There have been some very famous individuals who have lived up to the English reputation for being a nation of cat-lovers, though few can have shown this trait as extremely as ex-pat. Miss Topping of Vendôme. Abbé Beaunier was quick to fulfil her last wishes with regard to her funeral arrangements, but she appeared to value her feline friends above her human ones, and left very detailed instructions for the care of her cats after her death. The Abbé clearly thought that her estate could afford quite a bit more than he was being offered for his services, and used Miss Topping’s will to illustrate his point.
“EXTRAORDINARY WILL of an OLD MAIDEN LADY.—A singular trial occupied the French Tribunal on Friday. On the 3rd of May, 1841, Miss Topping, an English maiden lady, died at Vendôme, having expressly desired that she should be carried to the cemetery of Vaurigard, attended by the Abbé Beaunier, a dissenting Catholic minister; that is to say, one who would not conform to the Concordat entered into between Pope Pius VII and Napoleon in 1802. At the time of Miss Topping’s death the Abbé Beaunier was ten leagues from Vendome, and immediately set out with her mortal remains for Vaurigard. The Abbé was detained in Paris a week before the formalities required for warranting the interment could be got through. At length all was accomplished, and the funeral performed. For his professional services, loss of time, and expenses, the Abbé required a sum of 1200fr. This the executors thought too much, and declined paying. Abbé commenced a suit for the recovery of the amount, and his counsel read the following clauses from the deceased lady’s will: -“I desire that there shall be raised from the most easily convertible part of my property a capital sum sufficient to produce 800fr. a year, which shall be paid quarterly to such a person as I may name in a codicil – or, in default thereof, to a person to be named by my executors (the testatrix did afterwards name a person by a codicil) – on condition of taking the care and nourishment of my three favourite cats – Nina, Fanfan, and Mini – or any others I may have at the time of my death. This income shall be paid as long as any one of these domestic animals shall remain alive. My executors may, in case of negligence or cruelty towards them, withdraw them and the said pension, and choose another person as guardian. The person appointed to feed and take care of my said cats shall live on a ground-floor, to which shall adjoin a terrace easy of access, and a garden inclosed within walls, of which they shall have full and free enjoyment. These animals are to be fed with lights, sheeps’ hearts, or raw or dressed meat ; they must be given twice a day a sufficient quantity of milk, occasionally mixed with starch or rice flour ; the meat is to be given them twice a day also, so that they may have 4 daily meals regularly. They are to sleep in the house, and therefore are to be shut up after their supper, at 9 or 10 o’clock, except the tom cat, which will not remain at home ; but care must be taken that he comes in at a good time in the morning. In case of their death, they are to be wrapped in a piece of new and clean linen, put into an oaken coffin, and buried deep in the earth in an inclosed ground. If I die before having buried a certain box covered with tarpaulin, containing the bodies of my two cats, Beauty and Tom, they are to be put into a very deep hole in an inclosed place, so that they may not be liable to be taken up again.” – The counsel for the executors represented that the Abbé Beaunier had long been the friend and spiritual director of the testatrix ; that she had by her will bequeathed to him a legacy of 1000fr., and another 500fr. to his sister ; consequently that the services he had performed were due from him in gratitude and friendship. The executors had, however, tendered 300f. to him. The Tribunal gave judgment, awarding the Abbé 400fr., and each party to pay their own costs.”
The Stamford Mercury, 3rd March, 1843.