The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-09-09


minister Abbey. 'Oh,' said he, that will
not be-; after all I would rather have
Moyanna.' It is evident that DIR. Graf
tan esteemed it a high honor for his
father to get grave in the Abbey, and
he endeavored in every way to induce
him to change his mind as regards being
buried at Moyanna. On June 3, the day
before Grattan died, his son agein in
formed him that it was the wish of the
Duke OF Sussex that his remains should
be inferred in Westminster Abbey.
"Well,'.' said the dying patriot, in an i'm
patient tone, annoyed no doubt by those
persistent opportunities, "well, West
minister Abbey be it," And so the Duke
of Sussex had his way, and Ireland was
denied the ashes of one so dear to her as
Henry Grattan. she lived the life, he
died the death, but he does not sleep in
the tomb of an Irish patriot" exclaimed
Sir John harrington. "England," he
added, has taken away our constitution,
and even the relics of it's founder are re-
tanned through the duplicity of his en-
emy'
The grave of Grattan is, at first, diff
cult to find, even though you know it is
in the north transept. There are benches
along the aisle at each side with a pas
sage in the centre, ana examined the
flags On this passage for the "plain
stone'' which "The Popular Guide to
Westminster Abbey" told me marks the
spot where Grattan sleeps. Up at the
beginning of the benches, and about
yard in from the glass swing doors of the
transept, the name "Charles James Fox''
on one of the flags caught my eye, and
after brief but liligent search discov-
cred, close at hand, the ''plain stone,"
hidden underneath the benches on the
right hand or west side of the passage.
The grave is completely covered by the
first and second rows of seats, and by
board which extends the length of the
first bench for the convenience of wor-
shippers who desire to kneel during SEA-
vice. had to raise this board before I
could see the lettering on the stone, and
even with that obstruction removed l.
had to endure some awkward twistlngs
and .urnings of my head, underneath the
seats, ere could read the simple inscrip-
HENRY GRATTAN,
4th June, 1920
I have often sat close to the grave for
hours during frequent visits to the ab-
bey, and of the thousands who passed to
and fro, not even a single one noticed or
looked for the last resting place Of Henry
Grattan. This, then. IS the grave in
Westminster Abbey-obscure, hidden,
unnoticed, because unnoticeable-which
was forced on the acceptance Of the dy-
ing patriot IN preference to grave in
the quiet little burial ground at Moy-
anna, in his native land, amid scenes
to which he was devotedly attached-a
resting place to which pilgrimages would
have been as popular as to OConnell's
grave at Glasnevin, and over which a
monument would have been erected by
the Irish people worthy OF the hero of
the glorious year of 1882,
Two years later Castlereagh was laid
at the feet of Grattan. He died, Marquis
of Londonderry, by his own hand on
Aug. IL, 1922, at his country residence at
Crawford, Kent. The Times of Aug. ID
contains about column and a half Of
the evidence given at the inquest on the
remains on the previous day. The coro.
ner, Mr.. Joseph Carttar, appears to have
been extremely anxious lest verdict of
telo de SO should be returned. He made
speech to the jury at the opening of
the proceedings in which he urged that
the deceased was laboring under men,
tai delusion when he cut his throat.
DR.. Bankhead, medical adviser to Cas-
tlereagh, was examined. In the course
of his evidence he stated that he had
been sent for on the morning of Aug Il,
by the marchioness, as it was feared that
everything was not all right with his
lordship, and continuing, be gave the fol-
lowing description of the last tragic>a and
awful scene:
Istepped into his lordship's dressing
room, and saw HIM in his dressing gown,
standing with his front towards the win
dow, which was opposite to the door at
which entered. HIS face was directed
towards the ceiling. Without turning
his head, on the instant he heard my
step, he exclaimed, "Bankhead, let me
fall upon your arm. IT'S all over" AS
quick as possible I ran to him, thinking
he was fainting or going to fall. I Ioaught
him in my arms as he was falling, and
perceived that he had knife in hisright
hand, and very firmly clenched and all
over blood. did not see him use it; he
must have used it before I came into the
room. In falling he reclined upon one