Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and CuriositiesAnonymous
History
Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and Curiosities
Anonymous
Westminster Abbey
A bust sacred to the memory of the Right Honourable WARREN HASTINGS,
Governor-General of Bengal; Member of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy
Council, LL.D., F.R.S., descended from the elder branch of the ancient and
noble family of Huntingdon. Selected for his eminent talents and
integrity, he was appointed by Parliament, in 1773, the first
Governor-General of India, to which high office he was thrice re-appointed
by the same authority. Presiding over the India Governments during
thirteen years of a most eventful period, he restored the affairs of the
East India Company from the deepest distress to the highest prosperity,
and rescued their possessions from a combination of the most powerful
enemies ever leagued against them. In the wisdom of his counsels, and the
energy of his measures, he found unexhausted resources, and successfully
sustained a long, varied, and multiplied war with France, Mysore, and the
Mahratta states, whose power he humbled, and concluded an honourable
peace, for which, and for his distinguished services, he received the
thanks of the East India Company, sanctioned by the Board of Control. The
kingdom of Bengal, the seat of his Government, he ruled with a mild and
equitable sway, preserved it from invasion, and, while he secured to its
inhabitants the enjoyment of their customs, laws, and religion, and the
blessings of peace, was rewarded by their affection and gratitude; nor was
he more distinguished by the highest qualities of a statesman and a
patriot, than by the exercise of every Christian virtue. He lived for many
years in dignified retirement, beloved and revered by all who knew him, at
his seat of Daylesford, in the county of Worcester, where he died in
peace, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, August 22, 1818. This memorial
was erected by his beloved wife and disconsolate widow, M. A. Hastings.
Over the inscription is a bust, greatly like him, executed by Mr. Bacon.
A statue to the memory of FRANCIS HORNER, who, by the union of great and
various acquirements, with inflexible integrity, and unwearied devotion to
the interests of the country, raised himself to an eminent station in
society, and was justly considered to be one of the most distinguished
members of the House of Commons. He was born at Edinburgh in 1778, was
called to the bar both of England and Scotland; and closed his short but
useful life at Pisa, in 1817. His death was deeply felt, and publicly
deplored in Parliament. His affectionate friends and sincere admirers,
anxious that some memorial should exist of merit universally acknowledged,
of expectations which a premature death could alone have frustrated,
erected this monument, A.D. 1823.--_Chantrey, sculptor._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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