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The sons named by Mr. Elwes in the will above,
were his natural children, by Elizabeth Moren,
formerly his house keeper at Marcham in Berkshire,
Mc. Elwes, shortly after executing his will
gave, by letter of attorney, the power of managing,
receiving, and paying all his monies, into the hands
of Mr. Ingraham, his lawyer, and his youngest son,
John Elwes, Esq; who had been his chief agents.
Nor was the act by any means improper.----
The lapses of bis memory had now become frequent
and glaring----All recent occurrences he
forgot entirely; and as he never committed anything
to writing, the confusion he made was inexpressible!----
As an instance of this, the following
anecdote may serve : ---- He had one evening given
a draft on Messrs Hoares, his bankers, for twenty
pounds; and having taken it into his head, during
the night, that he had over-drawn his account,
his anxiety wag unceasing!---- He left his bed, and
walking about his room with that little feverish
irritation that always distinguished him, waited
with the utmost impatience till morning came,
when, on going to his banker, with an apology
for the great liberty he had taken, he was assured
there was no occasion for his apology, as he happened
to have in their hands, at that time, the small
sum of fourteen thousand, seven hundred pounds!
However singular this act of forgetfulness may appear, it serves to mark, amidst all his anxiety about money, that extreme conscientiousness which
