M. Silhouette died in 1767 in Paris. His will is as dry as the political and financial details of a period of history insipid in itself could make it; but the history of the man who wrote it is singular and suggestive, and shows how greatly the success of a public functionary depends on the circumstances in which he is placed, and far less than we are apt to suppose on his genius or skill.

Etienne Silhouette, Contrôleur-général and Minister of State, only held office during nine months, but at a time when the Treasury was already in an exhausted state in consequence of ruinous wars and the lavish expenditure of his predecessors. He had no choice but to replenish the coffers of the State by the imposition of new taxes, as economy alone would not have sufficed, though it might have aided to fill the alarming void. So far, however, from commending this needful, if not indispensable measure, his policy was turned into ridicule; and the people whom he did his best to serve and to save, heaped upon him every kind of obloquy. Among other insults they changed the name of a street issuing from the Place des Victoires, which had been styled after him La Rue Silhouette, into La Rue Vide Gousset, which it retains to this day; and as among other articles, he had imposed a tax upon likenesses taken in black paper, cut out, and pasted on a white card, which were then extremely popular, not only these portraits, but thence all black outlines received the name of silhouettes, which has adhered to them ever since.

Will of Dean Swift

Dean Swift died October 19, 1745. The “Last Will of Jonathan Swift, D.D., taken out of the Prerogative Court of Dublin” in book form, neatly rebound and covering twenty-seven pages of written matter can yet be found in the bookstores of London. The instrument is dated the third day of May, 1740, and the document itself was printed a few years later. In turning its pages, a feeling of awe and reverence is experienced by the reader as he reviews the last words of the noted Irish clergyman, satirist and author of “Gulliver’s Travels.” Several important items of the Will follow:

“In the Name of God, Amen. I, Jonathan Swift, Doctor in Divinity, and Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick, Dublin, being at this Present of sound Mind, although weak in Body, do here make my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all my former Wills.

“Imprimis, I bequeath my Soul to God, (in humble Hopes of his Mercy through Jesus Christ) and my Body to the Earth. And I desire that my Body may be buried in the great Isle of the said Cathedral, on the South Side, under the Pillar next to the Monument of Primate Narcissus Marsh, three Days after my Decease, as privately as possible, and at Twelve o’Clock at Night: And, that a Black Marble of —— Feet square, and seven Feet from the Ground, fixed to the Wall, may be erected, with the following Inscription in large Letters, deeply cut, and strongly gilded.”

HIC DEPOSITUM EST CORPUS
JONATHAN SWIFT, S. T. P.
HUJUS ECCLESIÆ CATHEDRALIS
DECANI,
UBI SÆVA INDIGNATIO
ULTERIUS COR LACERARE NEQUIT.
ABI, VIATOR,
ET IMITARE, SI POTERIS,
STRENUUM PRO VIRILI LIBERTATIS
VINDICEM.
OBIIT ANNO [MDCCXLV.]
MENSIS [OCTOBRIS] DIE [19.]
ÆTATIS ANNO [LXXVIII.]

“Item: I give and bequeath to my Executors all my worldly Substance, of what Nature or Kind soever (excepting such Part thereof as is herein after particularly devised) for the following Uses and Purposes, that is to say, to the Intent that they, or the Survivors or Survivor of them, his Executors, or Administrators, as soon as conveniently may be after my Death, shall turn it all into ready Money, and lay out the same in purchasing Lands of Inheritance in Fee simple, situate in any Province of Ireland, except Connaught, but as near to the City of Dublin, as conveniently can be found, and not incumbered with, or subject to any Leases for Lives renewable, or any Terms for Years longer than Thirty-one:”

He provides that a considerable sum be laid out in the purchase of lands near Dublin and a building be erected thereon “An Hospital for the Reception of as many Idiots and Lunaticks as the annual income of the said lands and worldly Substance shall be sufficient to maintain: And, I desire said Hospital may be called St. Patrick’s Hospital.”

He then goes into great detail as to the management of the Hospital.