nce
the publication of that work, a curious history attaches to his
memory. Within a twelvemonth of the expiration of the statute of
limitation, an action at law, in the shape of an ejectment, was set on
foot by a neighbouring family, to dispossess the present rightful
occupant, S.A. SEVERNE, Esq., of the beautiful domain of Thenford; to
ransack the Library; to scatter abroad pictures and curiosities of
every description; on the alleged ground of insanity, or incompetency
to make a will, on the part of Mr. Wodhull. As I had been very minute
in the account of Mr. Wodhull's person, in the work just alluded to, I
became a _witness_ in the cause; and, as it was brought into Chancery,
my deposition was accordingly taken. I could have neither reluctance
nor disinclination to meet the call of my excellent friend, Mr.
Severne; as I was abundantly confident that the charge of
"incompetency to make a will" could not rest upon the slightest
foundation. It was insinuated, indeed, that the sister-in-law, Miss
Ingram, had forged Mr. Wodhull's name to the will.

Such a conspiracy, to defraud an honourable man and legitimate
descendant of his property, is hardly upon record; for, waiting the
accidents that might occur by death, or otherwise, in the lapse of
twenty years, the cause was brought into the Vice Chancellor's Court
with the most sanguine hope of success. I was present during one of
the days of argument, and heard my own letter read, of which I had
(contrary to my usual habits) taken a copy. The plaintiffs had written
to me (suppressing the fact of the intended action), requesting to
have my opinion as to Mr. Wodhull's capability. I returned such an
answer as truth dictated. The Counsel for the plaintiffs (_ut mos
est_) showered down upon the defendant every epithet connected with
base fraud and low cunning, of which the contents of the brief seemed
to warrant the avowal. In due course, Sir Knight Bruce, now one of the
supernumerary Vice Chancellors, rose to reply. His speech was one
undisturbed stream of unclouded narrative and irresistible reasoning.
The Vice Chancellor (Shadwell) gave judgment; and my amiable and
excellent friend, Mr. Severne, was not only to return in triumph to
the mansion and to the groves which had been built and planted by his
venerable ancestor, Mr. Wodhull, but he was strongly advised, by the
incorruptible judge on the bench, to bring an action against the
plaintiffs for one of the foulest conspirac