“11. I authorize my executors to determine what articles pass under any specific bequest contained in this my Will or any Codicil hereto and to determine all questions and matters of doubt arising under this my Will or any Codicil hereto. And I declare that every such determination, whether made upon a question actually raised or implied in the acts or proceedings of my executors, shall be conclusive and binding on all persons interested under this my Will. And I declare that all powers, authorities and discretions thereby expressed to be vested in or given to my executors shall be vested in and exercisible by the acting executors or executor for the time being of this my Will. And I declare that my executors may employ the said Louis Hilary Shore Nightingale professionally, if they think proper, and that if so employed he shall be entitled to charge and be paid all usual professional or other charges for any business done by him and whether in the ordinary course of his profession or business or not.
“12. I give my body for dissection or postmortem examination for the purposes of Medical Science and I request that the directions about my funeral given by me to my uncle, the late Samuel Smith, be observed; my original request was that no memorial whatever should mark the place where lies my ‘Mortal Coil.’ I much desire this but should the expression of such wish render invalid my other wishes, I limit myself to the above mentioned directions, praying that my body may be carried to the nearest convenient burial ground, accompanied by not more than two persons without trappings and that a simple cross, with only my initials, date of birth and of death, mark the spot.
“In witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament contained in six sheets of paper set my hand this twenty eighth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and ninety six.
“Florence Nightingale.”
Then follows the attestation clause. There are three codicils to this unusual will; the first making slight changes in legacies, but of no particular interest to the general reader.
There are two items in the second codicil worthy of reproduction and they are here given:
“4. I revoke the paragraph numbered 6 of my said will and bequeath the letters, papers, manuscripts and books which I thereby requested might be destroyed and the majority of which I believe should be destroyed, to my said cousin, Henry Bonham Carter.
“5. I bequeath to Elizabeth Mary Wiggins the sum of twenty pounds and my cats; and to my maid Ellen Kate Tugby, if she shall be in my service at the time of my death, my parrot and the sum of two hundred and five pounds with my best thanks for her loving service; and to my messenger, William Magee, if he shall be in my service at the time of my death, the sum of forty five pounds with my best thanks for his faithful service.”
The third and last codicil contains nothing which is of special importance.
Will of Philip, Fifth Earl of Pembroke