Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-11-27


Mr.. BsyArd Taylor, who is now tras-
cling in Europe. lately paid visit 10 War
wick castle. which stands on the banks Of
the Avon. and is but six miles from Shaks-
peare's birthplace. He relates that in the
armory Of the castle he saw . revolving
musket, more than two hundred years old.
.alusast precisely similar TO Colts. having
single barreL to which is attached re-
volving cylinder containing six chambers
There is a Hint lock and pan to each cham.
her, and the firing Of one discharge brings
the succeeding chamber to the barrel
Mr.. Taylor visited Shskspcarc's birth
place. and particularly the cottage where
he was born. AT the moment be touched
its threshold. young and enthusiastic
EngIishman asked the old woman who
shove the place. if he might cut piece
from of board in font Of 1t. Bless you,'
said she. Shakespeare bad nothing to do
with that; the butcher who had the house
long after him put that up Upon Mr..
Taylor's asking the old woman whether
the house had ever been damaged by hun
tiers Of relics, she said that the worst In
stance wac that pf party Of boarding
school girls. who asked to be left alone in
the room where Shakespeare was born. IN
order that nothing might disturb the i'm
pres ion of,bc spot. After they left. large
square block was found to have been cut
from the maniclpiece.'
Twenty years ago, when We paid visit
to the little low rooted and low ceiling cot
taac, or shsn,y, in which Shakespeare is
sid to have been born. the curious hunters
Of relies had began to pick pieces from that
mautelpiecc, which was worm eaten, and
nearly rotten, and the walls Of the room,
and the very ceiling. were covered with
the signatures Of a year OF ambitious visi-
tiers. These signatures were every now
and then whiiew ashed out. to give room
for those Of other worshippers at the shilne
Of the sweet bard Of Avan' In the room,
at the time we were there, was table
made Of mulberry. which was for sale,
but the woman who then played the part
OF showing the place would not ronch that
il was made Of the tree the poet sat under
in his own garden. Everything about the
cottage, at the time we were there, was SIN
gulsriy unimprcssive.
The only thing that we saw at the little
town Of Avon. that at all touched US was
the grave Of Shakespeare, in the pretty lit
tie church ofihc place Of his nativity. Yet
there was nothing in the mere appearance
Of the grave that was impressive. You
we're moved and touched by the fact that
YOU stood over the mortal remains of the
immortal Shakespeare; and the simplicity
Of his burial place, the absence OF anything
Ike ostenta,iousness or display about II.
lend a solemni'y to your thoughts, and fill
tlrem with reverence that would other
wise be wanting. The stone that lies fiat
over the body Of Shakespeare. is nothing
more than an ordinary paving stone. in
which has been rudely cut these lines:-
diood friend. for Jesus sake forbenr
To dig the dust incloscd here;
Hest be the that spares these stones.
Aud cursed be he that movcs my bones
Avon and its surrounding country are
remarkable for their beauty, and for their
romantic and historical associations. Tho
river Avon itselfis but mere stream, that
a good jumper may master either side of
At will. But it runs through what may be
called the garden Of England; washes the
walls Of one. of the oldest. most imposing,
and best preserved castles now in Eng
land. The town Of Avon is not more than
twelve miles from the magnificent castle
of q ueen Elizabc,h's Earl Of Leicester, to
which Shakespeare must have been called
upon to pay many a visit, and to the libra
~ of which he no doubt had access. 1t
is now beautiful and imposing ruin. No
ono ho visits England should fail to visit
Avon, the iowa Of Warwick, and the lille
curious old town Of Coventry. (ten miles
from the latter place,) the SC enc of the sto-
ry Of Lady Goodwin and pceping Tom
n. y Sun. Mercury.