Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-04-05
Maoaulay's Companions in tho Tomb.

baron Macauiny, says the Lonuon P0sf, now
ies close ut tho ioot Of Westmacotts statue of Ad-
Olson. whom he once 50 happily described "a tho
unsnllied statesman the accomplished scholar, the
muster of pure English eloquonce; tho consul
mate painter of life and manners, and the /" great
satlrists who alone knew how 10 ase ridicale with
out abusing it: who, without inaioting ., wound.
edeoted great social reform, and who reconcilod
wit and virtue. after long and disastrous sep.
Grafton, during which wit had been led agtray by
prohigacy. and virtue by fanaticism." The re-
mains OF Addison, however, are Mt some distance
from the spot on which tho monument stands
they are in tho chapel Of Henry VII; and Il was
not until three generations had laughed and wept
over his pages that any tablet was raised to bis
memory in tho Abbey. Macaulay said OF the sta.
tue which now keeps watch over the newl y-closed
grave:
1T represents Addison NJ We can conceive him
clad in his drcssng-gown, and freed wig,
stepping from the parlor at Chelsea into his trim
little garden. with the account Of the Everlasting
Club, of the Loves Of llilpa and Shalum. just
finished for tho next days Spectator 10 his hand"
Thiekly strewn near the grave OF Macaulay are
tho relies OF men whose names still held In 70.
seience. and whose works adorn tho literature Of
our country. As a poet. not less than brilliant
essayist Macaulny has earned place among the
grent men Of the past and present, and In death
the author Of the Lnys OF Ancient Rome. and the
ballad on the Spanish Armada will face Thomas
nres of Hope. few feet from the grave of tho
ennoblcd poet of tho nineteenth century, stands
the fna old piece OF Gothic sculpture which marks
tho resting place of Chauoer--fathcr of English
p1etry.. ...
just opposite to tho tomb Of Chaucer, "the day
stnrre' OF English poetry, is the monument Of
"Farie Spcnser,' tho sunrise of our poetry, who
died. as Ben Jonson tolls " for lack Of bread 70.
iusing the twenty pieces sent him by my Lord
ol Essex, as he was sorry he had no tue to spend
,hcm.' Fairly obIitorated by the hand Of Time,
tho tomb of Spencer bears the inscription, "IIero
lies Tho body Of Edmund Spenser, the prince ot
poets in his time. whose divine spirit needs no 9th.
er witness than the works which no hns left DO.
hind him." Beaumont the drnmatist sleeps hero
too, but no memorial or inscription marks his res
ting place. IL IL, however, Immediately behind
Chaucc. q tomb. A marble much defhced. erected
by the Countess Of Dorset, bears very iegible
character and inscrip ption written by Ben johnson
for the tomb Of Drayton. Still nearer Macaulay's
grayc there is tho small pavement stono with the
inscription 80 raro Ben Johnson" which Aubrey
tells US what was done at the charge OF Jack Young
who, walking there when the grave was covering,
gave tho fellow eighteen pence to cut 1t. Az tho
recent relaying VI the pavement Of The Abbey the
original stone was removed and destroyed. A tow
feet deep was tho monument Of Gowley. raised by
George Duke Buckingham, A monument raised
by Sheffield Dnko of Buckingham, marks tho grave
oi Dryden. Glorious John" who was followed to
bis resting place by mourners in twenty mourning
coaches, each drawn by six horses, and at whose
requiem an ode Of Horace was sung. with an az
compartment Of trumpots and hautboys. ID,
The only titled poet that sleeps in this part Of
tho Abbey is the Earl of Roscommon the famous
master of the horse to tho Duchess Of York at the
Restoration. Another companion Of Maeaulay il
Nicholas Rowe. There are also Matthew Prior
aud John Gay, and he whose tomb bore the m
scrption. in imitation Of that OF johnson, 20
rare Sir William Davenant )" and Samuel John
Aon, David Garrick and Richard Drinslsy Sheri-
dan, and Camden. the father Of English history;
May, the historian Of the long Parliament; Gil
ford, tho editor Of the Tory Quartarly Review -
DR.. Parr, and numerous others. At the opposite
or north end Of the transept, there towers above
other memorable graves tho stately monument Of
Chatham Of whom Macaulay wrote, and tho
Among the eminent men whose bones lie near
him. scarcely one hns left moro stainless. und
none more splendid name"