SIR ROBERT PEEL'S PAPERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 8, 1 March 1851, Page 7

SIR ROBERT PEEL'S PAPERS.

The codicil by which Sir Robert Peel bequeaths his papers deserves to be more particularly brought under the notice of our readers than has yet been done by vis. It is dated in March of last year ; and is in the following terms :—" I give and bequeath to the Hon. Philip Henry Stanl.ope, commonly called Lord

Viscount Mahon, and Edward Cardwell, of Whitehall, Esq., M.P., their executors, administrators and assigns, all the unpublished letters, papers and documents of a private or of a public nature, whether in print or in manuscript, of which I shall at the time of my disease be possessed, upon the trusts hereinafter declared, of and concerning the same. Considering that the collection of letters and papers referred to in this codicil includes the whole of my confidential correspondence for a period, extending from the year 1812 to the time of my decease, that during a considerable portion of that period I was employed in the service of the Crown, and that when not so employed I took an active part in parliamentary business, it is highly probable that much of that correspondence will be interesting, and calculated to throw light upon the conduct and character of pxiblic men, and upon the political events of the time. I give to my trustees full discretion with respect to the selection for publication of any portion of that correspondence.; I leave it to them to decide on the period and on the mode of publication, in the full assurance that they will so exercise the discretion given to them, that no honourable confidence shall be betrayed, no private feelings be unnecessarily wounded, and no public interest injuriously affected in consequence of premature or indiscreet publication. lam especially anxious that no portion of my correspondence with Her Majesty Queen Victoria, or with His Royal Highness Prince Albert, should be made public use of during the life of either, without previous communication with parties who may be enabled to ascertain that there is no objection whatever on the part of either to the use proposed to be made of such correspondence. I authorize my trustees to sell or dispose of the copyright of any of the said documents, if the case "in which publication should be determined on by the trustees, should be one in which pecuniary compensation for such copyright could be fairly and equitably made; not meaning, however, in any way to fetter their discretion in respect of the"giving of gratuitous access to the documents whenever they think such access advisable. In the case that any moneys should arise from the publication of any of the said letters, papers, documents, I authorise the said trustees to apply the said moneys in paying the costs and charges of such publication as far as the trustees may be justly liable for such costs and charges, or other the expenses attending the execution of the trusts hereby confided reposed in them, and to apply the residue to the assistance or relief of deserving persons being in need of such assistance or relief, engaged or who have been engaged in pursuits of art, literature, or science, or to apply such residue, or any such part of it, in aids of institutions established for the relief or benefit of artists'or literary and scientific persons ; and my said trustees shall not be accountable to any persons whomsoever for the application of any such moneys. With these views it is my desire that the trustees shall with all convenient speed after my disease collect together all the said:letters, papers, documents, and subject the same to such examination as they in their uncontrolled discretion shall think fit. I give them the fullest power, to destroy such parts thereof as they shall think proper, and to provide for the immediate care and custody, and ultimate disposition of all or any part of the said letters, papers, and documents. My trustees will probably find it convenient to cause the said letters, papers, and documents to be brought in the Jirst instance to London ; and I authorize them to select and to rent, or otherwise to {rocure, a convenient place for the deposit of the said letters, papers, and documents, during such period as they shall think fit, and to cause proper catalogues to be prepared of the same, and to employ such persons as they shall think Jit, under their direction for the purposes aforesaid, and for transcribing or editing the same or otherwise in relation thereto. I authorize the trustees to give all or any of the said letters, papers, and documents to the State Paper-Office, the Trustees of the British Museum, or auy other institution of the like nature, upon such arrangements as to the permanent preservation thereof as shall be satisiactory to such trustee or trustees. And with regard to the more permanent disposal of such of the said letters, papers, and documents as shall not have been otherwise dealt with, I recommend the trustees as far as shall be consistent with.the due execution of the trusts hereby declared, to deposit the same at my mansionhouse of Dray ton Manor; and I request that

the member of my family for the time being entitled to the occupation thereof, will afford suitable rooms for the deposit and custody of the said letters, papers, and documents, and will concur with my trustees in such arrangements as the latter shall think .necessary for insuring the safety of the same, anclfor preserving to the said trustess full access thereto, with full power for the said trustees from time to time to regulate and prescribe the circumstances under which others shall be allowed access thereto, and to remove the same wholly or partially, and from time to time, as they or he shall think fit. But I hereby expressly declare that these recommendations and requests shall not in any way be construed to create any trust in favour of any such occupier of my said mansion-house, or to give any such occupier, or any member of my family, any estate or interest in the said letters, papers, and documents, or any of them, - or in any way. to abridge or restrict the discretion of the trustees as to the custody or place of deposit of the said letters, papers, and documents, or otherwise, in or as to the execution of the trusts hereby declared."

Sir Robert then assigns a sum of 1,000?. to provide for the costs to be incurred in the execution of these trusts: and directs that immediately on the expiration of the period of twentyone years next after the time of the decease of the last survivor of his children, grandchildren, or more remote issue, who shall be living at the time of his decease, —or in case there shall not be any of his children, grandchildren, or more remote issue living at the time of his decease, then, immediately on the expiration of the period of twenty-one years next after the time of his decease, —all the trusts before declared concerning the said letters, papers, and documents, shall cease; and the trustees shall forthwith deliver up to hold in trust for the person or persons who shall then be his heir-at-law, all the said letters, papers, and documents, or so many of them as shall not have been heretofore burnt, destroyed, given away, or otherwise disposed of by the trustees.