American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-01-24
From the (LOndOn) .astc Monthly .Nagasine'
TIE FAULTS OF ST .NTCHgN'S.


y 1t is not generally known that the metropolis o.
ireland contains very singular subterraneous curl
losty--a burial place, which, from the chemical
properties of the soil, acts with certain enbamng
Influence upon the bodies deposited within 1T.
speak OF the vaults beneath ST. Michan's Church
"a scene where those who have The tirmness TO 60
ldowu and look death in the face will find an nstruc.
tive commentary upon the doctrines oil moral humi-
liation that are periodically preached above.
! You descend by few steps into long and mar
row passage that across the site OF the church;
upon each side there excavated ample iecesses,
in which the dead are laid. There is nothing often
sive in the atmosphere to deter you from entering
The first thing that strikes you is to find that decay
has been more busy with the tenement than the te-
nant. In some instances the collins have altogether
dsappeared in Others the lids or sides have moul-
dered away, exposing the remains within, still un-
subdued by death from their original FORM But the
great conqueror Of flesh and blood, and Of human
pride, is not to be balIled with immunity. Even his
mercy is dreadful. 1t is poor privilege 10 be per-
mtted to hold together for century or so, until
your coffin tumbles in about your ears, and then 10
lre-appear, half skeleton, half mummy, exposed to
the Ba1es OF generation that can know nothing OF
lyour name and character beyond the pressing :rad-
ton OF some moralizing sexton. Among these rem
nants OF humanity, for instance, there is the body
above ground Stunned the eyes OF men in the re-
cesses oil convent. But the veil of death has not
been respected. She stands the very first on the
sections list OF posthumous rarltes, and one Of the
most valuable appendages of his Office She is his
buried treasure. Her sapless CHECKS yield him a
larger rent than some acres of arabic land; and
what is worse, now that she cannot repel the impu-
tation, he calls her to her face The Old Num- ln
point of fact, understood that her age was one
hundred and eleven, not including the forty wears
that have elapsed since her second burial in ST.
Michan's.
Death, as has been often observed, is thorough
Radical and levels all distinctions. 1t is 50 in this
place. Beside the Nun there sleeps, not venera
Ole aooess or tImld novice; meek and holy friar
out an athletic young eiob OF the 18th century Who'll
mad shed brothers blood, and was sentenced forI
ne offence to the close custody OF Saint Michan's
faults. This was about one hundred and thirty
Years ago. The offender belonged to family of
ome consideration, which accounts for his being
ound in such respectable society.
he preventative quality of these vaults ia yari-
Jus IN IT'S operation upon subjects of different ages
md constitutions. With regard to the latter, how.
ver, 1t does not appear that persons who had been
emperate iivers ENJOY any peculiar privileges. The
epartsd topper ressts decay sturdiIy as the asce
lc; supplying captain Morris;wilh another "reason
alr' to bill his glass again'' But it is ascertained
nat children are decomposed almost as rapidly here
s elsewhere OF this touching illustration occurs
the case of female who died in childbirth, a.
out century ago, and was deposited in St. Mi "
han's.f Her infant was laid IN her arms. The $
lotneris sui toleraby perfect exemplifying, byV
9 atNuoe' te parental passion strong in death
" the child has long since melted away from her q
mbrace. inquired her name, and was ratherIa
iorIlfied to lind that il has not been preserved.
But was chiefly affected BY the relics of two 81
ersons, OF whom the world has unfortunately heard
= much: the Ill lated brothers, John and Henry
heares' had been told that they were here and II
le moment the light of the taper fell upon the sno
icy occupy, quickly recognised them by one O. Il
Vo circumstances that orcibly recalled the close of
ler career; the headless trunks aud the remains
tne COARSE unadorned, penal shells, to which itltI
e"eu necessary to public justice that they should u
consigned. Henry's head was lying by his bro. a
er's side; Johns had not been comDletelv de- n
ched by the blow of the executioner: one Of The f
garments OF the neck still connects It with the odv
Khe" nothing OF these victims of illtimed enthu d
assn except from historical report but the con, b
anon OF my visit to their grave had been their con m
mporary and friend, and he paid their memories III
e tribute OF some tears; which, even at this dis tn
nee OF time, It would not be prudent to shed in dl
s. privileged place. He Fingered long beside them tn
~ seeiheo 10 ma SAD grauhcaton in relating Sc 10
~ so""eeteu win their tates. Many d
the anecdotes that he mentioned have been al III
ady published Two or three that Interested ~, In
nad not heard before. cit was not TO he 4xnsc Us
i, ne said' THAT such man as John Sheares de
uld have escaped the destiny that belel him. His
om was liked several years before his death
Is passion Tor treedom as he understood il wa. m
cnraoie Tor 1t was consecrated by its association an
IN another passion, to which every thing seemed AZ
suhaoie. You have heard of the once celebrated va
aiemolselle Therouane. John Sheares wa, in III
'ris at the commencement OF the revolution. and
% introduced to her. She was an extraordinary no
wlld imperious and fantastic in her nat ir.
autiiul and fascinating woman. 80 -
lie became dtenlu. en- rnnnrnL &C - '"