Years before this he purchased an elegant rosewood coffin, and kept it in one of the spare rooms in his residence.

He even had his name engraved on the silver-plate, leaving a blank after the word "Died." The blank was filled up in due time, and well it was for Silas that he secured so stylish a coffin in his opulent days, for when he died his worldly wealth would not have bought him a pine box, to say nothing of rosewood.

He never gave up expecting a war with Great Britain.

Hopeful and radiant to the last, his dying words were, England--war--few days--great profits! It was that sweet old lady, Dame Jocelyn, who told me the story of Silas Trefethen; for these things happened long before my day.

Silas died in 1817.
At Trefethen's death his unique collection came under the auctioneer's hammer.