THE STRATFORD NATURALIST.
349
the severest paroxysms of misery he was scarcely known to
utter a single complaint.
He died on the 23rd July, 1773, deservedly lamented by a
numerous circle of friends. He left two sisters, Ann Edwards
and Mary Tracey, to whom he bequeathed annuities of £60
and £30 respectively for life.
The sisters died within a few hours of each other two years
after his death and were buried together in West Ham church-
yard on 23rd November, 1775, thereupon his estate, which con-
sisted of £3,000 Three per Cent. Stock, in addition to property
in West Ham, passed to the children of his late half-brother,
James Frost, of Maldon.
His remains were interred on July 30th, 1773, in the south-
east part of West Ham churchyard, where an upright stone
was erected with the following inscription, to perpetuate the
memory of his talents and skill :—
Here lies interred
The Body of GEO. EDWARDS, ESQ., F.R.S.
Who departed this life the 23rd Day of July, 1773.
Aged 81 Years ;
Formerly Librarian,
To the Royal College of Physicians,
In which Capacity,
As well as in private life,
He was universally
And deservedly esteemed,
His Natural History of Birds
Will remain
A lasting Monument of his knowledge
And ingenuity.
The stone has long since disappeared, and no mark now
denotes the spot where our local celebrity is buried.
His will was dated the 5th May, 1770, to which a codicil was
added in 1772, and these were duly proved on the 6th August,
1773, by his eldest sister Ann Edwards, who was appointed sole
executrix.
In the following year his library was sold by James Robson,
of New Bond Street.
Mr. Edwards left an edition of Willoughby's Ornithology with
manuscript notes and many interesting observations in which he
corrected the mistakes and supplied the omissions of former
writers. It is said that they were intended to be issued to the
public, but do not appear to have been published.