Judah P. Benjamin

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XV OHARACTEK AND ACHIEVEMENT As was fitting for one who, in spite of exalted station, had always been singularly unostentatious, the funeral of Mr. Benjamin was very simple. Services were held at midday on Saturday, May 10th, at the Church of St . Pierre de Chaillot, and the body was interred in the great cemetery of Pere La Chaise. I shall not pause in this place to discuss the question of Mr. Benjamin's religion, to which I shall recur. For that which he had chiefly labored, the comfort of his family, it was found that there was ample provision. His will, written entirely by his own hand, and dated April 30, 1883, devised legacies, all free of state dues, amounting to a total of £18,000, apportioned in various sums to his three sisters, to his brother Joseph, and to nieces and nephews. The residue of his estate he left to "my said dear wife Natalie and to our only child Ninette, wife of Captain Henri de Bousignac, now captain in the One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment of the line of the French army. If either my said wife or my said daughter should die before me, the survivor is to be my sole residuary devisee and legatee. I have no real estate in England, but I have in France the family mansion or hotel at No. 41 Avenue d' Jena, Paris, in which I have resided since my withdrawal from the bar, and in which I contemplate residing the rest of my life." The will further appointed as executors, John George Witt and Lindsey Middleton Aspland, two London barristers, by whom it was proved on June 28, 1884. The personal estate, consisting of various securities, was appraised by the executors at £60,221 9s Id. Owing to the fact that Mr. Benjamin died abroad, and had become domiciled there, at first some doubt was felt as to...