That is a curious story about the will of Sir
John Soane, architect-antiquary, who in 1836 left his house and his collec- tions in Lincoln's Inn Fields to the nation for a museum. The will contained a clause that certain receptacles were to be opened at certain dates, and in 1866 the first of these dates arrived. I cupboard, or rather box, was opened, but nothing was found in it except a quantity of old letters, accounts, and stationery of no value to any one. In 1886 a similar ceremony was gone through with the same result; and in 1896, a few days ago, a third receptacle was opened, but nothing was discovered which could account for the testator's careful arrangements. It is suggested that Sir John Soane was playing a practical joke; but apart from the fact that jokers of that sort enjoy nothing so much as the sight of their victims' distress, where in this case is the joke hidden ? Who even among the malicious idiots who indulge in practical joking will laugh ? It is much more probable that the recep- tacles have been quietly rifled ; but then what was hidden in them ? A will cancelling the bequest to the nation is the most probable guess, or an autobiographical memoir; but neither could have been hidden in three boxes, to be opened at three different times. The only object we can even think of is that Sir John wished the interest on certain bonds to accumu- late, and took this odd but direct method of insuring that the interest should not be spent. If so, his purpose has been frustrated. Have the receptacles, by the way, been searched for secret drawers?
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