Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-12-30
fwntteh expressly for the Dayton Empirc.l
A SUMNER In EUROPE.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY - NATIONAL GALLERY -
QUEEN STABLES g. PRINCE AND PRINCESS or
wALEs
Beautiful as is the exterior of some portions
of Westminster Abbey, it was insufficient to
check us even Tor moment, as with eager
footsteps we pressed on to the entrance. We
we're there before the regular morning ser
vice was completed aud we gave n few mo-
ments to the "long drawn ases and lrettod
vaults" Of the ancient corridors Of tho Abbey,
outside of the chapel, Stopping nj the grated
door, which was locked at the time, listened
to tho voices of the singers, which, though
high up and far away, were yet as distinct and
melodious as silver bells, until almost imag-
nod myself at st, Peters gate, stealing some
snatches of the harmonies Of heaven. Ser
vice being over, the door was opened we went
in and stood with strange and solemn emo.
tons in the great mauseleum IN which lie the
noblest and worthiest Of Englands dead.
The place WAS new and strange, hut famil
inr names met me at every step Here ara
the tombs of the uxorious King Henry VIII,
aud of his proud and cruel daughter, the
maiden Queen" Elizabeth. Not far off is
that of the beautiful Mary of Scotland, OF
whom wa have so recently heard 30 much sent
headless to her grave by her cousin the Queen
Of England, principally because she was en-
doved with charms which made her the most
fascinating Of her sex, aud drew to her the
devotion Of some of those whose attentions
Queen Elizabeth regarded as exclusively her
own. InnumGrable eiliges Of Earls, Dukes
aud Barons stared ut us with stony eyes az we
passed through the chapel of Henry the
lVII Upon the tombs of two OF three OF them
there are high flown words of praise, and life
sized figures, representing Fame blowing her
trump to ill the earth forever with their glory,
but their names are no more spoken, and their
memories are perished from tho minds o all
the living What commentary on human
ambition and human pride 500.
In most striking contrast with such ia the
tomb Of Edward la plain stone box una
dorned even by y bust, and unmarked by sin.
gle letter Of eplogy. | wondered how il hap
pened so II was dono, probably, by hia
own directions but did he give those direo
tions because he seorned the poslhumous fame
which u monument gives, or because he knew
that its very panness would make his the
most noticeable tomb Of them all I.I.u
Entering another nave we are lost in viii
derness OF sculpture. Here are ara the formi
of the statesmen Of England Burke, Pitt
Fox and Sheridan-nnd here ia the noble mon
ument to james Watt, the man who in thin
country receives all the credit Of the invention
+ of the steam engine Further down is thi
neat monument 10 Major John Audre, erected
by George III the inscription upon which con
tanned no word which could offend our feeling
as Americans uoi.eyon an innmalion Of bitter
ness towards his exeeutioners. IL is simply
to the effect that he sacrificed his life for hi
country in an important and hazardous entev
prise, and "died lamented even by his foes
Not far beyond Andres is the monument Il
{ Spencer PeroevAl who wns assAssinRted with
in the walls of the House Of Commons, Ma
llth, 1872, A member disliking his eonrs
: in sn important debate, rushed out and annG
himself, and returning, mat him IN the lobb
and shot him idaad Englishmen have N
= right to call our Congressman faronious, wit
Q such a record as this 10 Westminster AkbeJ
In the "Poofa Corner ! found mysel
among friends Here were the names an
i busls Of CHANGER, Spenser Addison, CohgrevI
n Gray. Sheridan, Campbell, Garriek, Cannin
and Mrs. Siddons statue of ShAkespaar
is hero AlsO, bat his dnst is in the fttls ohurc
at strattordop-Ayon He stands pon