SARAH PONSONBY
departed this Life
on the 9th December, 1831, Aged 76.
_She did not long survive her beloved Companion LADY ELEANOR BUTLER_,
_with whom she had lived in this valley for more than half a century
of uninterrupted friendship_. "_But they shall no more return to
their House_, _neither shall their place know them any more_."
_Job_, _Chap._ 7. _v._ 10.
_Reader pause for a moment and reflect not on the uncertainty of
human life but upon the certainty of its termination_, _and take
comfort from the assurance that_ "_As it is appointed unto men once
to die_, _but after this the judgment_: _so Christ was once offered
to bear the sins of many_; _and unto them that look for Him_, _shall
He appear the second time without sin unto salvation_." _Heb._
_Chap._ 9. _v._ 27, 28.
On the same tombstone is also the following inscription, to the memory of
a faithful servant, who accompanied "the Ladies" from Ireland, the
country of their nativity.
In Memory of
MRS. MARY CARRYL,
_Deceased 22 November_, 1809.
This Monument is erected by Eleanor Butler and Sarah
Ponsonby of Plas Newydd in this Parish.
_Released from Earth and all its transient woes_,
_She whose remains beneath this Stone repose_,
_Steadfast in faith resigned her parting breath_,
_Looked up with Christian joy and smiled in death_.
_Patient_, _Industrious_, _Faithful_, _Generous_, _Kind_,
_Her Conduct left the proudest far behind_;_
Her Virtues dignified her humble birth_,
_And raised her mind above this sordid earth_.
_Attachment_ (_Sacred bond of grateful breasts_)_
Extinguished but with life_, _this Tomb attests_,
_Reared by Two Friends who will her loss bemoan_,
_Till with her ashes_--_Here shall rest their own_.
In 1832, the home of "the Ladies of Llangollen" was sold by auction, by
the late renowned "knight of the hammer," Mr. George Robins, who put
forth the following advertisement, in his characteristic style of
decorative description.
"IN NORTH WALES.
* * * * *
Particulars and Conditions of Sale
OF THE
LADY ELEANOR BUTLER AND MISS
PONSONBY'S
LITTLE PARADISE
AT LLANGOLLEN,
Of which a more enlarged description will appear
on the other side.
IT IS ALL FREEHOLD,
And it need hardly be remarked that it is in the
most favoured Spot in
NORTH WALES;
Which will be Sold by Auction
BY
* * * * *
MR. GEORGE ROBINS,
* * * * *
AT THE AUCTION MART, LONDON,
On THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1832, at Twelve o'Clock,
IN ONE LOT,
BY DIRECTION OF THE EXECUTORS.
May be viewed only with Tickets, and Particulars had Twenty-one Days
prior to the Sale at the Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury; the Inns at Llangollen,
and Corwen; the Great Hotel, Bangor; Waterloo, Liverpool; York House,
Bath; and at Mr. GEORGE ROBINS's Offices, London.
N.B. The appropriate Furniture, Service of Plate, Elegancies of the
Chateau, extensive Library of Books, and all the valuable Appendages,
will be submitted to Public Competition the latter End of the Month of
July, by Direction of the Executors.
PARTICULARS, &c.
Mr. ROBINS is not a little proud that it hath been his good fortune to be
selected by the Executors of the Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Ponsonby to
direct the sale of their far-famed Domicile. He feels that an apology
will be due to all those who are familiar with its beauties and
peculiarities, for the very imperfect recital which follows, while those
who are yet to be gratified with the sight of it, may imagine he has
drawn some little upon "Fancy's sketch." There is nothing of pretension
in its outward form, it indicates but moderately the comfort that
presides within, inasmuch as will be found congregated all the _agremens_
pertaining to more consequential habitations. Considerable tact is
conspicuous everywhere; but none more unequivocally displayed than in the
lightsome little Dining Room, contrasted with the gloomy, yet superior
grace of the Library, into which it opens. This room is fitted up in the
Gothic style, the Windows are of ancient painted glass "_shedding their
dim religious light_."