Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

that description, forming a branch of THE BREWERS' COMPANY. The expression occurs in the Will of ROGER BELLOWE, in 1614, who gave 20s. to The Yeomen Brewers, to be bestowed among their poor.

[ocr errors]

SEPULCHRAL MONUMENTS.

FROM the most remote Antiquity, until the present time,-from the Savages of the Southern Hemisphere, to the polished Nations of Europe,-all Mankind have agreed in erecting Sepulchral Monuments, to mark their admiration of the Illustrious dead.

Few circumstances in the history of our Species are more honourable to Human Nature, than this grateful solicitude to record the sense of Obligation,—and no one so likely, to aid the influence of Religion, and invigorate the efforts of Patriotism, as the prospective hope of gaining similar honours.

The splendour of Eloquence has often been powerfully exerted in the Senate, when recommending the erection of Monuments to commemorate the fame of

1 Wood's Essay on National and Sepulchral Monuments, p. 1.

meritorious men, and in paying the debt of Gratitude to those who have gloriously contributed to exalt the renown of their Country. Nothing, we are told, can be more honourable to the memory of the dead, or more soothing to the feelings of their families, or more advantageous to the best interests of the State, than those testimonies of National approbation which are usually conferred upon eminent Public Services.

In the long enumeration of Sepulchral Monuments will be seen, how anxious our Predecessors were about depositing the dead bodies of their relations and friends, and erecting Tombs over them, — and whether it proceeded from an affectionate desire to convey to Posterity the names and good actions of their family, or from a religious persuasion and hope of meeting them again in another life, such monuments or memorials have their use, and must not hastily be condemned.

The thought, too, that their remains should ever be disturbed, appears to have

been very distressing to many persons, and their injunctions, in consequence of such apprehension, are strongly expressed.

It is uncertain whether the request and imprecation upon the Grave-stone of our immortal Bard were written by SHAKESPEARE himself, or by one of his friends, -but they, doubtless, allude to the custom of removing skeletons after a certain time, and depositing them in Charnel-houses,— and similar execrations are recorded in many ancient Latin epitaphs,

"Good friend for Jesus' sake forbear
"To dig the dust inclosed here:

"Bless'd be the man that spares these stones,
"And curs'd be he that moves my bones."

In 1681, ROBErt Blanchard, by his Will, after desiring that his body should be decently buried in the Parish Church of Fulham, as deep in the ground as conveniently might be, gave 40s. yearly, provided, that it should be so long continued and paid, and no longer, than the place of his interment, (except for the

burial of a relation or repairs,) should remain undigged and undisturbed.

GEORGE WHITING, by his Will, which is dated in 1709, is equally peremptory,— as he declares, that in case the six freestone tombs, and a grave, in which some of his nearest relatives were interred, and the several inscriptions upon them, should at any time be ruined and destroyed, or be so neglected as not to be sufficiently repaired, or in case any other person should be at any time thereafter (besides himself) buried in any of the same ground, that in either of these cases, all the charities and pious gifts by him given, shall cease and determine.3

In 1722, Mr. JOHN GEORGE, by his Nuncupative will, gave to the poor of Croscombe, in the County of Somerset, 57. a year, as long as his Tombstone remains unmoved,—and the legacy to cease from the moment his Grave should be opened.

This sum is regularly paid, and distri* Rep. vIII. p. 425. 3 Rep. xi. p. 412.

« AnteriorContinuar »