. CONGREVE.
[18]Mr. Addiſon's Character OF THE Old BATCHELOR. *
[19]IN the Character which gives Name to this Play, there is excellently re⯑preſented the Reluctance of a battered Debaucheé to come into the Trammels of Order and Decency: He neither languiſhes, nor burns, but frets for Love. The Gentlemen of more regular Behaviour, are drawn with much Spirit and Wit; and the Drama introduced by the Dialogue of the firſt Scene, with uncommon, yet natural Converſation. The Part of Fondlewife is a lively Image of the unſeaſonable Fondneſs of Age and Impotence.
Sir Richard Blackmore's CHARACTER OF THE Mourning Bride.*
[20]THIS Poem has received, and in my Opinion, very juſtly, uni⯑verſal Applauſe; being look'd on as the moſt perfect Tragedy that has been wrote in this Age. The Fable, as far as I can judge at firſt Sight, is a very artful and maſterly Contrivance; the Characters are well choſen and well [21] delineated; that of ZARA is admi⯑rable. The Paſſions are well touch'd, and skilfully wrought up. The Diction, proper, clear, beautiful, noble, and di⯑verſified agreeably to the Variety of the Subject. Vice, as it ought to be, is puniſh'd; and oppreſſed-Innocence at laſt rewarded. Nature appears very hap⯑pily imitated (excepting one or two doubtful Inſtances) thro' the whole Piece; in which there are no immodeſt Images or Expreſſions; no wild un⯑natural Rants, but (ſome Exceptions being allowed) all Things are chaſte, juſt, and decent.
This Tragedy, as I ſaid before, has mightily obtained, and that without the unnatural and fooliſh Mixture of Force and Buffoonery; without ſo much as a Song, or a Dance, to make it [22] more agreeable. By this it appears, that as a ſufficient Genius can recom⯑mend itſelf, and furniſh out abundant Matter of Pleaſure and Admiration, without the paultry Helps above named; ſo likewiſe, that the Taſte of the Nation is not ſo far deprav'd, but that a regular and chaſte Play will not only be forgiven, but highly ap⯑plauded.
Major PACK's SENTIMENTS IN His Eſſay on Study.
[23]CONGREVE of all the Mo⯑derns, ſeems to me, to have the righteſt Turn for Comedy. In all his Plays there is a great deal of lively and uncommon Humour, and ſuch as yet, for the moſt Part, is a Picture of true Life. Beſides, he hath raiſed the Vein of Ridicule, and made the STAGE, which had been too much proſtituted to the Mob, edifying to Perſons of the [24] firſt Condition. And as his Fable is Diverting, ſo is it wrought accord⯑ing to the ſtricteſt Rules.
The following EPISTLE, Of right⯑ly improving the preſent Time, written to Lord Cobham, is here printed from a Ma⯑nuſcript of the Author, with which I was obliged by a Perſon of the firſt Rank: The Public having been notoriouſly abuſed, by a very erroneous Copy, ſur⯑reptitiouſly obtained, by one LEWIS in Covent-Garden, and vended under the Cover of A. DODD, and E. NUTT.
VERSES To the Right Honourable the Lord Viſcount Cobham.
Of Improving the preſent Time.
[25]THE TRUE COPY OF AN AFFIDAVIT, Made before one of His Majeſty's Ju⯑ſtices of the Peace for the City of Weſtminſter.
[30]THAT four LADIES, whom the Deponent does not care to Name, repair nightly to a certain con⯑venient Place, near St. James's, to meet their GALLANTS of the firſt Rank; whom your Deponent will not Name, but ſo far deſcribe them, that two [31] of them are Sallow, and two of the ruddy Complexion; and that he verily believes, they were moſt abominably painted.
The LADIES when they begin their Gambols, call their GALLANTS by the fond Nick-names of Hercules, Cupid, Pit, and the Gardiner. After a plentiful Service of the moſt coſtly Fare, they begin their Tricks which they play like the Tumblers in Bartholomew-Fair upon a Carpet, ſtrip is the Word; nay, your Deponent has known them ſtrip a Gentleman who came acci⯑dently into the Houſe. At firſt, they begin pretty courtly, at leaſt in their Expreſſions, as, Madam, by your leave, or ſo; which the LADIES are ſo good as ſeldom to deny. Afterwards, it is ſhameful to deſcribe the Tricks that are play'd by this lewd Pack. By an eſtabliſhed [32] Rule, each Lady has the Choice of her Gallant in her Turn, and ſome have been known ſo unreaſonable, af⯑ter they have had Three, to call for a Fourth. Your Deponent has ſeen a Lady on her Back, a Man o'Top of her, and a Lady o'Top of him; and he avers, it has been known, that a Court Valet has ſtript them all. Sometimes they are thrown on their Backs, ſometimes on their Bellies now higgledy piggledy, and anon, they are all o'Top of one another; and if any one is call'd upon, they are oblig'd to ſhow ALL. Of the ſame Nature is their Diſcourſe, your Deponent has often over-heard them talking of their A—es, with the ſame Familiarity as their Faces; I have a Black one, ſays one, and named the Thing directly; mine is better than yours, ſays the other, [33] and Names her Thing; muſt I be laught at, ſays a Third, becauſe I have a red one. There is one monſtrous Thing that your Deponent is almoſt aſhamed to mention; after Six, a Lady has asked if they could do no more; nay, a certain Lady has been known to play all the Tricks over by her ſelf. Your Deponent likewiſe avers, that he has full Proof, after the LADIES have been tired with their GALLANTS, they have called for freſh ones: In ſhort the aforeſaid LADIES, have not only, ſpent their Pin-Money, but their Husband's Eſtates, upon Hercules, Cupid, Pit, and the Gardiner, and when they want more Money, they commonly Pawn their Jewels, &c.
P.S. The above Information is a faith⯑ful Deſcription of the GAME of QUADRILLE, not to be Litterally, but Allegorically, underſtood.
Appendix A
There is now in the Preſs,
MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS and Familiar Letters. By William Congreve, Eſq To which will be prefix'd, Memoirs of his Life, Wri⯑tings, and Amours. By Charles Wilſon, Eſq
Appendix B NEW BOOKS Printed for E. Curll in the Strand.
[]- I. THE LADIES PRESERVATIVE, in the three Chief Characteriſticks of BEAUTY, the HAIR, COMPLEXION, and TEETH. Moſt humbly Addreſſed to her Royal Highneſs, Prin⯑ceſs Amelia, and which was preſented to her, by the Author Mrs. SUSANNA GRAY, March 6th 1728-9. Price 6d.
- II. The Knowledge of Play. Written for Public Benefit, and the Entertainment of all Fair Players. Wherein, I. It is demonſtrated, that Fortune has not that Power in Play, which is commonly aſcri⯑bed to her. II. The Chances of the Games of Hazard, Pharao, and Baſſet, are calculated and de⯑termined; proving, that in Games of Judgment, Skill will always get the better of Chance. III. By detecting the Frauds in Play, that Eagerneſs for Gaming might be ſuppreſſed, to the Preſervation of Eſtates, and the Advancement of the Sciences. Tranſlated from the Latin Original of John Riz⯑zetti, with Improvements by Richard Seymour, Eſq Author of The Court Gameſter, and Deſigned as a ſecond Part of that Work. Addreſſed to the Prince of Wales. Price 2s. Bound.
- III. The Court Gameſter. Being full Inſtructi⯑ons for Playing at Ombre, Quadrille, Picquet, &c. Price 2s. 6d.
- IV. The Complete Gentleman and Gentlewoman. Being a Treatiſe of the politeſt Manner of educating Perſons of Diſtinction of both Sexes, and the Qualifications requiſite in People of all [] Ranks, from the Prince to the Private Gentleman. Interſperſed with curious Diſſertations on the Ac⯑compliſhments of Statuary, Painting, Poetry, Muſick, Dancing, Dreſs, Love, Marriage, &c. Tranſlated from the Italian Original of Balthaſar Count Caſtiglione. In four Books. Price 6s.
- V. The Supernatural Philoſopher: Or, the Myſteries of Magick, in all its Branches, clearly Unfolded. Containing, I. An Argument proving the Percep⯑tion which Mankind have, by all the Senſes, of Daemons, Genij, or Familiar Spirits, and of the ſe⯑veral Species of them both Good and Bad. II. A Philoſophical Diſcourſe concerning the Second Sight, demonſtrating it to be Hereditary to ſome Fa⯑milies. III. A full Anſwer to all Objections that can be brought againſt the Exiſtence of Spirits, Witches, &c. IV. Of Divination by Dreams, Spec⯑tres, Omens, Apparitions after Death, Predicti⯑ons, &c. V. Of Inchantment, Necromancy, Geo⯑mancy, Hydromancy, Aeromancy, Pyromancy, Chiromancy, Augury, and Aruſpicy. 8vo Price 5s.
N.B. Notwithſtanding the many Attempts to ſuppreſs ſo learned and curious a Work, there is juſt publiſhed in Two Volumes Octavo. (Price Half a Guinea) the Second Edition of, 1. Dr. BURNET's State of the Dead, and Thoſe that are to riſe. Shewing, 1. That the Soul is an immortal Sub⯑ſtance, diſtinct from the Body and from Matter. 2. Of the future State of the Soul, after the Cor⯑poreal Diſſolution; or, concerning the Middle State of Souls betwixt Death and the Reſurrecti⯑on, as to the Degrees of Happineſs and Miſery. With an Appendix concerning Prayers for the Dead. 3. The Natural State of Souls during the Interval of Death and the Reſurrection, whether [] they are naked and ſeparated from all Manner of Corporeal Subſtance, or are united to an Aerial one, or to ſome other. 4. Of the Supreme Judg⯑ment, its Apparatus, Manner, End, and Effect. 5. Of the Reſurrection of the Dead; the State of the raiſed, and of their Bodies. 6. What Bodies we are to have at the Reſurrection; whether the ſame with our preſent, or different ones there⯑from. 7. Of Heaven and Hell; what is the Hea⯑ven of the Chriſtians, and how far Local; what is Hell, and whether there is a ſubterraneous one or not; or any other Local, corporeal and ex⯑ternal one before the Day of Judgment and the Conflagration of the World. 8. Of the Pains of Hell; whether they are infinite, or finite, or no.
How I have treated Dr. Burnet, I leave to the gene⯑ral Senſe of Mankind; I have tranſlated him faith⯑fully, anſwered him impartially, dealt with him coolly, and ſet him right for publick Reading. M. EARBERY.
- VI. Dr. Burnet's Appendix to the State of the Dead. Tranſlated from the Latin Original (pub⯑liſhed by [...]. Wilkinſon, late of Lincolns-Inn, Over⯑ſeer of Dr. Burnet's Will) by Mr. Foxton. With ſome Account of the ſaid Wilkinſon's laſt Will and Teſtament. Price 2s. 6d.
- VII. Monſieur Simon's Diſſertation concerning the Heathen Notions of the State of the Dead. Done from the French by Mr. Morgan. Price 1s.
- VIII. Dr. Burnet's Archaeology. Being a Critical Enquiry into the Moſaic Account of the Crea⯑tion of the World, the Seat of Paradiſe, and the famous Dialogue between Eve and the Serpent. Alſo, His Commentary on his own Theory of the Earth, &c. Now publiſhed after a ſeven Years Suppreſſion (by Injunction) in the High Court of Chancery. In two Parts. Price 6s.
- [] The Lives and Laſt Wills and Teſta⯑ments of the following Perſons.
- WILLS of the,
- 1. Earl of Halifax,
- 2. Mr. Addiſon,
- 3. Mr. Prior,
- 4. Mr. Locke,
- 5. Mr. Nelſon,
- 6. Dr. Radcliffe,
- 7. Dr. Williams,
- 8. Dr. South,
- 9. Dr. Hickes,
- 10. Dr. Burnet,
- 11. Bp. Burnet,
- 12. Mr. Partridge,
- 13. Mr. Mahomet, Ser⯑vant to his late Ma⯑jeſty.
Any of theſe may be had ſingle.
- LIVES of,
- 1. Archbiſhop Tillotſon,
- 2. Biſhop Atterbury,
- 3. Biſhop Curll,
- 4. Elias Aſhmore Eſq
- 5. Duke Hamilton,
- 6. Duke of Leeds,
- 7. Earl of Godolphin,
- 8. Earl of Ranelaugh,
- 9. Earl Rivers,
- 10. Lord Mohun,
- 11. Lieut. Gen. Wood,
- 12. Ar. Manwayring Eſq
- 13. Mr. Richard Cromwell.
The four firſt may be had ſingle, the nine laſt are all in one Volume.
(Price 6s. Bound.)
All ſold by E. Curll.
- WILLS of the,
- Zitationsvorschlag für dieses Objekt
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 4589 Mr Congreve s last will and testament with characters of his writings By Mr Dryden Sir Richard Blackmore Mr Addison and Major Pack To which are added two pieces viz I Of rightly improving. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5A88-6