Courts of justice ought to carry into effect the intentions of testators as far as they can consistently with the rules of law. - Henry Bickersteth, 1st Baron Langdale

Generally speaking, a witness has no business to concern himself with the merits of the case in which he is called on to give evidence or whether, when given, it will be material to the cause.

I am bound to administer the law here according to the best construction that I can put upon the intent and meaning of the authorities applicable to the cases before me.

A man acting for himself may indulge his own caprices, and consider what is convenient or agreeable to himself, as well as what is strictly prudent, and his prudential motives cannot afterwards be separated from the others which may have governed him.