Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXIX., October, 1852Various
Religion
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXIX., October, 1852
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
"On the last night of his existence, he appeared unusually tranquil--he
had slept a little: when he awoke, he requested that the curtains
of his bed should be drawn aside to contemplate the moon, which, at
its full, was advancing calmly in the immensity of the pure heavens.
At this solemn hour, he seemed desirous to return to Nature all the
soft sensations which he was then possessed of; stretching forth his
hand toward his enchanted violin--to the faithful companion of his
travels--to the magician which had robbed care of its stings--he sent
to heaven, with its last sounds, the last sigh of a life which had been
all melody."
The great artist expired on the 27th of May, 1840, at the age of 56,
leaving to his only son, Achille, an immense fortune, and the title of
Baron, which had been conceded him in Germany. All had not ended with
the man whose life was as extraordinary as his talent. Whether from the
effect of certain popular rumors, or whether from Paganini having died
without receiving the last rites of his church, he had left doubts of
his faith; his remains were refused interment in consecrated ground
by the Bishop of Nice. Vainly did his friends solicit permission to
celebrate a solemn service for his eternal rest; the bishop remained
inexorable, but proffered an authentic act of decease, with permission
to remove the body wheresoever they pleased. This was not accepted,
and the matter was brought before the tribunals. All this time, the
body was remaining in one of the rooms of the hospital at Nice; it was
afterward removed by sea from the lazaretto of Villa Franca, near that
city, to a country spot named _Polcevera_, near Genoa, which belonged
to the inheritance of the illustrious artist. At length, the friends
of the deceased obtained permission from the bishop of Parma to bring
the body into the Duchy, to remove it to the _Villa Gajona_, and to
inter it in the village church. This funeral homage was rendered to
the remains of this celebrated man, in the month of May, 1845, but
without pomp, in conformity with the orders which had emanated from the
government.
By his will, made on the 27th of April, 1837, and opened the 1st of
June, 1840, Paganini left to his son, legitimized by deeds of law, a
fortune estimated at two millions (£80,000 sterling), out of which two
legacies were to be paid, of fifty and sixty thousand francs, to his
two sisters, leaving to the mother of his son, Achille, an annuity
of 1,200 francs. Independently of his wealth, Paganini possessed a
collection of valuable instruments; his large _Guarneri_, the only
instrument which accompanied him in his travels, he bequeathed to the
town of Genoa, not being desirous that an artist should possess it
after him.
NUMBER NINETEEN IN OUR STREET.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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