ase of my death
may perhaps afford as opinions contemporaneously recorded some
guiding light to other or others who may later on have to continue
and complete the tasks entrusted to me.

I.

CONCERNING THE READING OF THE WILL OF ROGER MELTON.

When, beginning at 11 o'clock a.m. on this the forenoon of Thursday,
the 3rd day of January, 1907, I opened the Will and read it in full,
except the clauses contained in the letters marked "B" and "C"; there
were present in addition to myself, the following:

1. Ernest Halbard Melton, J.P, nephew of the testator.

2. Ernest Roger Halbard Melton, son of the above.

3. Rupert Sent Leger, nephew of the testator.

4. Major-General Sir Colin Alexander MacKelpie, Bart., co-executor
with myself of the Will.

5. Andrew Rossiter, my clerk, one of the witnesses of the testator's
Will.

6. Alfred Nugent, stenographer (of Messrs. Castle's office, 21,
Bream's Buildings, W.C.).

When the Will had been read, Mr. E. H. Melton asked the value of the
estate left by the testator, which query I did not feel empowered or
otherwise able to answer; and a further query, as to why those present
were not shown the secret clauses of the Will. I answered by reading the
instructions endorsed on the envelopes of the two letters marked "B" and
"C," which were sufficiently explanatory.

But, lest any question should hereafter arise as to the fact that the
memoranda in letters marked "B" and "C," which were to be read as clauses
10 and 11 of the Will, I caused Rupert Sent Leger to open the envelope
marked "B" in the presence of all in the room. These all signed a paper
which I had already prepared, to the effect that they had seen the
envelope opened, and that the memorandum marked "B. To be read as clause
ten of my Will," was contained in the envelope, of which it was to be the
sole contents. Mr. Ernest Halbard Melton, J.P., before signing,
carefully examined with a magnifying-glass, for which he had asked, both
the envelope and the heading of the memorandum enclosed in the letter.
He was about to turn the folded paper which was lying on the table over,
by which he might have been able to read the matter of the memorandum had
he so desired. I at once advised him that the memorandum he was to sign
dealt only with the heading of the page, and not with the matter. He
looked very angry, but said nothing, and after a seco