Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-11-04
VOL. LXXIV.
THE TOMBS OF THE KINGS.

nrau Stanley, III HIS Wotk'ou " eStMluiStef
utsv betrayed to the world the frightful con-
n,on oft he charnel vaults containing the tombs
u', l.,br Stuarts-how the decaying coffin were
,i,nwu one upon the other in hideous confu-
';"n the whole ioterior of the vaults recalling
-. .repe which the morbid fancy of the terror
.,rirkru Juliet coDjures up when she is about
N drink the sleeping potion. 1t now appears
,Sar the tombs of the Pantagenets are in much
,br 'f same condition. This royal family was in-
,.rrcd VI, in the Abbey of Fontevrault, near Sau-
mur Oh the Loire, which, IN the middle ages,
m,s one OF the wealthiest aud most celebrated
v. S's n'onastic vn institutions. In that abbey lie
:, ,n-;sd Henry Ii. and Queen Eleanor, Richard
Ca.nr de Lion and Queen Isabella of Angou-
Iv0a I.ma At the time of the revolution the royal
,omhs we're drspoied, though the monuments
r,,. rars not much hurt. At present the abbey is
rsaj rs prison. the royal chapel is partitioued
os;n,o dormitorics for prisoners, and the tombs
have been removed to dark side chapel. 1t
i nroposed that the French should either re-
S,nre The abbey or present to the English ma.
on the tonbs and remains OF their ancient
t;nrs to be placed in Worcester Cathedral or
some other appropriate place:
The tourist in England will remember that
KIM John sleeps in the choir of Worcester
Cathedral directly before the high altar. ln
l-o7 the tomb was examined, and the remains
Of the king we're found dressed precisely as
ranresented in the efhgy on the tomb. A cor
resrondent of the London Times complains
that this efigy has lately been gilded from
lead to foot, although it is authenticaly known
ha, it originally was painted so as to represent
the king ''iu his habit as he lived '-namely in
a crimson dalmatc lined with green, a yellow
tuuic red hose, golden spurs with blue straps
and black shoes
The tombs of the Bonaparte family at Napo-
lean ST. Leu will now have curious interest
for travellers and it is interesting to speculate
as to whether .Napolean III. will ever rest
there. Should his sou ever succeed in reach
ing the throne there will be formal transla,
ton of the remains from Chiselhurst to France.
Even should the Bourbons triumph it is not
likely that they would refuse to permit the
tody of the dead Emperor to repose IN the
soil Of France. Louis Philippe accorded his
grace to the mortal remains Of Napoleon 1,
and his example will probably be followed in
the case Of ''the nephew of his uncle. Even
the republic could scarce refuse this boon,
which will probably be sought as soon as
France has a stable government.
The last crowned head to lay low in the dust
vs> that Of the late King Of Sweden, who rests
with the other monarchs OF the Bernadotte dy'
nalv ip the vaults OF the Rddarsholm Church
a; Stock holm, where the vast velvet and gold
covered sarcophagi stand on pedestals seen
iIuly in the cold, gray light which IS seantlly
admitted through barred windows. The cothn
Of the last Gar of Russia is kept exposed to
view 10 particular spot In the island church
Of St. Peter S, in the Russian capital. From
the windows of the Winter Pa ace the splre
and roof of this fortress guarded church Is 10
full view across the Neva. The Romanotfs can
always see their tombs; and the Emperor Knows
tic exact spot where Nicholas lies until Alex
audcr shall come to take~his place.
The ancestors of the kings of Italy are all
buried at Turin, and no arrangements have
been made which would indicate that the house
of Savoy intend removing their burial place to
Rome. The Popes of late years have been
buried in St. Peter 5, though their tombs are
indeed to be found in all parts of Italy and at
AviguoD. The present poutitt has selected his
last resting place before the altar OF the Basel
lea of Santa Maria Maggiorc.
The tombs of kings in all parts of the world
Ave kept as show places, and are easily acces>l-
s,o the curious tourist The only royal tomb
which visitors are not permitted, on any terms,
10 Obehod is that of the late Queen Dowager
Of the Belgians in little old church at Laeken,
hear Brussels but when the royal tombs IN
the splendid new church at Laeken are finished
the coffin of the ex-queen will be removed to
the new place Of sepulture.