Epitaph on Mr. Commerell.-See vol. iv. p. 568. Rev. G. H. Glasse, to Dr. Parr. REV. AND DEAR SIR, Hanwell Rectory, July 8, 1799. My 'squire, Mr. Commerell, of whom you may or may not have heard, closed an useful and innocent life last spring. It is the earnest request of his family, that the inscription on his monument should be written by his old friend and pastor. Will your often experienced goodness pardon me for submitting to you almost my only attempt of the kind, and for requesting you to make any alterations which may strike you as necessary. Believe me, dear Sir, with most affectionate and grateful respect, your ever obliged and devoted servant, GEORGE HENRY GLASSE. Gibbon's Epitaph.—See vol. iv. p. 574. MY DEAR SIR, Denham, Uxbridge, Jan. 8, 1796. Not seeing Lord Sheffield as I passed through town in my return here from Cambridge, I informed him immediately, by letter, of your kind offer of your influence with Dr. Parr to persuade him to undertake the composition of a Latin inscription for Gibbon; and having occasion to write to him again last Sunday, I mentioned at the same time that he had only thanked me for my letter, without adding what steps he should take himself, or would have me take towards you in consequence of it. His answer, which I received this morning, I will transcribe: "S. P. Jan. 6, 1796. "First assuring you that I think all your reasons for not coming here now easily surmountable, I proceed to observe, that I understood it would be necessary for me to write to the Rev. Mr. Maltby, and I was about so to do. But perhaps it will be more commodious and decorous for you to acquaint him that I accept most thankfully his obliging offer; also that, as I think the two quarto volumes about to be published mark Gibbon's character most completely, and much to his advantage, I shall therefore VOL. VIII. 20 send them (two months hence) to Dr. Parr, and when he has read them he will be better enabled to write the epitaph. I think the Memoirs, the Journal, and the Letters, describe the man more exactly than perhaps any author was ever before described." Now, my dear Sir, if you will be so good as to communicate to Dr. Parr, that Lord S. has always been of opinion himself, and that all his literary friends agree with him, that the author of the dedications prefixed to the three books of Bellendenus, is the person who should write Gibbon's epitaph, I doubt not but, with the additional weight of your persuasion, Dr. Parr will be induced to comply with Lord S.'s wishes. I hope Mrs. Maltby has long been released from the headachs which troubled her when I was at Buckden, and sincerely wish her and you many and happy returns of this season; and believe me, my dear Sir, your much obliged humble servant, WM. WAY. Lord Sheffield, to Dr. Parr. SIR, Whitehall, Feb. 19, 1796. Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bird, and other friends undertook to mention my wish, that Mr. Gibbon's epitaph should be written by you. It has been communicated to me, through Mr. Maltby, that you are most obligingly disposed to comply with my request, for which I am extremely thankful. If it should be received soon, the public will be gratified by seeing it at the end of Mr. Gibbon's Memoirs, which are likely to be published towards the middle of next month. I doubt not they will afford you great satisfaction. They, and his letters, of which I am induced to publish a considerable number, I think, place my friend in a very advantageous point of view, and prove how amiable, how pleasant and how friendly he was in private life, and the extracts from the Journal of his actions, his studies, and his opinions, incontestably prove his early and singular industry, and profound erudition. His relations allowed me to deposit his remains in my family burial-place in Sussex, which is ornamented in the Gothic style, and the principal front divided into compartments, in which the epitaphs are introduced, and as you may possibly wish to see those already there, I shall inclose a part of the Irish peerage, where they are correctly printed. I know not how to thank you sufficiently for the obliging manner in which you have undertaken to write the epitaph of my eminent friend. I have the honour to be, with great regard, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, Sheffield. Mr. Fox, to Dr. Parr. MY DEAR SIR, July 18, 1797. I have received your letter, with its inclosure, the epitaph for Gibbon, in which I think you have acquitted yourself extraordinarily well in a very difficult undertaking. How far morum simplicitas is a just account of Gibbon may perhaps be doubted. But in these cases we must look for the language rather of partiality than of strict truth. ****** ** DEAR SIR, Lord Sheffield to Dr. Parr. Sheffield-place, Oct. 19, 1797. I am extremely thankful for the excellent epitaph, which I did not receive till yesterday, in consequence of the repeated blunders of my servant in London. It gives me the highest satisfaction, and you may be assured that all your directions in respect to the engraving shall be observed; and if a proper person cannot be found in these parts, I shall send to any dis. tance for a better. There is a mistake in respect to the time of Mr. Gibbon's death. That unhappy event took place on the 16th January, not on the 17th February. There are two words which I think should be omitted by the person who erects the monument, viz. viri prænobilis. Will it not be better to say, ex voluntate Johannis Domini Sheffield. I am not sufficiently learned in Roman inscriptions to understand all the initials of the last line, particularly S. S. I am interrupted, and obliged to go from home, but I could not delay the acknowledgment of your very obliging attention to my request. I am, with great regard, dear Sir, your most faithhumble servant, SHEFFIELD, DEAR SIR, Sheffield-place, Nov. 1, 1797. On my return to this place I found your excellent letter, and very glad I am that my inquiry has produced it. It would give me much pleasure to see Johnson's epitaph, as first written by you. Is it to be found any where ? As you approve the omission of viri prænobilis, perhaps you will permit me to omit also, on the same principle, de suo sumptu; ex voluntate says enough, and expresses the same, and much more properly for me. I have never read any thing oftener, or with more satisfaction, than the epitaph, and, you will readily imagine, with some view to discover whether any emendation could be proposed to you in respect to Mr. Gibbon's character, but without finding it possible to raise any objection, or propose any addition, except, perhaps, one or two lines on his private and domestic virtues. You have most ably and elegantly marked Gibbon's eminence as a writer of history, the candour and liberality of his opinions, and the depth and pleasantry of his conversation. As it is I who am supposed to speak, will not some acknowledgment of his extraordinary friendship and amiable conduct towards me and mine (and indeed to all his relations) be expected. I see the objection to any addition to the length; but you are by far the best judge, and I hope will excuse the suggestion. I am really much edified by what you say on the Roman Calendar. I had never examined that subject with the accuracy you and Mr. Gibbon have done. I shall be much gratified if I should know whenever you visit London, that I may thank you` again and again. I am, with great regard, dear Sir, your most faithful humble servant, Sheffield. Epitaph for Smitheman, jun.—See vol. iv. p. 576. MY LORD, Dr. Parr, to Lord Dormer. Saturday. Smitheman, who was out and well the day I was at Grove Park, is, by the will of Almighty God, no more. My affliction for the death of so good a boy, and the anguish of his affectionate relations, is too deep and too piercing to leave me capable of going into company. I beg my compliments to Lady Dormer, Mr. and Mrs. Ruton, and am, my Lord, your most respectful and obedient servant, S. PARR. J. Smitheman, Esq., to Dr. Parr. West Coppice, Saturday evening, March 8, 1794. We are a most afflicted family. May God Almighty send us comfort, and enable us to submit to his will. My dear Sir, I hope the remains of my poor, dear, amiable boy will be permitted to be interred in the chancel at Hatton, and that you will, out of regard to his memory, and out of regard to his most afflicted father, and mother, and sisters, let him be interred in such manner as you think best, and take this last trouble for him. Poor Thomas, who has attended him from the time he was born, will stay at Hatton till the funeral. I can say no more. God preserve you and yours. Your most afflicted and sincere friend, J. SMITHEMAN. West Coppice, March 9, 1794. In the agony of mind I wrote yesterday by the messengers of sorrow from Hatton; in the agony of mind I am at this moment-my heart quite broken-I wanted to say something more about the last sad business of taking the remains of my dear good boy to his grave. I hope he will be permitted to be buried in the church at Hatton. I have no particular burying-place. My father's family lie buried in the church of Little Wenlock, and my mother's in a chancel belonging to her family at Madeley. As the hand of God has taken him from me at Hatton, pray, my dear Sir, let him be interred there; and I shall entreat you hereafter to see a little tablet erected to him, and write a few lines upon it to the memory of this dear boy. I should send you money to defray expences, but my poor head is so distracted that I cannot. Do every thing, let me humbly beg; you shall be repaid with all gratitude by his poor, afflicted, unhappy father. I know I ought not to lament; but human nature cannot bear such a heavy affliction as it has pleased God to send us. He is |