National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-01

George ". This banquet cost f26s.ooo. 1t was
considered such an extravaganza, such waste OF
public money that from that time the custom OF
banquet was discontinued. Queen Victoria was
crowned in Saint Edwards Chapel At the inter
section of the choir and transept temporary plat
form was erected and covered with cloth of gold.
Here was placed the coronationchair, in which
she sat and received the homage of her officers.
THE POETS CORNERS.
This corner contains many tombs, busts, and
other mementoes of the poets. Here lies the
bodies with monuments to their memory, of Dick
ems, Thackeray, Chaucer Milton, Campbell, Butler,
Spenser, Drayton, Shakespeare and many others.
Near CampbelPs statue is bust of Southey. Dick
ems lies buried at the footof Ronbilacs monument
to Handel. A fragment of the monument OF Anne
of Cleves the fourth wife of Henry VIII is still to
be seen, although much mutilated. Shakspeare's
monument has three heads on pedesas, repre-
senting Henry V, Richard III, and Queen Ellz-
abeth.
THE cHAPELs.
st. Edwards Chapel is the chapel where the
coronation ceremony usually takes place. In the
middle of the floor is the shrine Of Edward the
Confessor, and sculptures emblematic OF ms reign
adorn the walls At one end of the chapel is the
tomb of Henry V. 1t was formerly adorned with
an oaken efigy, which had silver head, but the
precious metal overcame the honesty of some VS.
trunk. Here, also, are the tombs of several Kings
and Queens. The Chapel of ST. Erasmus contains
many of the oldest tombs. Here are two monu-
ments of knights Templars-EdmundC rouchback,
son of Henry III, and Aylmer de Violence, son OF
William de Violence. Near the tomb of the Count
| ess of Lancaster is monument to General Wolfe,
who died at Quebec in 1859. The Chapeis OF ST.
John, ST. Andrew, and st. Michael. ell in one, are
| nearly filled with tombs. The Chapel of st. Ed
| wards contains various monuments. Among them
| is the sleeping figure of Lady Elizabeth Russell,
whose death was oceasioned by pricking her finger
with needlewhile sewing. There is an engraved
brass tomb to the Duchess of Gloucester, who died
in 1882 1t is said to be the finest one in London
The Chapel of ST. Nicholas contains the remains of
Katherine Valois, wife of Henry V, and monu-
ments to many dukes and duchesses. Henry the
VII Chapel is of Gothic architecture of the finest
| workmanship. Here is an elegant mOnu ment to
Mary, Queen of Scots. At the east end is the tomb
of Henry VII and his Queen, carved in black mar
BILE. At one side is the tomb of the Duke of Buck
ingham, who assassinated by FELTON,. Some
bones found in the Tower, supposed to be those of
| the infant Princes Edward and Richard, are in
| TERED here
St Paurs Chapel contains monument in black
marble to Lord Cattngdon. Growing the top of
! this pedestal is a bust of Lady Cattingdon sur
rounded by circular gilt frame. One of the old
| est monuments in the chapel is dedicated to Lord
Bourchier, Henry VS. standard-bearer at Agiyo-
court
| WESTMINSTER SCHOOL.
Among all this array of dead the living do still
abide. In the Abbey live deans, verges, bcadles,
choristers, boys, professors and Others Westmin-
ster school was founded by Queen Elizabeth in
1900 This portion of the Abbey is reached through
| Little Deans yard and formerly dormitory
for the Monks of St. Peters. Here the boys, with
l l-rnffa
have cut and carved their names for many genera
| tions.
Gibbon, Lc IKE Cowper, Southey, and Dryden
were educated in Westminster School, and have
immortalized both themselves and their alma
mater Until very recently Drydens name was to
be just as he had cut it in of the benches.
| Now time, the great obliterator of the deeds of
men, has worn away the wood until only faint
marks are seen where the letters once were.
|