ause respecting slaves, and every part
thereof, be religiously fulfilled at the epoch at which it is directed
to take place, without evasion, neglect, or delay, after the crops which
may then be on the ground are harvested, particularly as it respects the
aged and infirm; seeing that a regular and permanent fund be established
for their support, as long as there are subjects requiring it; not
trusting to the uncertain provision to be made by individuals. And to my
mulatto man, _William_, calling himself _William Lee_, I give immediate
freedom, or, if he should prefer it (on account of the accidents which
have befallen him, and which have rendered him incapable of walking, or
of any active employment), to remain in the situation he now is, it
shall be optional in him to do so; in either case, however, I allow him
an annuity of thirty dollars, during his natural life, which shall be
independent of the victuals and clothes he has been accustomed to
receive, if he chooses the last alternative; but in full with his
freedom, if he prefers the first; and this I give him, as a testimony of
my sense of his attachment to me, and for his faithful services during
the Revolutionary War.

_Item._--To the trustees (governors, or by whatsoever other name they
may be designated) of the Academy in the town of Alexandria, I give and
bequeath, in trust, four thousand dollars, or, in other words, twenty of
the shares which I hold in the Bank of Alexandria, toward the support of
a free school, established at, and annexed to, the said Academy, for the
purpose of educating such orphan children, or the children of such other
poor and indigent persons, as are unable to accomplish it with their own
means, and who, in the judgment of the trustees of the said seminary,
are best entitled to the benefit of this donation. The aforesaid twenty
shares I give and bequeath in perpetuity; the dividends only of which
are to be drawn for and applied, by the said trustees for the time
being, for the uses above mentioned; the stock to remain entire and
untouched, unless indications of failure of the said bank should be so
apparent, or a discontinuance thereof, should render a removal of this
fund necessary. In either of these cases, the amount of the stock here
devised is to be vested in some other bank, or public institution,
whereby the interest may with regularity and certainty be drawn and
applied as above. And to prevent misconception, my meaning is, and i