Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and CuriositiesAnonymous
History
Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and Curiosities
Anonymous
Westminster Abbey
GENERAL LAWRENCE.--This monument was erected at the expense of the East
India Company, in memory of the man who, by the conquest of Pondicherry,
and the defence of Tritchinopoly, reduced the power of the French in the
East, and paved the way for one of the richest empires that ever a trading
people aspired to command, which, however, was in the year 1783, in so
lamentable a situation, wasted by war, and oppressed by European
plunderers, that, from being one of the richest countries in the world, it
became the most deplorable. On the top is an admirable bust of the
General, to which the genius of the Company is pointing, while Fame is
declaring his noble exploits, at the same time holding in her hand a
shield, on which is written:--"For discipline established, fortresses
protected, settlements extended, French and Indian armies defeated, and
peace concluded in the Carnatic." Close under the bust is written: "Born
March 6, 1697; died January 10, 1775." On a table of beautiful marble in
relief, is represented the siege of a great city, and under it is the word
TRITCHINOPOLY.--_Tayler, sculptor._
Up high is a tablet to Colonel JOHN DAVIS, President of the Council of the
Island of St. Christopher, who died December 13, 1725, aged sixty-three.
PENELOPE EGERTON.--The lady for whom this monument was erected, was
daughter of Robert, Lord Nedham, Viscount Kilmurray, and wife of Randolph
Egerton, of Bentley, in Cheshire, an eminent Loyalist, Major-General of
Horse to Charles I., and Lieutenant-Colonel to Charles II.'s own troop of
Guards. She died in child-bed, April 13, 1670.
A tablet placed high above to the memory of JAMES EGERTON, son of
Major-General Egerton, who died April 13, 1687, aged nine years.
The west window is filled with painted glass: the figures of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, Moses and Aaron, and the twelve Patriarchs; the arms of
Sebert, Edward the Confessor, Queen Elizabeth, George II., and Dean
Wilcocks, Bishop of Rochester: date 1735.
In the window at the end of the North Aisle, is a figure in stained glass
(supposed to be Edward the Confessor), but the colours being of water
blue, no particular face can be distinguished.
In the window of the South Aisle, the figure is supposed to be that of
Edward the Black Prince.
North-West Tower.
The Right Honourable CHARLES JAMES FOX is represented on a mattress,
falling into the arms of Liberty. Peace (with the olive branch and dove)
is reclining on his knee. An African thanking him for the part he took in
the cause of Freedom. Born Jan. 24, 1749; died Sept. 13, 1806, aged
fifty-seven.--_Sir Richard Westmacott, sculptor._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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