Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and CuriositiesAnonymous
History
Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and Curiosities
Anonymous
Westminster Abbey
WILLIAM OUTRAM, D.D.--The Latin inscription sets forth that he was born in
Derbyshire, fellow of Trinity and Christ Church Colleges in Cambridge,
Canon of this Abbey, and Archdeacon of Leicester; an accomplished divine,
a nervous and accurate writer, an excellent and diligent preacher, first
in Lincolnshire, afterwards in London, and lastly at St. Margaret's,
Westminster, where he finished his life with great applause, August 23,
1679, aged fifty-four. The inscription on the pedestal shows farther, that
after a long and religious life, and forty-two years of widowhood, Jane,
his wife, died Oct. 4, 1721.
A fine figure of JOSEPH ADDISON, Esq., on a circular basement, about which
are small figures of the nine muses. The Latin inscription is to the
following purport:--"Whoever thou art, venerate the memory of Joseph
Addison, in whom Christian faith, virtue, and good morals, found a
continual patron; whose genius was shown in verse, and every exquisite
kind of writing; who gave to posterity the best examples of pure language,
and the best rules for living well, which remain, and ever will remain
sacred; whose weight of argument was tempered with wit, and accurate
judgment with politeness, so that he encouraged the good, and reformed the
improvident, tamed the wicked, and in some degree made them in love with
virtue. He was born in the year 1672, and his fortune being increased
gradually, arrived at length to public honours. Died in the forty-eighth
year of his age, the honour and delight of the British nation."--He was
buried in front of Lord Halifax's monument, north aisle of Henry the
Seventh's Chapel.--_Sir Richard Westmacott, sculptor._
LORD MACAULAY.--The body of this eminent historian is deposited close to
the statue of Addison. Born October 25th, 1800; died December 28th, 1859.
Near the statute of Addison are two fine busts, one on each side, of LORD
MACAULAY, by Burnard; and THACKERAY, by Marrochetti.
GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL.--This is the last monument which that eminent
statuary, Roubiliac, lived to finish. It is affirmed that he first became
conspicious, and afterwards finished the exercise of his art, with a
figure of this extraordinary man. The first was erected in the gardens at
Vauxhall, therefore well known to the public. The last figure is very
elegant, and the face is a strong likeness of its original. The left arm
is resting on a group of musical instruments, and the attitude is very
expressive of great attention to the harmony of an angel playing on a harp
in the clouds, over his head. Before it lies the celebrated Messiah, with
that part open, where is the much-admired air,--"_I know that my Redeemer
liveth_." Beneath, only this inscription:--"George Frederick Handel, Esq.,
born Feb. 23, 1684. Died April 14, 1759."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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