Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-29
IORn RYRON,s GRAVE

The Byron Memorial Committee. OF
which Mr.. Disraei is chairman, racsn
ly adopted a resolution providing that
slab be placed over Lord Byron's
grave IN the chancel Of Hucknall
Torkard Church. Most admirers of
the poet would deem this a very pro e1
thing, SO far as their appreciation Of
his genius Is concerned and without
knowing the peculiar circumstances of
the case; but it turns out that the
committee have been a trife too fast IN
pushing the project, thereby bringing
about a very pretty little complication
The following letter to Mr.. Disra-
eli, which is published in the Lon.
don TEmes, viii explain the present
aspect Of the matter:
SIR take the liberty Of writing TO YOU
un a subject in which you are az least
uOmiually iuterested-the byron Memo
Iiai Committee" see by an advertise
inert in the Times thai at a general meet
ing, held on Wednesday last, the commit
tee, la your absence, passed, among others,
Che following resolution: "TLat a slab be
placed over Lord Byron's grave in the
Cbanccl Of Huckuall TOrkard Cnurch." /"
The presence Of Lord Lovelace
al the meeting, and his apparent
approval Of this proposal, has no doubt
caused the impression that such a proceed
Ing would be gratifying TO the descendants
and other near relatidhs Of the poet. l am
sure YOU will not misunderstood me if I
tCliyOu thatthe very reverse is the case. The
view taken of this matter by Lord Went
worth and myself, his grandchildren by
Miss Leigh, his niece, and l believe by
Others Of the family, l viii endeav0T TO
express.
We have not forgotten that when Lord
BvrOH's remains were brought back 20
England they were refused a resting place
in Westminster Abbey; that it was left 10
his sister, Mrs. Leigh, and his friend, Nj.
HobhUuse-perhaps the two who lOvedhim
best-t0 bury him, and that together they
placed a tablet TO his memory. What
their affection then deemed suitable
we still hold to be enough, nor
can We think that the addition
OF a slab placed by subscription in Huck-
nall Church would add anything 10 the dig
nifty Of the poets tomb. At least, It is not
for the public which denied q wOrthier
grave, Z" take now, after fifty years, Unask-
ing, from his family the guardianship Of their
dead.
l am sure that if the committee had
been made aware Of this il would not have
passed lhe resolution TO which we object;
but, unfortunately, the opportunity was
not offered 10 ms Of expressing our feeling
10 them. l venture, however, to hope that
you VIII noJrCiuse me your assistance in pri-
vately pointing out this aspect Of the affair
TO the committee, and so render IL unneCes-
saTy for me TO appear publicly ia a matter
which my brothers absence irOm England
leaves me the responsibility Of dealing with.
am, sir, your 0bedieut servant.
ANNE Isabella NoFr Blunt.
To tie r ght Hon. B. Disraeli. NJ p.
Not a great while before his death,
Lord Byron requested that his burial
should be unattended with ceremony
and that only his name and age should
appear on his tomb. He subsequently
expressed the wish that InlpIora Pace,
and nothing more, be placed over his
remains. In "English Bards and
Scotch Reviewers" he wrote
Believe a woman OF an epitaPh,
Or any other thing that's false, before
You trust in critics.
AnC in "Childe Harold
have not loved the world, nor The world me.
The committee will probably not pro
ceed furt er In the matter. Lord
Byron S memory needs an epItaph as
little as he desired one.