Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-20
IgHE TOMB OF BYRON.
.NtyLY l1rs. NAME AsB WREATH
PROM eREgcE.
An interesting Account Of Recent
visit 10 the Church Of Huek-
nali-forkard.


tered since Byron was buried in it in
1924, yet in the main it retainsits funda-
mental structure and its ancient peculi-
sritles. The tower, an uncommonly fine
specimen OF Norman architecture, strong
ly built, and dark and grim, gives every
indication OF great age. II is Of a kind
often met with IN ancient English towns
Won nav see its own brothers st Canter-
bnry. Worcester, Warwick, and in.
place. sprinkled overs the northern
heights OF London .but amid its
mean surroundings in this littlo col
liery settlement il looms up With pecu-
liar frowning majesty, certain bleak
loneliness, both unique and impressive.
81 Beneath the pavement OF the chancel,
and back Of the altsr-rail-at which 1t
was my privilege 10 kneel while gazing
upon tins sacred spots the grave OF
Byron. Nothing is written on the stone
that covers his sepulchre except the SIM
pie name of byron, in brass letters,
surrounded bv a wreath of leaves
in bass, the Gift Of the King OF Greece;
snd never did name seem more
stately or a place more hallowed.
The dust Of the poet Teposes be-
tween that of his mother on his right
hand. and that OF his Ada" sole dsugh-
Ger OF my honso and heart on his left
The mother died on August !, 1871 the
daughter, who had by marriage become
the Countess Of Lovelace, in 1852. %
buried her with my own hands. said the
sexton, John Brown. when, after little
time, he rejoined me ct the altar rail,
FL told them exactly where he was laid
when they wanted 10 put the brass on the
stone. | remembered ii well, Tor i
lowered the coffin OF the Countess Of
Iovelace into his vault and laid her by
her fathers side" And when presently
we went into a little voGtry or chapel
at the left OF the chancel. he pro-
duced the register OF burials, and dis
played the record OF that interment in
the following words 1882. Died at SO
Cumberland Place, London. Buried,
December 3. Age 36-Curtis Jackson"
The Byrons were n shortliyed race.
The poet himself had Just turned SO
his mother was only 46 when she passed
away. This name of Curtis jackson
in the register was that OF the rector or
curate then incumbent, but now de-
parted. The register is long narrow
book Insde Of parchment, and full OF va
rlous grabbed handwriting-a record very
similar TO that which is so carefully
treasured at the Church OF the Holy
Trinity at Stratford but it is even more
dilApidsted, and when l saw 1t was eyl-
IDENTIFY on the high road to destruction.
Another relic shown by John Brown
was bit OF embroidery, or silken work
OF some sort, presenting the heraldic
arms of the Byron family. 1t had been
u0ed at Byron's funeral, and thereafter
was long kept in the church, though lat
terly with but little care. When the
Rev. Curtis Jackson came there he be-
held this frail memorial with pious dis
appreciation. "He told me, said the
sexton, "to take it home and burn It,
/ did take it home, but l didn't
burn 1t; and when the new rec
tor came he heard Of it and asked
me TO bring it back, and lady
gave the frame to put it in" Framed 1t
u. and likely now to be always preserved
in this interesting church and earnestly
GO / wish that | could remember IN or
der that l might speak IT with honor,
the name of the good clergyman who
could thus rebuke Idle and silly blgotry
and welcome and treasure IN his church
that shred Of silk which once rested ON
tie coffin Of Byron. Still another relic
preserved 10y John Brown is large
piece Of card board giving the inscrlp-
tlon (if | rightly remember it, which is
upon the coffin of the poets mother, and
which bore some part IN the obsequIes
OF that singular wOman-a creature full
Of faults, but the parent OF mighty
genius, and capable of inspiring the
deepest of love. On the night after
Byron arrived bo@e at Newstead,
whittier he repaired from London on
receiving news of her illness, only to
fluid her dead, he WAS found sitting in
the dark and sobbing beside the corpse.
&" had but one friend III the world, he
said, "and she is gone" He was soon
10 publish "Childe Harold and to gain
hosts OF friends aud have the world at
his feet but he spoke what he felt, and
he spoke the truth, in that dark room on
that desolate night. Thoughts OF these
things, and Of many other strange pas
cages and incidents in his brief, check
cred, glorious, lamentable life, thronged
iuto my mind as stood there IN presence
of those relics and 30 near his dust,
while the church grew dark and the
silence seemed to deepen in the duck OF
the gathering night
Ii IL one hundred years ago, the 22d
OF January, since he was born, and sew
enty-si1 years ago. the 29th Of February,
since the first half OF that great poem
was published and if the conviction
throughout the world Of men and wemen
who think can be accepted as an authorl-
". no name in the long anDals Of English
literature il more certain " Immortality
than the name of Byron. People men
ton the poetry of spencer, and Cowley,
aud Dryden, and Cowpsr but the
poetry OF Byron they read. His
reputation can afford the omission of
ali memorial TO him in Westminster Alb
hey, and it can endure even the neglect
end ceusurs Of the precinct OF Noting
ham. That city rejoices in stately
castle throned upon rock, and persons
who admire the Stnarts may exult IN the
recollection that here the standard OF
Charles was first unfurled in his
great war with the Parliament and
people of England; but all that
really hallows it for the stranger
Of o.day and for posterity is
i,s association with the name OF Byron.
Sou will look in vain. however, for any |
tisn of bis past presence in that dismal
place. IL is difficult even to find prints
or photographs of the Byron localities
in the shops OF Nottingham. One /
dealer, from whom | bought oil the |
Byron pictures that he had, was kind |
enough 10 explain the situation in one
expressive sentence "Much more
ought TO be done here about Lord |
Byron's memory, and that is the truth ; |
but the fact is the first families OF the |
county don I approve Of him. )"
Then We again came into the church |
ysfi, with its many scattered graves and |
It's quaint stones and crosses leaning |
..... o.l h-I1faI a., eteor,..,