"an annuity to be fecured in their own name, " and at their own difcretion, for and during the "natural life of George Anne Bellamy. And I "do hereby direct, and it is my exprefs will, "intent, and defire, that my faid executors and "trustees, and the furvivor of them, do and fhall, "from time to time, receive the faid annuity, as “the same shall become quarterly due and pay“able, and then pay the fame personally to the "faid George Anne Bellamy; and that her re"ceipt alone fhall, from time to time, be a dif"charge to my executors and trustees for the "fame. And it is my further exprefs will, in"tent, and direction, that the faid annuity fhall «be for her sole use; and that the money arifing "therefrom. fhall not be liable to the payment of "the debts, or to the fale or affignment of the "faid George Anne Bellamy, or to the payment "of the debts, power, controul, of any person she

may hereafter marry. But in cafe of the death "of the faid George Anne Bellamy in the life"time of my faid brother, then in truft, from and “immediately after her death, to transfer the "feven hundred pounds three per cent. confoli"dated annuitites to him, his executors, admini"ftrators, and affigns.

"All

"All the reft, refidue, and remainder of my "perfonal estate whatsoever or wherefoever, that "I fhall be poffeffed of at the time of my decease, "I do hereby give and bequeath unto my exe-. "cutors hereafter named in trust, to fell and dif

pofe of the fame, with all convenient fpeed, "next after my decease; and with the monies "arifing from fuch fale thereof, purchase an an"nuity, to be secured in their own names, and at "their own difcretion, for and during the natu"ral life of the faid: George Anne Bellamy. "And I do hereby direct, and it is my exprefs "will and defire, that my faid executors, and the "furvivors of them, do and fhall, from time to “time, receive the faid annuity, as the fame "fhall from time to time become quarterly due "and payable, and then pay the fame perfonally "to the faid George Anne Bellamy; and whofe 66 receipt alone fhall, from time to time, be a "difcharge to my executors and trustees for the "fame. And it is my further exprefs will, in❝tent, and direction, that the said annuity fhalk "be for her fole use; and that the money arifing "therefrom fhall not be liable to any debts, or "to the fale or affignment of the faid George “Anne Bellamy, or to the payment of debts,

6.6 power,

power, or controul, or difpofal of any, perfon "The may hereafter marry.

"And lastly, I do hereby nominate, constitute, "and appoint, the aforefaid William Bromfield, "Efq; and the faid Mafon Cornish, executors and "trustees of this my will, hereby revoking and "making void all former wills by me at any time “heretofore made, and hereby declaring this my "laft will and teftament. In witness whereof, I "the faid Henry Woodward have, to this my laft "will and teftament, fet my hand and feal, this "20th day of January, in the year of our Lord " 1777.

" (Signed)

HENRY WOODWARD. "Signed, fealed, publifhed, and declared by "the faid Henry Woodward, as and for his "laft will and teftament, in the presence

❝ of us,

"ANNE PITT. "E. WILLET.

"No. 89, Wardour-ftreet, Soho."

Thus have I laid before you (I address myself again to you) the contents of the Faft will and teftament of my dear departed friend. Nothing can be more clearly expreffed, or more plainly intended for my benefit, than it is.-One would imagine,

imagine, that it was next to impoffible to counteract the kind intent of it.—And yet, from the most unaccountable perverfion of it, no benefit has, as yet, arifen to me from it.-Could the worthy teftator look out from his grave, and fee what fteps have been taken, his honeft heart would bound with indignant pulfations.-But I will not anticipate the circumftances.

LETTER

G. A. B.

XCIV,

January 18, 17

THE very great attention I paid Mr. Wood

ward during his illness greatly affected my health, as he seemed not to be fatisfied with any other perfon's being near him, or doing any thing for him, but the furgeons and myself. Indeed, his fituation was fo critical, that had he not been treated with the utmost care, he could not have been retained in this world fo long. During the feven months of his indifpofition, I went into a bed but eleven nights. The eve of his departure I was fo greatly indifpofed, that nature, wearied out, could fupport it no longer; and I was obliged to retire, leaving him to the care of a gentlewoman who was my intimate, and who, as he

was

was very partial to her, fhared in giving her affiftance.

He bore this long and painful illness with the greatest resignation and fortitude. The morning of his death, Mr. Bromfield haftened out of his room in tears; for upon his faying, "God b'w'ye, "Harry!" my dying friend replied, with the utmoft compofure, and an affecting tenderness in the modulation of his voice, "Farewel! I fhall "never see you more!" When I approached the bed to give him his medicine, he regretted not having fufficient power to repay my unwearied attention; and then taking me by the hand with some agitation, he said, “I am going. Lord have "mercy upon me!" and expired.

Thus ended a man, who was as eminent for restitude, honour, probity, morality, and religion, as he was allowed great in his profeffion. And though eulogies to his memory were unneceffary, his worth, both as an actor and as a valuable member of fociety, being fo well known, yet it has been often a matter of furprize to me, that among the number of his friends and of his contemporaries at Merchant-Taylors School, there appeared no public tribute to his merit, except fome lines upon the occafion written by the reverend Mr. Madden.

Upon