THE

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF MATTHEW VASSAR,

IN THE

CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE, IN THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS, IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK.

I, MATTHEW VASSAR aforesaid, do hereby make public and declare my last will and testament as follows:

SECTION 1. I direct that my body be interred in the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, near the monument erected by me therein, and that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon as practicable after my decease.

SEC. 2. I give and devise unto my nephews Matthew Vassar, Jr., and John Guy Vassar, (sons of my brother John Guy Vassar, deceased,) to them, their heirs and assigns forever, my homestead house and lot where I now reside, bounded on the north by La Fayette street, on the east by lands owned or occupied by John M. Cable and I. W. Dean, on the south by Main street, and on the west by Vassar street; and if either of my said nephews shall die prior to my decease, I then give and devise my said homestead to the survivor of them, his heirs and assigns forever.

SEC. 3. I also give and bequeath unto the said Matthew Vassar, Jr., my gold-headed cane, and the large portrait of myself, painted by Mr. Wright, and my portraits in oil of my father and mother, and of my uncle Thomas Vassar, and also all the wearing apparel I may have at my decease. And I also give and bequeath unto my said nephew John Guy Vassar my gold Cooper Watch, No. 2124, (now worn by me,) together with the gold chain and appendages attached thereto.

SEC. 4. I give and bequeath unto each of my eleven followingnamed nephews, viz., George H. Booth, Oliver H. Booth, Edward

Booth, James V. Harbottle, George Harbottle, Joseph Harbottle, John Harbottle, Robert G. Vassar, John G. Vassar, 2d, Rufus Vassar, and Matthew Vassar, 2d; (the last four being sons of my brother, James Vassar, deceased,) the sum of five hundred dollars apiece.

SEC. 5. I give and bequeath unto each of my eight followingnamed nieces and cousins, viz., Lucia L. Booth, Delia Peck, Lydia A. Rollinson, Caroline E. Hawley, Helen Haight, Lydia Parmenter, Maria Booth, and her mother Eleanor Booth, the sum of five hundred dollars apiece.

SEC. 6. I give and bequeath unto each of my seven followingnamed cousins, viz., John E. Vassar, Edward Vassar, Hannah Vassar, Leah Savage, Patty or Mary Sweet, Carrie Vassar, Frances Baker, and to Kitty Edmonds, (the adopted daughter of the Hon. John M. Edmonds,) the sum of two hundred dollars apiece.

SEC. 7. I give and bequeath unto my niece, Caroline A. Dickenson five hundred dollars, and to her son, William H. Dickenson, five hundred dollars.

SEC. 8. I give and bequeath unto George W. Peck, of Flushing, Long Island, the sum of one thousand dollars, in trust, to be invested as he may deem proper, and applied, both principal and interest in his discretion, for the use and benefit of my nephew, Charles G. Vassar, during his life, or so long as said fund may last; and at his death, if any thereof then remain, the same shall then revert to my estate, and become a part of the residue thereof, and be disposed of as in that behalf is hereinafter provided.

SEC. 9. I give and bequeath unto my sister-in-law, Caroline E. Vassar, the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars, to be paid her as soon as practicable after my decease, and the further sum of three hundred and fifty dollars, to be paid her six months after my decease, if she live so long, and also the net income of ten thousand dollars during her natural life, as hereinafter provided; and I also give and bequeath unto my said sister-in-law all my silver and silver-plated ware, and my gilt dinner set, now at my homestead, together with three beds and bedsteads, with the bedding therefor, to be selected by herself from my household furniture. And for the purpose of providing the income above mentioned for the said Caroline E. Vassar, I hereby give to my executors hereinafter named the sum of ten thousand dollars, in trust for the following purposes, and none other, viz., to invest

the same in their names as Trustees under this will, on such securities as are hereinafter designated, and to pay the net income therefrom to the said Caroline E. Vassar for and during her natural life, half-yearly on demand and upon her personal receipt therefor; and at her decease to pay said principal sum of ten thousand dollars to "Vassar College,"as a part of my residuary estate, and to be disposed of by said College as in that behalf is hereinafter provided.

SEC. 10. I give and bequeath unto my nephew, Oliver H. Booth, the two portraits of myself and wife, in oil, by Wright, the artist, and also my eight gilt-framed engravings of London Breweries.

SEC. 11. I give and bequeath to my niece, Lucia L. Booth, and my cousin, Lydia Parmenter, the jewelry and other articles (formerly belonging to my late wife) contained in a box now in my tin chest at the Farmers' and Manufacturers' National Bank in Poughkeepsie.

SEC. 12. I give and bequeath unto my nephew, Charles G. Vassar, my other gold Cooper Watch, now in my said tin chest.

SEC. 13. I give and bequeath unto my niece, Caroline E. Hawley, the dressing-case and portfolio, late of my deceased wife, and now kept in my parlor bedroom.

All the rest and residue of the estate, both real and personal, of which I may die seized, possessed, or entitled to, I hereby give, devise, and bequeath unto "Vassar College," and to its successors forever, in trust, for the uses specified in the five next following sections of this will, and for no other use or purpose what

ever.

SEC. 14. I give, devise, and bequeath unto "Vassar College," and to its successors, forever, fifty thousand dollars of said residue, in trust, for the following uses and purposes, and for none other whatever, namely, to invest the same and keep the same invested as the "Lecture Fund," in such stocks and securities as are hereinafter designated, and in its own name, as Trustee of the "Lecture Fund," under this section of my will, and to apply the net income therefrom to defray the expense of having Lectures on Literature, and the Arts, and the Sciences, delivered at said College, by distinguished persons, (not officers therein,) to be selected and engaged by the Executive Committee of said. College; and in order to provide said College with some means to use for the purposes contemplated by this section of my will,

during the year next succeeding my decease, I hereby give and bequeath to said College for such use, the further sum of three thousand dollars, to be paid by installments from time to time in the discretion of my executors, during last said year.

SEC. 15. I also give, devise, and bequeath unto "Vassar College," and to its successors forever, the further sum of fifty thousand dollars of said residue, in trust, for the following uses and purposes, and for none other whatever, namely, to invest the same and keep the same invested as the "Auxiliary Fund," in such stock and securities as are hereinafter designated, and in its own name, as Trustee of the "Auxiliary Fund," under this section of my will, and to apply the net income therefrom to aid, to an extent not exceeding one half the cost of board and tuition, for the time being, in the regular course in said College, such students therein of superior mind and high scholarship, as can not, and whose parents or guardians can not, in the judgment of the Executive Committee of said College, afford to pay the full charges for such board and tuition therein, and who may also make application in writing for the privilege of participating in the benefits of this fund, at or prior to their admission to said College, and who may thereupon on due examination be approved of and selected by the College authorities; and no adverse decision shall in any case be questioned in any way by such applicants. It is intended that the honor of being selected as participants of the privileges contemplated by this section shall be regarded as proof of the superior promise of all such students, and just warrant for the expectation that their education will reflect great credit on the College, and thus repay the benefits hereby conferred on them. In order to provide said College with some means to use for the purpose contemplated by this section during the year next succeeding my decease, I hereby give and bequeath to said College in trust for such use, the further sum of three thousand dollars, to be paid by installments from time to time in the discretion of my executors, during last said year.

SEC. 16. I give, devise, and bequeath unto "Vassar College," and to its successors forever, the further sum of fifty thousand dollars of said residue, in trust for the following uses and purposes, and for none other whatever, viz., to invest the same and keep the same invested as the "Library, Art, and Cabinet Fund,” in such stock and securities as are hereinafter designated, and in its own name, as Trustee of the "Library, Art, and Cabinet Fund," under

this section of my will, and to apply the net income therefrom to keeping the books, maps, pamphlets, and cases in the library of said College, and the specimens and cases in the cabinets thereof, and the paintings, pictures, and frames in the Art-Gallery thereof, in good repair and condition, and to making such additions from time to time to the said Library, Cabinets, and Art-Gallery as said College may deem proper, and also to forming and maintaining as above in said College, if the Trustees thereof deem it best, Cabinets of Conchology, Entomology, and Ichthyology, or a cabinet in any or either of these departments. And in order to provide said College with some means to use for the purposes contemplated by this section of my will during the year next succeeding my decease, I hereby give and bequeath to said College in trust for such use, the further sum of three thousand dollars, to be paid by installments from time to time in the discretion of my executors, during last said year.

SEC. 17. I give, devise, and bequeath the balance of the said rest and residue of my estate unto "Vassar College," and its successors forever, in trust for the following uses and purposes, and for none other whatever, viz., to invest the same and keep the same invested as the "Repair Fund," in such stocks and securities as are hereinafter designated, and in its own name, as Trustee of the "Repair Fund," under this section of my will, and to apply the net income therefrom to making repairs, alterations, and improvements upon and to the main college building, and all the buildings and fences, and gas and, heating and water-pipes and apparatus, engines, boilers, and machinery, and the sewers, upon the college property, or which may be hereafter placed thereon, and to maintaining the same, together with the college grounds, at all times in good condition, with power, if said College deem it best, to apply the surplus (if any) of such income (but such surplus only) toward the erection of any new buildings from time to time required on said college premises. And I also hereby give, devise, and bequeath the said balance of said residue, as above, upon the further trust, that so much of the net income therefrom as may be necessary therefor, shall be applied by said College to pay the board and tuition at said College in its regular course or its equivalent, of the following described persons for four years each, if desired, viz., of Fanny and Harriet, the two daughters of my old friend Cyrus Swan, if they apply therefor, and of not more than four at one time of such of my female blood