Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-10-24
A WASHINGTON MEMORIAL.

There appeared, some years ago, in
one Of our Philadelphia papers, an ac-
count of monument in q church in Wilt
shire, England, to the memory Of an an
cestor Of Washington, "Sir Lawrence
Washington,'' who died in 1913. The
details that were given we're extremely
picturesque and attracted much attention
but not being in any way authenticated,
were read with some distrust; the more
so as the monument in question seemed
to have escaped Mr.. Sparks careful re-
search. We have great pleasure in pub
fishing the following agreeable letter on
this subject from Mr.. Macready, the ira
gedian, now, we are glad to learn, on his
way TO this country, which has been fur.
nished to us by the gentleman one of
our immediate felow-citizens,-to whom
it was addressed. Mr.. Macready's pill
grimage to this sequestered Washington
tomb, seems to have been made in a true
and reveren:ial spirit, and shows the in
fuence of feelings which must be appre-
clated by our countrymen. The letter,
it will be seen, is private one:-Ed.
Cath. Herald.
5 Clarence Terrace, Regents Park,)
LONDON, Aug. 95, 1848.
My DEAR S1R-Most happy should |
have been, if with my own free will to
indulge, could have set out at once on
the receipt Of your letter through the
beautiful green lanes of Wiltshire, in
search Of the obscure village where once
tie ancestors of your Washington were
lords Of the soil. | do not know whether
should say YOUR Washington, whose
fame and example is the worlds, and in
: whose ''all cloudless glory (which few
mems is TO free his country" all men
must rejoice. As soon, however, as
could discngage myself from theatres and
crowded towns, started with my eldest
, boy upon the agreeable pilgrimage, you
had enjoined on me, About mile and
, a half or miles from the turnpike road,
we found the little sequestercd hamlet,
for it seems scarccl y to rise to the dignity
of a village, called Garsdon, distant from
Malmsbury about three and from Oricl1-
: ladc about eleven miles by my best guess.
1t is situated in an abruptly undula,ng
country, commanding from the high lev
2 els range Of prospect rich in beauty,
t towards every point of the compass. The
. church. yard occupies sort of natura
platform, which in parts suggests the idea
Of its having been cut away for the pur-
poses Of fertilization. The church is
! pain to absolute baroness, without one
t trace Of decoration beyond four or five
separate panes Of stained glass still re-
. naming in the small Gothic windows
V lis tower is solid, square, wel-propor.
toned piece Of architecture, with a slight
: ly ornamented parapet, pierced with lrc
9 foil. We entered by small doc: in tho
y chance!; plain wooden table underneath
+ the eastern window without the least pre-
tension to ornament: not carving, mould
It ing, gliding or painting Of any sort what
e ever, marked the place for the commu
;. MON service; the walls, plainly white
c washed exhibited all Indifference to pomr
c and vanity, that might have satisfied Cal
vim or Knox himself. Directly opposite
to us on enlering--on the left hand Of the
n cbanccl!-was the object Of our quest
d There was nothing in the building, will
its plain round vau|ted roof and simple
deal pcws, to divert our attention or de
r" tain US from the examination of the monu
ment. Its centre is black marble oya
y tablet, encirclcd by thick wreath O
g laurel in berry. set beneath a cornicc O
= of white marble surmounted by the fami
>. y arms, on each side Of which arc two
d recumoent figures, resembling, if indeed
intended to typify any sentiment or idea
It the sort of parsonage should describe a.
o Libitina. The cornice is supported By
two twisted pillars Of black marble ano
d based upon plinth sustained by cher
n ub's head with outspread wings. The
gliding and the colors are still frest
! though somewhat worn; the size of the
monument from one extreme point to the
. other is about six feet, and broad IN pro
!, portion.
= | enclose you sketch, which my son
]. made Of it.; at the back of which l give 6
!, corrected copy Of the inscription, by
e which you will see the former transcri
9 Der had mistaken some words, particular
, ly the place Of Sir Lawrence's death
Oxford, and the word ''urne'' in the las,
verse. r.. ST &i9 oIu,e sH,. @tt
:. @ To the memory of liz
ST.. LAWRENCE WASHINGTON, Kt
r Lately Cheife Register Of the Chancery
: OF known picty, Of charitye exemplarye
e A lovinge husband, tender father, a
=. Bountiful Master, constant reliev-
s er Of the poore, and to those Of g.
i sGsna this parish III 'w&ss
A perpetual Benelactour, whom it pleas.
ed God To take unto his peace from