The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-06-21 00:00:00

FUNERAL OF CHARLE3 DICKENS.

On Tuesday, with the utmost privacy, Charles
Dtokens was buried in Westminster Abbey. The grave
vas dog during the sight, and early on Tuesday morn-
ing the body was itonveyed, almost before any one was
starring, in a hearse from (ad's-bill to one of the rail-
way stations of the London, Chatham, and Dover line,
whenae it was forwarded to London by • special train,
which reached the Charing-cross station punctually at
nine o'clock. In • few minutes more the hearse, which
war plainneas itself, was on it way down Whitehall to
the Abbey, followed by the three mourning ocaohes. A
few minutes before half-peat nine the hearse and
mourning ooaches—entered Dean's-yard, and the body
was carried through the cloisters to the door of the
nave, where it was met by the Dean, Canon Jennings
sad Canon Nepean, and three of the Minor C 41301311.
The choir were not present, and indeed, for the most
part, were unaware that • gran had been opened in the
Abbey. The service was most impressively read by the
Dean, ell but the Lessor), which was read by the Senior
Canon. There was no anthem, no chanted psalm, no
hymn, tot even an intoned response it" Amen ;" but
tbe organ was played at intervals duringthe mournful
ceremony. The earth was east into the grave by the
Clerk of the Works; the service ended the mourners—
It in number, with perhaps its many more
strangers who secidentally chanced to be present—
gathered round the grave to take a last look at the
coffin which held the great novelist's remains, and to
plain wreaths of imnortelles and other flowers upon the
amain-lid, and the service was at an end, The ooffin
was of plain but solid oak, and it bore the plain and
simple inscription--" Charles Dickens, born February
7, 1812; died June 9, 1870." His grave, which is only
between five and six feet deep, is situated about • yard,
or a yard and • half, from the southern wall of Poet's.
corner ; the spot was selected by the bean from among
the few meant apnoea in that transept; and our readers
will hear with interest that all of Charles Dickies
that is mortal lies at the feet of Handel and at the bead
of Sheridan, with Richard Cumberland resting on his
right hand and Macaulay on his left. His grays is near
the foot of Addison's statue; and Thaekerses bust
looks calmly down upon the grave of his old friend'
Dr. Johnson and Garrick lie within a few pinks a
hi.; sad the busts of Shakespeare, Milton. nod • hest
of other worthies, each of them the glary of Regliett
literature in their day, are but • little further off.
Mr. Dickens's two daughters, his sister-in•law (Mies
Homutb), Charles Dickens, Mr. Walkie Collins, and Kr.
John Forster were among those who followed his remains
to the tomb. The grave, by direction of the Dean was
left open as long as the Abbey was open on Tuesday;
and massy visitors went to Poet's Corner denog
aftereoon to take • lust sad look at the cotlin of Charles
Dickens. In the first mourning cioecalt were Kr. Charles
Dickens, jun., Mr. Harry Diaries, Miss Dickens, and
Mrs. Charles Collioa. In the second eolith, Miss
Mrs. Austin ( kr. Dickens's
J sister)' Mn. Chariot Daglieth,
jun., and Mr. John Forster. In the third south, Kr.
Frank Beard, Mr. Charlie Collins, Mr. Garry, Mr.
Wilkie Collins, and. Mr. Rdmood Dickens. A vault
had been prepared in St. Mary's Chapel, Rochester
Cathedral for the interment of the diseased.