Indeed, I can truly assert of
both him and his son, that notwithstanding the extraordinary
dialogues they held together, and the strange commentaries and
corrections with which each of them illustrated the other's speech,
I do not think it possible to exceed the sincerity of their regret;
and that I am sure their thoughtfulness and anxiety in anticipating
the discharge of many little offices of sympathy would have done
honour to the most delicate-minded persons.
Our friend had frequently told us that his will would be found in a
box in the Clock-case, the key of which was in his writing-desk.
As he had told us also that he desired it to be opened immediately
after his death, whenever that should happen, we met together that
night for the fulfilment of his request.
We found it where he had told us, wrapped in a sealed paper, and
with it a codicil of recent date, in which he named Mr. Miles and
Mr. Pickwick his executors, - as having no need of any greater
benefit from his estate than a generous token (which he bequeathed
to them) of his friendship and remembrance.
After pointing out the spot in which he wished his ashes to repose,
he gave to 'his dear old friends,' Jack Redburn and myself, his
house, his books, his furniture, - in short, all that his house
contained; and with this legacy more ample means of maintaining it
in its present state than we, with our habits and at our terms of
life, can ever exhaust. Besides these gifts, he left to us, in
trust, an annual sum of no insignificant amount, to be distributed
in charity among his accustomed pensioners - they are a long list -
and such other claimants on his bounty as might, from time to time,
present themselves.
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