“Je ne donne rien au Sieur Charpentier, mon secrétaire, parceque j’ay eu soin de lui faire du bien pendant ma vie; mais je veux rendre ce temoignage de luy, que durant le longtemps qu’il m’a servy, je n’ay poinct connu de plus homme de bien, ny de plus loyal et plus sincère serviteur.
“Je ne donne rien aussi au Sieur Cherré, mon autre secrétaire, parceque je le laisse assez accommodé, estant néanmoins satisfait des services qu’il m’a rendus.
“Je donne au baron de Broye, héritier du feu Sieur Barbin, que j’ay sceu estre en nécessité, la somme de 30,000 livres.”
The remainder of the will consists of various, and we may add very numerous, formalities, signatures of witnesses, etc.
It is a curious fact that, on the death of the last surviving descendant of the Du Plessis family, 17th of May, 1822—a man, be it observed, of singular probity and true grandeur of character—the colossal fortune amassed by the cardinal had dwindled down to such small proportions that all that remained of it was swallowed up in paying off the debts of his profligate father, and of his grandfather, the notorious Duc de Richelieu who figures so largely in the “Chronique Scandaleuse” of his day.
Will of Jean Jacques Rousseau
Although Rousseau’s will was made in 1737, it remained unknown to the world until 1820. It never was executed, nor ever became an effectual or a legal document; but it is, nevertheless, curious as testifying to the state of mind of the writer and the fervent sentiments of piety he entertained at the age of twenty-five.
The original, which is well authenticated, was found in the garret of an old house at Chambéry. It was among the forgotten minutes of a former notary of that town, named Rivoire, and occupied pages 104, 105, and 106 of the minute. It is dated June 7, 1737—a day on which, as stated in the will, Rousseau met with an accident which obliged him to keep his bed, and having a bandage on his forehead covering his eyes, was thus prevented signing his will; though, says the notary, “sain de ses sens ainsi qu’il a paru par la suite et solidité de ses raisonnements.” It seems to have been a case of “The devil was sick,” etc., and the will appears to be such as Rousseau was not likely to have written at any other moment.
The deed was received at the house of M. Le Comte de St. Laurent, Contrôleur-général des finances de S. M. le Roi de Sardaigne, inhabited at the time by Madame Warens, who afterwards occupied so large a place in the life of Rousseau.
The testator, after making the sign of the Cross, recommending his soul to God, and begging the intercession of the holy Virgin and of SS. John and James, his patrons, professes his intention of living and dying in the faith of the Catholic apostolic and Roman Church. He leaves his obsequies to the discretion of his heiress, and charges her to see that prayers are offered for the repose of his soul.