Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-07-28
The Homes and ihe GravNs

4
respectfully solicited.
The Homes and ihe GfravAe
rDyRON AND MARY CHAwoRTH.
NorrsSonAm. June 21, 1851.
Byron's grave at Hockall. aid New
stead Abbey, pre objects oflntcrcsts to ms,
and after ulcngthencd stay at Sheffield. I
took an outside sedt on the s,uge for
Mansfield, from which place proceeded
on foot. The roud lay through d success.
sion OF scenery such as meets the eye on:
y in England; and which greets the trav-
eliSr with little variation throughout, the
southern par, Of the British Island. Ches:
ter6eld. on this route is remarkable for
the singular spirc on the old church,
which reminds one Of the leaning towers
Of Pisa. II is constructed Of wood. and.
although nearly straight. Is built 80 is 10
appear from any point Of view as if il were
leaning at an angle Of fifteen or twenty
degrees. Between this town and Mans
field, there are two celebrated castlcs--
one. the old palace Of Hardwich. the other
the ancient baronial stronghold OF Bolso-.
yer. In the centre of the main square Of
the last named town, there is fine goth-
ic monument to the memory Of Lord
George Bcn,inck. young English noble.
man who died a few years ago, at time
when he was rapidly arising to cmincnce
as statesman in the British House Of Par
Lament.
Having strapped my knapsack on my
back, | left Mansfield. and took the turn
pike road TO Derby, the nearest way to
Hucknal. Thcday was warm and pleds-
ant. and my route lay over moor, once
part of Sherwood Forest. The road Cor
some distance was very indifferent. md
equally as bad as any in the United States.
Four miles there were but few houses
within sight; and wild shrubbcry and vel.
low blossoming lurzc grew in abundance
along the highway The soil was sandy.
and poorly cultivated where cultivation
was attempted. walked distance Of
nine miles over lands once The habits Of
Robin Hood and his "nierrio fofcstcrs;"
and in some places the wood was so thick
and extensive. that it did not require a
very active imagination to people them
with the descendants Of the bold outlaw
and his followers. Groves Of fir and pines
intcrsperscd with clumps Of magnificent
oaks, whoscs branches shadowcd all the
wild, fortified cool retreat and pleasant
shade for the weary travc1lef:
stopped ut the toll-gatc to inquire the
nearest way to the village Of Hucknall,
and was directed through apark immcdi-
atcly before mo. 1t was a broad and
highly picturesque landscape, on whose
verdant surface numbers Of deer were
feeding. Groves of giant oaks crowned
the surrounding hills, and the soft summer
: winds were rich with the scent 6f now
mown hay. AS slowly wcndcd my ~ny
along the paths, the scehery bctamc faffiil.
lar. and there was no difficulty in recog-
nzing it from Byron's writings. There
was the "gentlc hill" on which he was
wont to meet with her who was tie object
of his warIDcst and holiest love, and where
his youthful soul first felt how keen a
sting was that Of unrcquited passion. Il
still was
| ''Cirecn and of mild dc 'ivity, the last
Astwcre tho cape OF a long ridge ~ such,
Save thit there no sca 10 lave its base
But a most living landscapc--
but the "trees of circular array" were
gone, and the spot whercon the "youth
and the maiden stood was no longer
shaded by the brBdd branches of oaks,
from within whdst shadow she watched
Looking afir; il yet her lovers s,eed
i Kept pnce with her expectancy and hew."
The summer winds waved the gross up.
on the summit ofthc hill and Anncslcy Park
the birthplace and patrimony Of Mary
Chaworth, looked as erciautingly on thnt
day as If fsorrow had never entered its bor-
ders,
i | returned towards Hucknall, a poor,
struggling hamlet, with but few cottages;
and only famous as the burial place Of
tie Byrons. The church was the princi
pal spot ! cared to visit, und after deposi-
ting my knapsack at the inn, and Sending
for the clerk, ! entered the building
There was company Of English tourists
already there, and their levity was unbei
coming, to say the least Of it. The poet
wheh alive, never entertained n hattcring
opinion Of his countrymen. and his dust
would have crept bad he known that some
Of them were laughing and jcsting over
his grave. Tho interior OF the church Is IN
great disorder. and like the rest OF tho
building, old and dccayed. The vault
wherein this poet lies buried, is covered
with two large slabs Of rough stone clum-
silly fitted together, and the floor around,
which is Of the same material, is broken
and irregular.
A plain white marble table, bearing mi
inscription to the poets memory, is fitted
in the wall and surrounded by black
border. IL is Immediately over the vault;
and beneath il there is cont Of arms, cut III
stone, with the motto, Credc Byr6n;"' aud
in this is the tomb of the author Of "Childe
Haroldl". He reroscs among his anccs-
tors, and near the last resting place Of her
who bore him. Opposite to the poets
tomb is a stone bearing long instnPtict
to the services and worth Of a Byron,
who adhered to the cause of Charles the
First, in the days Of that monarchs misior-
time.
The English e6mpany soon left the
church, and after they were gone, stood
for some time meditating on the chnnges
and troubles Of the life OF him whose ashes
were beneath my feet. A beautiful young
girl Of seventeen summers, with an "eyc az
blue as heaven" and face expressive Of
sinless purity. was firy guide, She was the
daughter Of the Parish Clerk. and during
her fathers absence waited Jn stfangers to
the tomb. recorded MY nante in book
she kept for visitors, and on looking over it
noticed the names Of great number Of A.
nericans. | asked her if she saw many Of
my countrymen, to which che REPLIED in
the affirmativc.-More Of them visit Huck-.
nall than of any other foreigners, and all of
them take great interest in everything re-
lating TO Byron. HAS Lady byron ever
been hcrei" I asked. NO" said she,
moi within my recollection; but last sum.