Notes and Queries, Vol. III, Number 87, June 28, 1851 / A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.

When found, make a note of. —CAPTAIN CUTTLE.
VOL. III.—No. 87.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28. 1851.
Price Threepence. Stamped Edition 4 d.
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MISCELLANEOUS:—
The following letters, which we have received since we last brought the proposed scheme for preserving a record of existing monuments under the notice of our readers, afford a striking proof how widely the interest in the subject is extending.
We print them now, partly because the Number of NOTES AND QUERIES now in the reader's hands completes the present volume, and it is desirable that the various communications upon this point should, as far as possible, be found together; and partly because the time is at hand when many of our readers may have the opportunity, during their summer excursions, of following out the plan described by our valued correspondent YORK HERALD in the following letter:—
References to this subject having appeared in your valuable miscellany, I am unwilling to lose an opportunity it affords me of throwing in my mite of contribution towards the means of preserving monumental inscriptions. It may be better perhaps, to state the humble method I adopt in attempting to rescue from oblivion those memorials of the dead, than to suggest any. I avail myself of occasions, whenever I visit the country, to take notes of monumental inscriptions in churches and other places of sepulture; generally of all within the walls of the sacred edifice, and those of the principal tombs in the surrounding graveyard. Time very often will not allow me to take verbatim copies of inscriptions; so I merely transcribe faithfully every date, genealogical note, and prominent event recorded upon monuments; omitting all circumlocution and mere eulogistical epitaphs. By this means, much time and labour are saved, and much useful and valuable information is secured. I should prefer taking exact copies, or even drawings of the most remarkable monuments; but this would occupy much time, and narrow the means of collecting; and by which I should have lost much that is valuable and interesting; copies, howsoever much they would have been desirable, would not possess the character of legal evidence. Thus, upon mere incidental occasions, I have collected sepulchral memorials from many churches in various parts of the country; and, in some instances, all contained in the village church, and the adjacent burying-ground. I have frequently found also that preserving an account of the relative positions of gravestones is important; especially when groups of family memorials occur in the same locality. I need scarcely add that I preserve memoranda of all armorial insignia found upon tombs and hatchments, forming a collection of arms borne by various families; and whether they stand the test of authority or not, at all events such information is useful.