Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-27
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE.
ELIMINATION Of the Late Poets
Remains.

Mr.. Brown, chief clerk Of the Department Of
State, has received the following interesting
unofficial letter from the q. S. consul at Malta,
which has kindly been furnished to The STAR for
publication:
TUNS, January 9Th, 1889
Mv dear Mr. B,o,ru:
Learning that the body OF John Howard Payne
author OF "Home, Sweet Home" was to be ex-
humed from its grave in Tunis and sent to Amer
Washington, and learning. too, that probably not
any American would be present resolved to take
p1 to to tae
had written and telegrapheq Mr. Thomas
Reade, the British consul general at Tunis, asking
him to inform me on what day the exclamation
would occur, he replying, ION Wednesday, the Sd
instant" AS no steamer would leave Malta for
Tunls (after the receipt of Mr.. Reade's telegraml
until noon OF the Sd inst, had doubts whether
would be able to reach Tunis in time, particularly
as my steamer would not arrive at Tunis TIL
reaching this place aid calling upon Mr. Resds,
l found the exhumatiOn had not taken place, but
would occur to-day at 10 a. m. You can imagfne
and that Mrs. Worth1ngtOn had accompanied me-
or course, did not come In an Official capacity,
but simply as an American citizen, who could not
''Home, Sweet Home" (once distinguished United
States consul at Tunis, who died and was buried
there In 1859 should be taken nom its grave and
sent to It's native land and not of his country
men be present. Hence came
This morning at IL m. the exhumation took
place, in the presence Of about twenty PERSONS
a few being Tunisians attracted to the spot
through curiosity, the others being laborers en-
p;oyed, and few gentlemen acting as witnesses
paper as witness that the exhumat1on took
place as stated. There were two persons present
Payne, i. e. Mons. Pssani and a dragoman
The coffin was badly decayed and was kept from
when raised, with difficulty ;but every
thing relating to the remains was scrupulously
and reverently preserved and handled. There
was little else than the blackened skeleton left.
Traces of the colonel's uniform, in which Payne
was baried. were distinguishable,- some gold lace
and a few buttons. l asked for a button, which
was given me, and which I enclose to you. MIR.
twig from the large 'pepper tree" that IS growing
at the head OF the now empty grave. this tWig
having fallen on the coffin from which took
At three O'Clock, after the body had been put in
its lead coffin and Sodered, and then into its hard
wood coffin and then its outer box 1t was brought
to the little Protestant church, where it will rest
tonight under guard, and tomorrow morning be
taken to a vessel leaving for Marseilles in the
l will add that tried, unsuccessfuny. to pro-
cure band to play Payne's immortal song as his
not any could piaysHome, sweet Home. "aithough
as che body was brought iato
nes after Which h Ms Mastangon ssnR
the memorial window In the chancel, which few
large hearted EngiShmen had put In there in ten
der and gracious memory OF zone they loved and
touching Of all songs, but for the half melancholy
and wholly beautiful character of the man him.
SELL
II you care to show this letter to Mr.. Corcoran
you can do SO, giving him the pepper branch. 1t
strikes me that Americans cannot too warmly
thank and honor Mr. Corcofan for this most
th0ughtful and patriotic deed OF his That Payne
! should at last sleep in the land OF his own Sweet
Home must be gratifying thought to all his
countrymen. Faithfully yours.
JOHN WORTHINGT0N
Serelton A. Broom, esq, Chier Clerk Department
OF State