Honoured Madam,
I NOW proceed to acquaint you with my next excursion, in search of
the curiosities of this famous city; which was to Westminster
Abbey. This is really a magnificent ancient building; but what most
surprised me, was the vast number of beautiful monuments and figures
with which the inside is adorned. Among such as were pointed out to
me, as being remarkable either for their costliness or beauty, I
remember were those of the Duke of Newcastle, a magnificent and
expensive piece, Sir Isaac Newton, General Stanhope, the Earl of
Chatham, General Wolf, and that exquisite statue of Shakepeare,
which, I am told, is inimitable. When I had for some time enjoyed
the pleasure of gazing at these, I was conducted into that part of
the church where the Royal monuments are placed. These, I thought,
were exceeding grand. But nothing surprised and delighted me so
much as King Henry the Seventh's chapel, which, for beauty and
magnificence, I am told, far surpasses any thing of that kind in
Europe. Here too I saw the chair in which the Kings of England are
crowned, which, I believe, is more regarded for its antiquity, and
the honourable use it is assigned to, than for any great beauty it
has, at least that I could discover.
The next sight that entertained me, was the effigies of King William
and Queen Mary in wax, as large as the life, standing in their
coronation robes; they are said to be very well done, and to bear a
great resemblance to the life. Queen Anne, the Duchess of Richmond,
the Duke of Buckingham, &c. all of the same composition, and richly
dressed, are there also. In short, there are so many curiosities
contained in this venerable repository, that, to describe one half
of them would as far exceed the compass of a letter, as of my
abilities to do justice to them: However, I shall just mention some
which appeared to me most worthy of notice. But these must be the
subject of a future letter, from,
Honoured Madam,
Your, &c.