Sir THOMAS and Lady ROBINSON. This monument is sacred to the memory of the Dowager Baroness Lechmore, eldest daughter of Charles Howard, third Earl of Carlisle, and widow of Nicholas, Lord Lechmore, afterwards married to Sir Thomas Robinson, of Rookby Park, in the county of York, Bart. who ordered this monument to be erected, with particular directions that his own bust should be placed by hers. She was born October 28, 1728, and died April 10, 1772, aged 44. Sir Thomas died March 3, 1777, aged 76.

WILLIAM OUTRAM, D. D. An accomplished divine, and a nervous and accurate writer. Died August 22, 1678, aged 54. Over Dr. Outram's is a monument erected to the memory of that eminent divine and philosopher, Dr. STEPHEN HALES. Died 4th of January, 1761, in the 84th year of his age.

The monument of ISAAC BARROW has a remarkably fine bust on the top of it. His works have been extravagantly called the foundation of all the divinity that has been written since his time. Died May 4, 1677, aged 47.

Over Barrow's is a neat monument for Dr. WETENHALL, an eminent physician, son of Bishop Wetenhall. Died August 29, 1733.

Adjoining is an elegant monument to the memory of Sir JOHN PRINGLE, Bart. Born in Scotland, April, 1707. Died in London, January, 1782.

Next is a recently erected monument of beautiful marble, to the memory of Sir ROBERT TAYLOR, Knt. who was a superior artist. Died on the 26th of September, 1788, aged 70 years. An urn surmounts a tablet, on which is the following inscription:

Sacred to the memory of Sir Robert Taylor, Knt. whose works entitle him to a distinguished rank in the first class of British architects. He was eminently useful to the public as an active and impartial magistrate. He rendered himself deservedly dear to his family and friends, by the uniform exercise of every social and domestic virtue.

THOMAS

THOMAS TRIPLETT. This great divine was born near Oxford, and educated at Christ church, where he was esteemed a wit, a good Grecian, and a poet. He died at a good old age, July 18, 1670, much beloved and lamented.

Adjoining is a table monument of white marble, erected to the memory of Sir RICHARD COXE. He died a bachelor in the 69th year of his age, December 13, 1623.

ISAAC CASAUBON. This monument was erected by the learned Dr. Moreton, Bishop of Durham, to his memory. He was a profound scholar. Died 1614, aged 55.

JOHN ERNEST GRABE. Over Casaubon's is a curious figure, as large as life, representing this great man sitting upon a marble tomb, contemplating the sorrows of death and the grave. He was a great Oriental scholar. Died Nov. 3, 1711, aged 46, and was buried at Pancras, near London. This monument was erected by Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford and Mortimer.

A very elegant monument to the memory of DAVID GARRICK, Esq. next presents itself. He died in the year 1779, at the age

of 63.

This monument, the tribute of a friend, was erected in 1797. Garrick's throwing aside the curtain, which discovers the medallion, represents his superior power in unveiling the beauties of Shakespeare. Some energetic lines, by Pratt, are on the monu

ment.

Near the above is an ancient monument to the memory of that great recorder of our antiquities, WILLIAM CAMDEN, who is represented in a half-length, in strict costume, with his left hand holding a book, and in his right his gloves, resting on an altar, on the body of which is an inscription, in Latin, setting forth his indefatigable industry in illustrating the British Antiquities, and his candour, sincerity, and pleasant humour in private life. Born May 2, 1551; and, in August, 1622, he fell from his chair, at his house in Chisselhurst, Kent, and never recovered, but lingered till November 9, 1623, and then died, aged 74.

In Poet's Corner there are many names to be met with on the pavement

8

pavement, too considerable to be passed over in silence. Among these are to be found Thomas Parr, of the county of Salop, born in 1483. He lived in the reign of ten princes. Died, aged 152 years, and was buried in this place November 15, 1635. He did penance for bastardy at the age of 130.

Not far from Parr, distinguished by a small white stone, thus inscribed:

"O Rare Sir William Davenant !”

Lie the remains of that once celebrated poet, who, upon the death of Ben Jonson, succeeded him as poet-laureat to Charles I. He was a vintner's son at Oxford, whose wife being a woman of admirable wit, drew the politest men of the age to the house, among whom Shakespeare is said to have been a frequent visitor. Died 1668, aged 63.

Near him lies Sir Robert Murray, a great mathematician, and one of the founders of the Royal Society, of which he was the first president. He died suddenly, July 4, 1673, in the garden at Whitehall, and was buried at the king's expence.

Under the pavement, near Dryden's tomb, lie the remains of Francis Beaumont, the dramatic writer, who died in London in 1515, and was buried here, March 9, without tomb or inscription.

Affixed to the pillars in this place are two table monuments, one to the memory of Dr. SAMUEL BARTON, and the other to Dr. ANTHONY HORNECK.

Before we finally quit Poet's Corner, we must not omit to take some notice of the present vestry, called the chapel of St. Blaze.* It is entered by a strong wooden gate immediately under the great south window, and is a dark, damp, and gloomy chamber, in great

part

The site of the old chapel of St. Blase is occupied by the tomb of Shakespeare, &c. in Poet's Corner, says Mr. Malcolm, but on what authority I know not; neither do I think him correct in thus correcting his first statenent, which is, that this vestry is in fact the site of that chapel.

part filled by large wooden presses used to hold the church trappings of the choiristers, &c.

St. Blase was a bishop and martyr, and had his anniversary on the third of February. The indulgence granted at his altar, marks of which are still visible, was for two years and twenty days.

At the east end of the chapel is a strong plain pointed arch, about two feet in depth, painted in alternate red and white zigzags. The ground of the back part is a dark olive, on which is painted niche of deep red, formed by two ill-shaped pillars supporting a light blue angular canopy, edged with yellow, as are the pinnacles. On the capital of a pillar stands a female saint, coroneted, whose under vestment is blue, and the outer purple. Her right hand, holding a book, crosses her breast, with the fore-finger pointed to a square, crossed by five bars held in her left by a ring on a line with the book. I cannot decide who this figure is intended to represent; nor can I suppose it designed for the blessed Virgin. Though there are many faults in the drawing and in the proportions, there is still an air of graceful dignity throughout the figure, improved by the correct folds of the drapery. It is much injured by the darkness and dampness of the situation. An oblong compartment crosses the arch at her feet, formed into four lozenges of yellow within squares; in the centre is the painting of the Crucifixion, with the Virgin and Mary Magdalene on the sides. The figure of the Saviour is a true representation of a lifeless body, and the linen round it is formed into very correct folds. The figure on the right hand is far superior to that on the left; her under garment is green, and the outer purple; the colours of the vestments on that of the other Mary are the same. The artist seems to have failed most in the hair of the heads. On the left side of the arch, a little higher than the altar, is a praying Benedictine monk, from whose mouth issues an address to the saint, in Saxon characters, now nearly illegible. Two steps of coarse stone to the altar remain;

the

the lower projects into a semi-circle. The pavement is of small red tiles. In the south wall, near the altar, is a deep recess, and over it two large windows, now dark. They have each one mullion and a quatrefoil in the arch. A vast pier, carried into a strong arch, crosses the roof; and from hence westward it is higher than the rest. The ribs spring from capitals on heads of rude workmanship and ghastly effect, but are extremely firm and strong. A fence of deal boards defaces the west end of the chapel. Over it, high in the wall, is an iron-grated window, which opens into a space of considerable width; and in the wall of that is a smaller glazed window. The chapel is destitute of any other light than what streams through it. There are recesses in the north wall, one like that over the altar, and another flatter, with pillars and mouldings. An ancient oaken pulpit,* with a diminutive sounding-board, stands on the south side; the only furniture of the place besides are plain presses, for the supplies of the clergy, gentlemen of the choir, and singing boys already mentioned.

Proceeding from what is strictly called Poet's Corner to the south aisle, the monument of Sophia Fairholm, first strikes the eye. It is a sarcophagus, over which is a wreath of flowers, surmounted by the family arms. We are informed, by the inscription, that she died December 13, 1716, aged 49.

A small oval tablet is affixed to the wall, to the memory of Ann Wemyss, daughter of Dr. Lodowick Wemyss, some time prebendary of the cathedral; and of Mrs. Jane Bargrave, his wife, who departed this life December 19, 1698, in her 67th year.

Under is a neat tablet to the memory of William Dalrymple, midshipman, eldest son of Sir John Dalrymple, Bart. one of the Barons of Exchequer in Scotland, and of Elizabeth Hamilton Mackgill, representative of the Viscounts of Oxford; who, though heir of ample estates, preferred the toilsome and perilous professsion of a

This is the old palpit from the choir.

↑ Mal. Lond. in loc.

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