Historical Description of Westminster Abbey Part 8

By the records of the Church he appears to have been a great benefactor to it; he ornamented the grand west window with some n.o.ble paintings on gla.s.s of which some little still remains. He gave the screen to the Chapel, and presented two images gilt for the altar of St. Peter and St. Paul, and one for the chapter house. He paid the King 1,000_l._ on account of the merchants, and 3,700_l._ to the Court of Rome, due for the confirmation of abbots.

A little to the left, on another gravestone, plated with bra.s.s, is the figure of an armed Knight, resting his feet on a lion, and his head on a greyhound, which, as the register informs us, represents Sir JOHN HARPEDON, Knight, who died in 1457.

Adjoining this is a gravestone, on which have been the figures, in bra.s.s, of THOMAS BROWNE and HUMPHREY ROBERTS, two monks of this Church, who died in 1508.

On the right as you enter the Chapel is another gravestone, on which has been the effigy of Sir THOMAS PARRY, Knight, Treasurer of the Household, Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries to Queen Elizabeth. He died December 15, 1560.

IX.--Chapels of St. John the Evangelist, St. Andrew, and St. Michael.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CHAPELS OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, ST. ANDREW, ST.

MICHAEL, NOW ONE CHAPEL]

_Begin on the left._

1. General Villettes, 1808.

2. General Sir Charles Stuart, 1801.

3. Two Sons of General Forbes, 1791 and 1799.

4. Admiral Kempenfelt, 1782.

5. Earl and Countess of Mountrath, 1751 and 1766.

6. Admiral Totty, 1802.

7. Earl and Countess of Kerry, 1518.

8. Mr. Telford, 1834.

9. Dr. Baillie, 1823.

10. Miss Davidson, 1767.

11. Dr. Young, 1829.

12. Lord and Lady Norris and Family, 1601.

13. Mrs. Ann Kirton, 1603.

14. Sarah, d.u.c.h.ess of Somerset, 1692.

15. Nightingale Family, 1734 and 1752.

16. Admiral Sir George Poc.o.c.k, 1792.

17. Sir George Holles, son of Sir Francis Vere, 1626.

18. Captain Edward Cook, 1799.

19. Sir Humphry Davy, 1829.

20. Sir Francis Vere, 1608.

Turning round on your right is an unique monument to the memory of Sir FRANCIS VERE, a gentleman of the first reputation, both for learning and arms, "one of the most accomplished soldiers of Queen Elizabeth's reign, having the command of the auxiliary troops in the Dutch service, nearly twenty years." He died August 28, 1608, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. Loose armour is represented being supported by four armed knights.

On the back of General Wolfe's monument is a tablet to the memory of Sir HUMPHREY DAVY, Bart., distinguished throughout the world "by his discoveries in chemical science; President of the Royal Society; Member of the National Inst.i.tute of France. Born 17th December, 1778, at Penzance.

Died 29th May, 1829, at Geneva, where his remains are interred."

A monument is here erected, by the East India Company, as a grateful testimony to the value and eminent services of Captain EDWARD COOKE, Commander of his Majesty's s.h.i.+p Sybille, who on the 1st of March, 1799, after a long and well-contested engagement, captured La Forte, a French frigate of very superior force, in the Bay of Bengal; an event not more splendid in its achievement, than important in its result to the British trade in India. He died in consequence of the severe wounds he received in this memorable action, on the 23rd of May, 1799, aged twenty-seven.--_Bacon, sculptor._

The next is a monument to the memory of Sir GEORGE HOLLES, nephew of Sir Francis Vere, and a Major-General under him. He died May, 1626, aged fifty. This monument was erected by John, Earl of Clare.--_Nicholas Stone, sculptor._

Adjoining is a monument to the memory of Sir GEORGE POc.o.c.k, K.B., Admiral of the Blue, who distinguished himself at the taking of Geriah, and in leading the attack at the reduction of Chandernagore; afterwards, with an inferior force, he defeated the French Fleet under M. D'Ache in three several engagements; returning from his successful career in the East, he was appointed to command the fleet upon the expedition against the Havannah, by his united efforts in the conquest of which, he added fresh laurels to his own brow, and a valuable possession to this kingdom. A life so honourable to himself, and so endeared to his friends and his family, was happily extended to the age of eighty-six, and resigned, in the year 1793, with the same tranquil and serene mind which peculiarly marked and adorned the whole course of it.--_Bacon, sculptor._

A monument to the memory of JOSEPH GASCOIGNE NIGHTINGALE, and his Lady.

The lady is represented expiring in the arms of her husband; beneath, slyly creeping from a tomb, the King of Terrors presents his grim visage, pointing his unerring dart to the dying figure, at which sight the husband, suddenly struck with astonishment, horror, and despair, seems to clasp her to his bosom to defend her from the fatal stroke.

Inscription:--"Here rest the ashes of Joseph Gascoigne Nightingale, of Mamhead, in the county of Devon, Esq., who died July 20, 1752, aged fifty-six; and of Lady Elizabeth, his wife, daughter and co-heiress of Was.h.i.+ngton, Earl of Ferrars, who died August 17, 1734, aged twenty-seven.

Their only son, Was.h.i.+ngton Gascoigne Nightingale, Esq., in memory of their virtues, did by his last will, order this monument to be erected."--_Roubiliac._

Next to this is a monument of note, sacred to the memory of SARAH, d.u.c.h.ess of Somerset, relict of John Seymour, Duke of Somerset, daughter of Sir Edward Alston, Knt. On the base of this monument are two charity boys, one on each side, bewailing the death of their benefactress, who is represented in a modern dress, resting upon her arm, under a canopy of state, and looking earnestly up at a group of cherubims issuing from the clouds above her. Underneath is a Latin inscription to this effect:--"Here lies the late ill.u.s.trious d.u.c.h.ess of Somerset, celebrated for charity and benevolence, who erected a grammar school for boys at Tottenham, in Middles.e.x, enlarged the income of the Green-coat Hospital at Westminster, largely endowed Brazenose College, in Oxford, and St. John's, in Cambridge, for the education and instruction of youth in good piety and literature. She was likewise an encourager of trade and handicrafts, and had a tender regard to old age, by erecting an almshouse at Froxfield, in Wilts.h.i.+re, for thirty widows. She was very charitable to the poor of St.

Margaret's, Westminster, where she inst.i.tuted a lecture, and gave many stately ornaments to the Church." She died October 25, 1692.

Against the east wall is a tablet erected to the memory of ANN, wife of James Kirton, of Castle Carey, Somersets.h.i.+re, Gent. She died September 7, 1603.

Sir HENRY NORRIS, his Lady, and six sons. He was ancestor of the present Earl of Abingdon, and for his valour in the Low Countries, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was created Lord Norris of Ricot. He died in 1601. His six sons are represented kneeling round the tomb; viz., William, John, and Thomas, on the south side; Henry, Edward, and Maximilian, on the north side. On the south side of the canopy in alto-relievo is represented the march of an army of horse, with an encampment in the back ground, together with the standard of the Belgic States, and a soldier bearing a s.h.i.+eld, with the Norris's arms. On the summit is a small statue of Fame.

Up against the wall is a tablet to the learned Dr. YOUNG, M.D. The inscription sets forth that he was eminent in every department of human learning; and that, by abstruse investigation of letters and science, he at length unveiled the obscurity which had rested upon the hieroglyphics of Egypt. Died May 10, 1829, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.--_Chantrey, sculptor._

Next is a full length statue of Mrs. SIDDONS, a celebrated actress, as Lady Macbeth, in the Night Scene. Erected by subscription.--_Thomas Campbell, sculptor._ Contiguous is the statue of her brother JOHN KEMBLE, in the character of Cato, by Flaxman. Born at Prescott, Feb. 1, 1757; died at Lausanne, Feb. 26, 1823.

Here is also a very neat monument to the memory of SUSANNA JANE DAVIDSON, only daughter of William Davidson, of Rotterdam, merchant, whom it pleased the Almighty to visit in the bloom of life with a lingering disease, of which she died at Paris, January 1, 1767, aged twenty.--_Hayward, sculptor._

"MATTHEW BAILLIE, Fellow of the Royal College of London and Edinburgh (born at Lanark, in Scotland), of the Literary Inst.i.tutions of Oxford and Glasgow, Professor of Anatomy; of great medical skill, of strict integrity, of sincere mind, and liberal simplicity. This bust was put up by his medical a.s.sociates. Died 9th of Oct., 1823, aged 62."--_Chantrey, sculptor._

A colossal figure of "THOMAS TELFORD, President of the Inst.i.tution of Civil Engineers, born at Glendinning, in Eskdale, Dumfriess.h.i.+re, in 1757; died in London, 1834. The orphan son of a shepherd, self educated, he raised himself by his extraordinary talents, and integrity, from the humble condition of an operative mason, and became one of the most eminent Civil Engineers of the age. This marble has been erected near the spot where his remains are deposited, by the friends who revered his virtues; but his n.o.blest monuments are to be found amongst the great public works of this country."--_Baily, sculptor._

Near this is a marble tomb, which encloses the body, and has a tablet over it decorated with a coronet, and curtains festooned, on which is the following inscription:--"To the affectionately-beloved and honoured memory of ANASTATIA, Countess of Kerry, daughter of the late Peter Daly, Esq., of Quansbery, in the county of Galway, in Ireland, who departed this life on the 9th, and was deposited here on the 18th day of April, 1799. FRANCIS THOMAS, Earl of Kerry, died July 4, 1818, aged seventy-eight. His remains, according to his wish, are here deposited in the same tomb with his affectionately-beloved Anastatia, whose loss he long and deservedly deplored."--_Buckham, sculptor._

The next is a neat monument, representing a s.h.i.+p at sea, firing minute guns at the death of THOMAS TOTTY, of Cornist, in the county of Flint, Esq., Rear-Admiral in his Majesty's Navy, who having, on the 17th November, 1801, been appointed Commander-in-Chief on the Leeward Island station, was, soon after his arrival at Martinique, severely attacked by the malignant fever peculiar to that climate, and expired at sea, on the 2nd of June, 1802, in the fifty-seventh year of his age.--_Bacon, jun., sculptor._

On the floor is the stone of Abbot KIRTON, which had several labels in black letter all round the portrait, which stood upon eagles crowned, alluding, perhaps, to his high descent from the ancient and ill.u.s.trious family of Codilbic. He appears to have been a person of great eminence. He died October 3, 1466.

The next monument is to the Earl and Countess of MOUNTRATH. The figures represent an angel lifting the lady up to a vacant seat by the side of her husband, surrounded with cherubs, &c. The inscription is in Latin, thus translated:--"Sacred to the memory of Algernon, Earl of Mountrath, and Diana, his Countess, who, surviving him, caused this monument to be erected in 1771.