American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-05-31
VOL. Nv.
DRYDEN.s FU.NERaL.

stances attending the funeral Of Dryden, detailed
by one oil his cotemporaries) will be read with in
terest, not only as relating to of the most SPLEEN
did and powerful geniuses of the age in which he
lived, but being forcble illustration of the over
bearing insoence OF the arstocracy Of that period.
The brutal, cold blooded ruhanism and contempt of
public opinion evinced by Lord Jeferes (son Of The
infamous lord chancellor Jeferes.) can hardly be
credited at the present day, though il was characs
terisc of the higher classes throughout Eurore at
that time, great has been the change produced in
a century and quarter, by the general diffusion of
knowledge. If at this time drunken young lord
should thus interrupt the pompous regularity Of
magnificent funeral, he would be overwhelmed with
universal execration and contempt Salem Gag.
1 Mr.. Dryden dying on the Wednesday morning,
DR.. Thomas Sprat, then bishop Of Rochester and
dean of Westminster, sent the next day to the lady
I Elizabeth Howard, Mr.. Drydenss widow, that he
would make present OF the ground, which was 40
; pounds with sll the other Abbey fees. The Lord
Halifax likewise sent TO the lady Elizabeth, and Mr.
i Charles Dryden her son, that, if they would give
, him leave to bury MIR. Dryden he would inter him
with gentleman's private funeral, and afterwards
bestow five hundred pounds on monument in the
I Abbey which, they had no reason to refuse,
they accepted. On the Saturday following, the
l company came the corpse was put into velyes
!, hearse, and eighteen mourning coaches, filled with
company, attended. When they we're just ready to
move, the IOTu GHeHCeoT WIN sobie VI
, his raksh companions coming by, asked whose
funeral it was and being told Mr.. d. ytlen's, he
said, What, shall Dryden, the greatest honour
and ornament OF the nation, be buried alter this
private amer? No, gentlemen, let all that loved
!. Mr.. Dryden, and honor his memory, alight and
. join with me in gaining my lady's consent to let ne
! have the honor of his inierment, which shall be
after another manner than this and will besow
d l0O0l. on monument in the Abbey for him" The
d gentlemen in The coaches. not knowing the bishop
n of Rochester's favor Of the Lord Haiiax's
generous design they having ont OF respect to the
family enjoped the lady Elizabeth and her son TO
d keep this favor concealed 10 the world, and let it
pass for their own expense readily came out Of the
fcoaches and attended Lord Jeferies up to The ladys
e bed side, who then sick; he repeated the pur-
. port of what he had before said but she absolutely
refusing, he fell on his knees, vowng never to rise
It'll his request granted. The rest OF The com.
pany by his desire kneeled also and the lady, be-
ing under sudden surprise, tainted away. As soon
Is she had recovered her speech, she cried No, no.
e Enough, gentlemen, replied he, my lady is very
It good. she says Go. go. She repeated her former
n words with all her strength, but in vain; for her
y feeble voice lost in their accamatons OF JOY
e and Lord JeHeres ordered the hearseman to carry
If the corpse 10 Mr. Russes, undertaken in Cheap
is side and leave it there, till he should send orders
for the embament, which, he added should be alter
lie the royal manner. His directions were obeyed, the
ID remained nconsolabe. The next day Mr.. Charles
l. DRYDEN waited on the Lord Halifax and the Bishop,
IN to excuse himself and his mother ny relating the
d. real truth. But neither his lordshp nor The Bishop
would admit Of any plea especially the latter, who
n had tine Abbey lighted, the ground opened, the
a. choir attending an anthem ready set, and himself
at waiting for some time without any corpse to bury.
re The undertaken, after three days expectance OF
all orders for embament without receiving any, wait.
ed on the Lord JeHeries; who. pretending gno-
trance of the matter turned it off with an ill-naured
lest SAYING that those who observed the orders OF
drunken frolic deserved no BETTER that he re
Is bered nothing all of it, and that he might do what
!" he pleased with the corpse. Upon this the under
taker waited ON the lady Elizabeth and her son, and
= threatened bring the corpse home, and set It be-
Il fore the door, They desired days respite, which
~ was granted. Mr. Charles Dryden wrote hand
some letter to the Lord Jefieries, who returned il
y with this cool answer: That he knew nothing oil
on the matter, s. would be troubled no more about it,
u He then addressed the Lord Halifax and the Bishop
= of Rochester. who absolutely refused to do any
r thing in it. In this distress DR.. Garth sent for the
corpse to the College of Physicians, and proposed
- a funeral by subscription, to which himself set
=. most noble example. AT last day tabuut three
= weeks after Mr. Dryden's deceass) was appointed
:. for the intel ment DR.. Garth pronounced hne
Latin oration the College, over the corpse which
was attended to the Abbey by numerous tram OF
,s' coaches-When the funeral over, Mr.. Charles
nc Dryden sent challenge to the Lord Jeeries, who
y refusing to answer it, he sent several others, and
went often himself; but could neither get letter
delivered, nor admittance TO speak to him; which
so ncensed him. that he resolved since his lordshp
'a' refused to answer him like gentleman, that he
would watch an opportunity to meet and fight OIL
n hand, though with all the rules of honor which his
=. ordshp hearing, left the town: and Mr. Charles
DC Dryden could never have the satisfaction OF meeting
u him. though he sought, till his death with The Ut
~ most appIcation.2