_To Lady S―――― S――――._
_Bath, December 9, 1767._
_Honoured Madam_,
ALL hath been awful, and more than awful. On _Saturday_ evening, before
the corpse was taken from _B――――n-House_, a word of exhortation was
given, and a hymn sung in the room where the corpse lay. The young Earl
stood with his hands on the head of the coffin, the Countess Dowager
on his right hand, Lady _Ann_ and Lady _Isabella_ on his left, and
their brother _Thomas_ next to their mother, with Miss _O――――n_, Miss
_Wh――――r_, Miss _G――――e_; on one side all domestics, with a few friends
on the other. The word of exhortation was received with great solemnity,
and most wept under the parting prayer. At ten the corpse was removed
to good Lady _H――――n_’s chapel, where it was deposited within a place
railed in for that purpose, covered with black bays, and the usual
funeral concomitants, except escutcheons. On _Sunday_ morning, all
attended in mourning at early sacrament. They were seated by themselves,
at the feet of the corpse, and with their head servants, received first,
and a particular address was made to them. Immediately after receiving,
these verses were sung for them:
Our lives, our blood, we here present,
If for thy truths they may be spent:
Fulfil thy sovereign counsel, LORD;
Thy will be done, thy name ador’d.
Give them thy strength, O GOD of power,
Then let men rave or devils roar;
Thy faithful witnesses they’ll be;
’Tis fix’d, they can do all through Thee.
Then they received this blessing, “The LORD bless you and keep you, the
LORD lift up the light of his countenance upon you, the LORD cause his
face to shine upon you, and give you peace,” and so returned to their
places. Sacrament ended (and a blessed sacrament it was) the Noble
Mourners returned to good Lady _H――――n_’s house, which was lent them
for the day. At eleven, public service begun. The bereaved relations
sat in order within, and the domestics around the outside of the rail.
The chapel was more than crouded. Near three hundred tickets signed
by the present Earl, were given out to the nobility and gentry, to
be admitted. All was hush’d and solemn. Proper hymns were sung, and I
preached on these words, “I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me,
write, blessed are the dead that die in the LORD.” Attention sat on
every face, and deep and almost universal impressions were made. The
like scene, and if possible more solemn, was exhibited in the evening,
and I was enabled to preach a second time, and a like power attended
the word as in the morning. Ever since, there hath been public service
and preaching twice a day. This is to be continued till _Friday_
morning, then all is to be removed to _Bristol_, in order to be shipped
off for _Scotland_. The inscription on the coffin runs thus;
“His life was honourable,――his death blessed,――he sought
earnestly peace with GOD,――he found it with unspeakable joy
alone in the merits of CHRIST JESUS, witnessed by the holy
Spirit to his soul,――he yet speaketh.――Go thou and do likewise.”
I have oftened wished for your Ladyship here. Congregations are very
large, attentive, and deeply impressed. Surely the death of this
noble Earl, thus improved, will prove the life of many. He had great
foretastes of heaven, cried, “Come Holy Ghost;” he came, and filled
him with joy unspeakable. Happy, happy, were his last dying words.
All surviving relatives still feel the influence. They sit round the
corpse attended by their domestics and supporters twice a day. Good
Lady _S――――x_ gets fresh spirits. She loves your Ladyship dearly. I am
called to attend, and therefore must hasten to acknowledge innumerable
obligations, and to subscribe myself, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s, &c. &c. &c.
_G. W._