The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-18 00:00:00

Seldom has a writer in modern times so succeeded In win-
ning the universal love and respect not only of hla country-
men but of the entire civilised world.

THE FUNERAL.

On Tuesday morning, at half-past nine, the remains of
Mr. Charles Dickens were privately buried In Westminster
Abbey. The body left Cattailll Place at sic o'clock, and was
conveyed In a special train to the Charing Cross terminus.
There the coffin was at once removed to a plain hearse, with.
out feathers or trappings of any kind. Following were three
plain mourning coaches, containing the members of the
tastily and a few friends, as follow:
In the first coach were Mr. Charles Dickens, sun., Mr.
Harry Dickens, Miss Dickens, Mrs. Charles Collins.
In the second coach, Miss Unearth, Mrs. Austin (Mr.
Dickens's sister), Mrs. Ciliales Dickens, Jun, Mr. John
Forster.
In the third coach, Mr. Frank Beard, Mr. Charles Collins,
Mr ouvry, Mr. Wilkie Collins, Mr. E inland Dickens.
None of the mourners wore bands or scarves, but Were
simply in plain deep blatir.
At shouts quarter past nine the simple cortege quitted
the Math n, where It attracted little observation, only a
few knowing whose funeral it was, for the commit of the
family to the Interment in Westminster Abbey was only given
late on Monday, and then only on the condition that the
strictest privacy was olpermd, and that the ctrertiony !Mould
take place at a time when no crowd was likely to be col-
lected Ti these condition, the Dean or Wealmittater
Instantly consented; in fact, he had proffered them when he
made his urgent r, quest to the family that the remains
should be allowed to rest In Westminster Abbey. A grave
had actually been prepared in the St. Maly's Chapel of
Rochester Cathedral ; but all will feel glad that Mr. Dickens
relatives, at the last moment, consented to gratify what was
assuredly a national desire.
The funeral procession drove to Dean's-yard, which it
reached at about half-past nine. The body was received by
Dian Stanley, the canons, and the other officials of the
abbey, and was at once conveyed t, tough the western
I cloister door along the nave into the Chapel of St. Faith,
better known as loots-corner. Ilere, after the abbey had
been closed on Monday eight, &grave had been dug, which was
simply surrounded by a plain Mack cloth border to indicate
the narrow opening, which otherwise might not easily have
been seen. The grave is situated at the hot of the coffin of
Handel, and at the bead of the eMc of Sheridan,
and between the coffins of Lord Macaulay and
Cumberland the dramatic poet. Only a few feet
removed, and near to the side of Dickens, but to-
wards his feet, lie Johnson and Garrick, while near them
repose the remains of Campbell. The statue of Addison and
the bust of Thackeray overlook the grave at its head. Mak-
%tiara's monument is not far from its foot. Goldsmith's
monument and that to the great Duke of Argyll are on the
lett

the Dean himself read the Burial Service, which was over
before ten, before any visitors were admitted. It was the
Pra)er-book service, read, not chanted or intoned. Between
the prayers the organ played a soft voluntary. When the
coffin, • plain oak one, was lowered Into the grave, and the
service was over, it was strewn with wreaths and flowers
by the female mourners; one large chaplet of white roses
was placed at the head. The brass plate bore the simple
tbscriptioo,

CBARLES DICKENS,
BORN FEBRUARY MI, 1811.
MED JUNE 9111. 187‘).

During the day the grave was left open, and the new. o
the interment having taken place becoming known abroad
literally thousands Come to look Into the grave, and to take a
last look on the shell which holds the remains of one whose
name will log he cherished and held In honour, not
only by Englishmen, but by all English-speaking nations.