Historical Description of Westminster Abbey Part 12

Mrs. MARY BEAUFOY.--The princ.i.p.al figure is represented in a devout posture, with cherubs crowning her; on each side are Cupids lamenting the early decay of virgin beauty; and underneath, the arms of her family, quarterly, upheld by cherubs. The inscription on the base:--"_Reader!_ whoe'er thou art, let the sight of this tomb imprint on thy mind, that young and old (without distinction) leave this world; and therefore fail not to secure the next." This lady was only daughter and heiress of Sir Henry Beaufoy, of Guy's Cliff, near Warwick, by the Hon. Charlotte Lane, eldest daughter of George, Lord Viscount Lansborough. She died July 12, 1705.--_Grinling Gibbons, sculptor._

"ROBERT KILLIGREW, of Arwenack, in Cornwall, Esq.; son of Thomas and Charlotte; Page of Honour to Charles II.; Brigadier-General of Her Majesty's Forces; killed in Spain, in the battle of Almanza, April 14, 1707, _aetatis suae_ forty-seven. _Militavit annis_ twenty-four." A fine piece of sculpture, cut out of one stone. The embellishments are distinct and very picturesque, and the inscription modest and soldierlike.--_Bird, sculptor._ In front of this monument Ben Jonson was buried.

On a small tablet is the following inscription:--"In memory of THOMAS BANKS, Esq., R.A., Sculptor, whose superior abilities in his profession added a l.u.s.tre to the arts of his country, and whose character as a man reflected honour on human nature. His earthly remains were deposited by his desire on the north side of the churchyard at Paddington. His spirit is with G.o.d. He died Feb. 2, 1805, aged seventy years."

JOHN HUNTER.--The remains of this celebrated anatomist were removed from the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields to the Abbey in 1859. "The Royal College of Surgeons of England have placed this Tablet over the grave of Hunter, to record their admiration of his genius as a gifted interpreter of the Divine power and wisdom at work in the laws of organic life, and their grateful veneration for his services to mankind as the founder of scientific surgery." Born, 1728; died, 1793.

Sir ROBERT WILSON and Lady.--A very fine bra.s.s beside that of Hunter. He was born in 1777, died 1849.

Colonel JAMES BRINGFIELD.--This monument is ornamented with military trophies, cherubs, &c., and surrounded by a mantling, enclosing a table on which are written the deceased's military preferments, the manner of his death and burial, and the praises of his piety and virtue. He was born at Abingdon, Equerry to Prince George of Denmark, and Aid-de-Camp to the great Duke of Marlborough; was killed by a cannon ball, as he was remounting his General on a fresh horse, at the battle of Ramilies, on Whitsunday, May 12, 1706, and was interred at Barechem, in the province of Brabant, aged fifty.

One of the windows in the north aisle of the nave of Westminster Abbey has recently been filled with stained gla.s.s in memory of the late Mr. BRUNEL.

Along the bottom of the window (which consists of two lights, each 23 feet 6 inches high, and 4 feet wide, surmounted by a quatrefoil opening, 6 feet 6 inches across) is the inscription, "In memory of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Civil Engineer. Born April 9, 1806. Died September 15, 1859." Over this are four allegorical figures (two in each light): Fort.i.tude, Justice, Faith, and Charity. The upper part of the window consists of six panels, divided by a pattern-work of lilies and pomegranates. The panels contain subjects from the history of the Temple. The three subjects in the western light represent scenes from the Old Testament: viz., the Dedication of the Temple by Solomon, the Finding of the Book of the Law by Hilkiah, and the Laying the Foundations of the Second Temple. The subjects in the eastern light are from the New Testament: viz., Simeon Blessing the Infant Saviour, Christ Disputing with the Doctors, and the Disciples pointing out to Christ the Buildings of the Temple. In the heads of the lights are angels kneeling, and in the quatrefoil is a representation of Our Lord in Glory, surrounded by angels. The work was placed in the hands of Mr. R.

Norman Shaw, of the firm of Nesfield & Shaw, Architects, who prepared the general design, arranged the scale of the various figures, and designed the ornamental pattern work. The figure subjects were drawn by Mr. Henry Holyday, and the whole design was executed in gla.s.s by Messrs. Heaton, Butler, & Bayne, of Garrick Street, Covent Garden.

"To the memory of WILLIAM LEVINZ, Esq., grandson of Sir Cresswell Levinz, Knt., who was Attorney-General in the reign of Charles II., and afterwards one of the Justices of Common Pleas, from which station he was displaced in the reign of James II. for opposing the dispensing power, and was one of the counsel for the seven Bishops. William Levinz, the son of Sir Cresswell, represented the county of Nottingham in Parliament, as did his son, William Levinz, till the year 1747, when he was appointed a Commissioner of his Majesty's Customs, and in 1763, Receiver-General of the said revenue, in which office he died, the 17th of August, 1765, aged fifty-two years."--_R. Hayward, sculptor._

HENEAGE TWYSDEN.--This monument is to the memory of a young hero slain in the battle of Blarignies, in Hainault, while Aid-de-Camp to John, Duke of Argyle, who commanded the right wing of the confederate army. He was the seventh son of Sir William Twysden, Bart., a youth of the greatest expectations, had not the fortune of war put an early stop to his rising merit, in the twenty-ninth year of his age, 1709. Above this are two small monuments to the memory of two of his brothers, JOSIAH and JOHN. Josiah was a Captain at the siege of Agremont, in Flanders, and slain by a cannon shot, in 1708, aged twenty-three. John was a Lieutenant in the Admiral's s.h.i.+p under Sir Cloudesly Shovel, and perished with him in 1707, aged twenty-four.

JOHN WOODWARD, M.D.--This is an elegant monument, and the figures most admirably finished. The head of the deceased (who was Professor of Physic in Gresham College) in profile, is very masterly, and the lady that holds it inimitable. The inscription is a kind of panegyric upon the great parts and learning of the deceased, which ent.i.tled him to the distinction he received. He died in May, 1728, aged sixty-three.--_Scheemakers, sculptor._

MARTHA PRICE.--This monument is ornamented with festoons of fruit, flowers, and foliage, and the inscription shows that she was the wife of Gervase Price, Esq., who served Charles II. in the double capacity of Sergeant-Trumpeter and Gentleman of the Bows. She died April 7, 1678.

Above is a monument to the memories of Captains HERVEY and HUTT, who were engaged in the naval action under Lord Howe. It is princ.i.p.ally composed of two colossal figures, Britannia and Fame, placed one on each side a large vase, on which are portraits of the deceased Captains. Britannia is decorating the vase with laurel, while Fame is pointing to the names of the heroes engraven on the base which supports the vase.--_Bacon, jun., sculptor._

Beneath is the effigy of ANNE, Countess Dowager of CLANRICKARD, resting upon a tomb, and under it is the following inscription:--"Here lies the Right Honourable Anne, Countess Dowager of Clanrickard, eldest daughter of John Smith, Esq., who is interred near this place. She married first, Hugh Parker, Esq., eldest son of Sir Henry Parker, of Honington, in the county of Warwick, Bart., by whom she had the present Sir Henry John Parker, Bart., three other sons, and three daughters. By her second husband, Michael, Earl of Clanrickard, of the kingdom of Ireland, the head of the ancient and n.o.ble family of the Burkes, she had Smith, now Earl of Clanrickard, and two daughters, Lady Anne and Lady Mary. She died January 1, 1732, in her forty-ninth year."

GENERAL LAWRENCE.--This monument was erected at the expense of the East India Company, in memory of the man who, by the conquest of Pondicherry, and the defence of Tritchinopoly, reduced the power of the French in the East, and paved the way for one of the richest empires that ever a trading people aspired to command, which, however, was in the year 1783, in so lamentable a situation, wasted by war, and oppressed by European plunderers, that, from being one of the richest countries in the world, it became the most deplorable. On the top is an admirable bust of the General, to which the genius of the Company is pointing, while Fame is declaring his n.o.ble exploits, at the same time holding in her hand a s.h.i.+eld, on which is written:--"For discipline established, fortresses protected, settlements extended, French and Indian armies defeated, and peace concluded in the Carnatic." Close under the bust is written: "Born March 6, 1697; died January 10, 1775." On a table of beautiful marble in relief, is represented the siege of a great city, and under it is the word TRITCHINOPOLY.--_Tayler, sculptor._

Up high is a tablet to Colonel JOHN DAVIS, President of the Council of the Island of St. Christopher, who died December 13, 1725, aged sixty-three.

PENELOPE EGERTON.--The lady for whom this monument was erected, was daughter of Robert, Lord Nedham, Viscount Kilmurray, and wife of Randolph Egerton, of Bentley, in Ches.h.i.+re, an eminent Loyalist, Major-General of Horse to Charles I., and Lieutenant-Colonel to Charles II.'s own troop of Guards. She died in child-bed, April 13, 1670.

A tablet placed high above to the memory of JAMES EGERTON, son of Major-General Egerton, who died April 13, 1687, aged nine years.

The west window is filled with painted gla.s.s: the figures of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Moses and Aaron, and the twelve Patriarchs; the arms of Sebert, Edward the Confessor, Queen Elizabeth, George II., and Dean Wilc.o.c.ks, Bishop of Rochester: date 1735.

In the window at the end of the North Aisle, is a figure in stained gla.s.s (supposed to be Edward the Confessor), but the colours being of water blue, no particular face can be distinguished.

In the window of the South Aisle, the figure is supposed to be that of Edward the Black Prince.

North-West Tower.

The Right Honourable CHARLES JAMES FOX is represented on a mattress, falling into the arms of Liberty. Peace (with the olive branch and dove) is reclining on his knee. An African thanking him for the part he took in the cause of Freedom. Born Jan. 24, 1749; died Sept. 13, 1806, aged fifty-seven.--_Sir Richard Westmacott, sculptor._

In the North-west Tower is a monument to Captain MONTAGUE. He fell with Captains Hervey and Hutt in Earl Howe's engagement, on the 1st of June, 1794, when a signal and important victory was obtained over the French fleet. The King and Parliament, in consequence, directed this monument to be erected. The Captain is represented with his hand resting on his sword; Victory, alighting, is waving the laurel crown over his head; a trophy of naval flags hangs over a ba.s.so-relievo of prisoners behind; on the front of this pedestal is the engagement; on the right side is Neptune's trident, and a crown of oak; on the left, a wreath of laurel containing the word "Const.i.tution;" the base is guarded by two lions.--_Flaxman, sculptor._

On the right, upon a pedestal with appropriate emblems, is an exceedingly animated and life-like bust of the Right Hon. Sir JAMES MACINTOSH, M.P., one of the most distinguished men of his time, and who attained to great eminence in literature, philosophy, history, and politics. He was born at Aldonric, on the banks of Lochness, Scotland, on the 24th October, 1765; was knighted in 1804; in 1830 he was appointed to a seat at the Board of Control, and died 30th May, 1832, regretted (it is said) with more sincerity, and admired with less envy than any man of his age.--_Theed, sculptor._

At the back is a monument sacred to the memory of the Honourable GEORGE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK LAKE, late Lieutenant-Colonel in his Majesty's twenty-ninth Regiment of Foot, who fell at the head of his Grenadiers, in driving the enemy from the heights of Roliea, in Portugal, on the 17th of August, 1808. This stone is erected to his memory by the officers, non-commissioned officers, drummers, and privates of the corps, as a testimony of their high regard and esteem.--_Smith, sculptor._

Beneath is a monument to the Right Hon. GEORGE TIERNEY, whose bust is placed on a pedestal, with the following inscription:--"To the memory of the Right Honourable George Tierney, born in 1762; died in 1830. A man equally distinguished for the disinterested integrity of his public conduct, and the unpretended virtues of his private life. In Parliament he was long conspicuous for a style of oratory peculiarly his own; plain, familiar, forcible, and persuasive, abounding in proofs of natural shrewdness, and strokes of original learning, and sustained throughout by an accurate knowledge of details, and an unostentatious command of clear language. Without having obtained the rewards of wealth or station, he secured the respect and esteem of his contemporaries, by the consistency of his political principles, and his unwearied activity in supporting them; by the simplicity of his manners, and the benevolence of his character; and by an unaffected reverence for religion. His surviving friends have raised this monument, to be a testimony of their affection, and a reward of his talents and virtues."--_Westmacott, jun., sculptor._

Next is a new monument to the memory of HENRY RICHARD Va.s.sAL FOX, Baron Holland, born November 23, 1773, and died October 22, 1840, aged sixty-seven. On the steps that lead up to the door of a vault are three figures; on the left hand of the spectator is Genius, with his old funeral emblem, the reversed torch; climbing the steps to the right are, in rich combination, Literature and Science. A scroll is in the hands of Literature, and that of Science rests upon her wheel. Over the doorway of the tomb, the key-stone, enriched by a coiling serpent (the old emblem of eternity), a.s.sists to support the cornice, from which rise a rusticated pediment and pedestal; on the latter is placed a colossal bust of the deceased Lord, and on either side of the tomb are ba.s.si-relievi, representing severally Charity and Justice. The monument is twenty feet high, eleven feet six inches wide, and has six feet of projection from the wall. The architectural portions are of Sicilian marble. Without inscription.--_Baily, sculptor._

On the left is a monument erected by the corps of Royal Engineers, to the memory of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir RICHARD FLETCHER, Knight and Baronet, who, after highly-distinguished services, as Commanding Royal Engineer, with the army under the Duke of Wellington, in the Peninsular War, was killed at the storming of St. Sebastian, 1812, in the forty-fifth year of his age.--_Baily, sculptor._

Above is a tablet with naval trophies, sacred to the memory of Rear-Admiral Sir GEORGE HOPE, K.C.B., erected by several Captains in the Royal Navy, who served under him as Mids.h.i.+pmen.--_Turnerelli, sculptor._

A small tablet to the memory of the Hon. CHARLES BANKS STANHOPE, second son of Charles, Earl of Stanhope, and nephew of the Right Hon. William Pitt, Major of the fiftieth Regiment of Foot, who in the act of gallantly encouraging his men, fell by a musket-shot in the battle of Corunna. This tablet is affectionately inscribed by his afflicted sister, who can neither do justice to his virtues, nor sufficiently deplore his loss. Born 3rd June, 1785; died 16th January, 1809.

WILLIAM HORNECK, Esq.--This monument is embellished with books, plans, and instruments of fortification, alluding to the employment of the deceased as Chief Engineer to the Royal Train. The inscription informs us that he learned the art of war under the great Duke of Marlborough. He died May 9, 1746, aged sixty-two.

Beneath, to the right, is a bust erected to Major JAMES RENNELL, who died March 29, 1830, in his eighty-eighth year. His useful life, firm character, and high talents, are amply exhibited in his works, and need no other monument. This tablet, therefore, merely records, that this celebrated man was buried near this spot.--_Baily, sculptor._

ZACHARY MACAULAY.--A bust on a pedestal; the inscription as follows:--"In grateful remembrance of Zachary Macaulay, who, during a protracted life, with an intense but quiet perseverance, which no success could relax, no reverse could subdue, no toil, privations, or reproach could daunt, devoted his time, talents, fortune, and all the energies of his mind and body to the service of the most injured and helpless of mankind; and partook for more than forty years in the counsels and in the labours which, guided and blessed by G.o.d, first rescued the British empire from the guilt of the Slave Trade, and finally conferred freedom on 800,000 slaves; this tablet is erected by those who drew wisdom from his mind, and a lesson from his life, and who humbly rejoice in the a.s.surance that, through the Divine Redeemer, the foundation of all his hopes, he shares in the happiness of those who rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." He was born at Inverary, North Britain, on the 2nd of May, 1768, and died in London on the 13th May, 1838.--_Weekes, sculptor._

THE NAVE.

The Organ Screen was erected by the Dean and Chapter in 1831, designed by Mr. Blore, Architect to the Abbey, and executed with great precision. Four pilasters with decorated finials divide the Screen into three compartments, the centre for the gate of entrance to the choir from the west, the other two contain the monuments of Sir Isaac Newton and Earl Stanhope; on each of the pilasters are projecting pedestals, on which are the figures of Henry III. and his Queen, Edward the Confessor, and his Queen, and Edward I. and his Queen.

Sir ISAAC NEWTON.--This is a grand and expressive monument, every way worthy of the great man to whose memory it was erected, who is sculptured rec.u.mbent, leaning his right arm on four folios, thus t.i.tled--_Divinity, Chronology, Optics, and Phil: Prin. Math:_ and pointing to a scroll supported by winged cherubs. Over him is a large globe, projecting from a pyramid behind, whereon is delineated the course of the comet in 1680, with the signs, constellations, and planets. On the globe sits the figure of Astronomy with her book closed. Underneath the princ.i.p.al figure is a most curious bas-relief, representing the various labours in which Sir Isaac chiefly employed his time: such as discovering the causes of gravitation, settling the principles of light and colours, and reducing the coinage to a determined standard. The device of weighing the sun by the steelyard has been thought at once bold and striking; and, indeed, the whole monument does honour to the sculptor. The inscription on the pedestal is in Latin, short, but fall of meaning; intimating that, by a spirit nearly divine, he solved, on principles of his own, the motions and figures of the planets, the paths of the comets, and the ebbing and flowing of the sea; that he discovered the dissimilarity of the rays of light and the properties of colours from thence arising, which none but himself had ever thought of; that he was a diligent, wise, and faithful interpreter of nature, antiquity, and the Holy Scriptures; that by his philosophy he maintained the dignity of the Supreme Being; and by the purity of his life, the simplicity of the Gospel. The inscription concludes with a beautiful exclamation--"How much reason mortals have to pride themselves in the existence of such and so great an ornament to the human race!" He was born December 25, 1642, and died March 20, 1726.--_Rysbrack, sculptor._

JAMES, Earl STANHOPE.--This monument, in which, likewise, the princ.i.p.al figure leans upon his arm in a c.u.mbent posture, holding in his right hand a general's staff, and in his left a parchment scroll. A Cupid stands before him, resting himself upon a s.h.i.+eld. Over a martial tent sits a beautiful Pallas, holding in her right hand a javelin, and in the other a scroll. Behind is a slender pyramid. On the middle of the pedestals are two medals, and on each side of the pilasters one. Under the princ.i.p.al figure is a Latin inscription, setting forth the merits of this great man, as a soldier, a statesman, and a senator. In 1707, he concluded an advantageous treaty with Spain, and in the same year was sent Amba.s.sador to Charles III. In 1708, he took Port-Mahon. In 1710, he forced his way to the gates of Madrid, and took possession of that capital. In 1714, he impeached the Duke of Ormond. In September, 1715, he was made Secretary at War. In December, 1716, he was made Secretary of State. In 1717, he was made First Commissioner of the Treasury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer; and in July following created a Peer. In March, 1718, he was a second time made Secretary of State. In 1720, he died, in his forty-seventh year.--_Rysbrack, sculptor._

"To the memory of PHILIP (second) Earl STANHOPE, conspicuous for universal benevolence, unshaken public integrity, and private worth. Deep were his researches in philosophy, and extensive his ideas for his country's good.

He was ever a determined supporter of the Trial by Jury, of the freedom of Elections, of a numerous and well-regulated Militia, and of the liberty of the Press. On the 7th day of March, 1786 (and in the seventy-second year of his age), he terminated an honourable life, spent in the exercise of virtue, in the improvement of science, and in the pursuit of truth. In respectful remembrance of him, the above lines are inscribed by his affectionate son, Charles, Earl Stanhope."

The Pulpit, in the Nave, is used only for the special evening services, and is composed of variegated marbles interspersed with rich foliage and some very tasteful mosaics, and around it are six excellent figures of St.

Paul, St. Peter, and the four Evangelists, and in a medallion in front, a head of the Saviour _surrounded_ with thorns, and pointing upwards with his right hand from his left shoulder. The following is painted on one side:--"This Pulpit is presented to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster by a few friends, in grateful commemoration of the Opening of the Nave for public wors.h.i.+p and preaching, in January, 1858. 'As ye go, preach, saying the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.'" (St. Matt., chap. 10, v. 7.)--_Field, sculptor._

ROBERT STEPHENSON.--Nearly in front of the new pulpit, upon the floor, is a bra.s.s figure of life-size upon a rich foliage diaper over the remains of this eminent engineer, in addition to which has just been erected a superb painted window ill.u.s.trative of his fertile genius. He died 12th October, 1859, aged fifty-six.

At the foot of R. Stephenson's grave is a slab of black Irish marble inlaid with bra.s.s, sacred to the memory of Sir CHARLES BARRY, Knt., R.A.

and F.S.A., and Architect of the New Palace of Westminster and other buildings, who died A.D. 1860, aged 64 years, and lies buried beneath this bra.s.s, which represents the Victoria Tower and the Ground Plan of the Houses of Parliament.

Nearly opposite this slab is a granite tombstone, upon which is the following inscription:--"Beneath this stone rest the remains of COLIN CAMPBELL, Lord Clyde, who by his own deserts, through fifty years of arduous service, from the earliest battles in the Peninsular War to the Pacification of India, in 1858, rose to the rank of Field-Marshal and the Peerage. He died lamented by the Queen, the army, and the people, August the 14th, 1863, in the seventy-first year of his age."--_Gaffin, fecit._

Field-Marshal Sir GEORGE POLLOCK, Bart., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., Constable of the Tower. Died 6th October, 1872, aged 86 years. "O G.o.d the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle."--Psalm cxl. 7.

A little to the west of the latter is the tombstone of TOMPION and GRAHAM, the celebrated chronometer inventors. Tompion died 1713, aged seventy-five. Graham died 1751, aged seventy-eight.

Beside Tompion is the grave of LIVINGSTONE, over which there is a large black marble slab, with the following inscription: "Brought by faithful hands over land and sea, here rests David Livingstone, Missionary, Traveller, Philanthropist. Born March 19th, 1813; died May 1st, 1873, at Chetamba's village, Ulala. For 30 years his life was spent in an unwearied effort to evangelize the Native races, to explore the undiscovered secrets, to abolish the desolating slave trade of Central Africa, where, with his last words, he wrote: 'All I can add in my solitude is, May Heaven's rich blessing come down on every one, American, English, or Turk, who will help to heal this open sore of the world.'

'Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice.'" The Latin verses are from Lucan the Roman poet, who, in his "Pharsalia," describes the aspiration of Julius Caesar to solve the problem, even then before the world, of the causes and source of the Nile. The verses may be thus translated:--_So great is my love of truth that there is nothing I would rather know than the causes of the river that have lain hid through so many ages...._