In the
year 1869 the South Kensington Museum became possessed of a valuable
collection of precious stones, under the provisions of the will (dated
6 August, 1863) of the Rev. Chauncy Hare Town-shend. The following
extract from the will refers to this bequest :
I,
Chauncy Hare Townshend, late of Down Hill, in the parish of Tottenham
High Cross, in the county of Middlesex, and now of Norfolk Street, Park
Lane, in the Parish of St. George, Hanover Square, in the said count}-,
Clerk, do hereby revoke all Wills and other Testamentary Dispositions
heretofore made by me, and declare this to bo my last Will and
Testament. I appoint my friends Burdett Contts of Stratum Street,
Piccadilly, in the said county of Middlesex, spinster, and the Reverend
Thomas Helmore, Master of Her Majesty's Choir at the Chapel Royal, St.
James's, trustees and executors jf this my will. I give and bequeath to
the Right Honourable Granville George Leveson Gower, Earl Granvile, or
other the President of Her Majesty's Council on Education for the time
being charged with the promotion of Art Education, now undertaken by
the Department of Science and Art, such of my pictures and water-colour
drawings, and engravings and books containing engravings, as his
Lordship, or other the President aforesaid, may think lit to select;
and my collection of Swiss coins, and my box of precious stones
(including such as are generally kept therein, but which in my absence
from England may be with me on the Continent) : and my box of cameos
(which boxes, for the sake of identity, I declare to be those which in
my absence from England are always deposited for safe custody with my
bankers) ; and the ancient gold watch formerly belonging to my father,
which, being stolen by the celebrated Barrington, was the cause of his
transportation, together with the chain, seal, and keys thereunto
attached ; and also the looking-glass and frame over the dining-room
