Testamenta Vetust
Format: Paperback
ISBN13: 9780217060769
Paperback|9780217060769
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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: PREFACE. OF all species of evidence, whether of the kindred or of the possessions of individuals, perhaps the most satisfactory is afforded by their Wills: and in many cases also these interesting documents exhibit traits of character which are more valuable, because more certain, than can possibly be deduced from the actions of their lives. Suggestions of interest, prejudice, and not unfre- quently motives of revenge, may induce a witness either to mistate facts, or to give a colouring to them, which, although it may not violate truth, is nevertheless far from being strictly in accordance with it. But the corporeal suffering under which a man often labours when he makes his last testament; the solemn invocation with which it commences; the associations which it cannot fail to excite; and, above all, the recollection that the important document will not see the light'until he is removed from that sphere where alone falsehood can be successful, or vice be triumphant, tend to render the statements in wills of unquestionable veracity. Who, it may be asked, would have the hardihood to stain with those evil passions which actuate mankind in this world, 571594 that deed which cannot take effect until he is before the Supreme Judge, and consequently immediately responsible for his conduct ? It has been sensibly remarked, that in documents of this nature, the real wishes of the heart are suffered to appear, because we shall be indifferent to the consequences of them before they can be divulged . For all these reasons testaments of celebrated persons possess a claim on the attention of biographers which they have very rarely obtained. But it is to the antiquary, to him who seeks for information on the manners and habits of his ancestors, from sources unpolluted by the er...
| ISBN-13 | 9780217060769 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10 | 0217060765 |
| Weight | 1.34 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 9.00 x 6.00 x 0.93 In |
| List Price | $29.98 |
| Format | Paperback |
|---|---|
| Pages | 416 pages |
| Publisher | |
| Published On | 2009-08-01 |
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