ON THE PROPOSED SCHEME FOR PRESERVING A RECORD OF EXISTING MONUMENTS.
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.
What store of information might be obtained, by persons having leisure and inclination to pursue such an object, by the simple means of an ordinary pocket-memorandum-book!
THOMAS WILLIAM KING.
Our next communication, from the REV. CANON RAINES, is valuable, as showing that unless some limit is placed to the antiquarian ardour of those who would "collect and record every existing monumental inscription," the historical and genealogical inquirer will be embarrassed by a mass of materials in which, like Gratiano's reasons, the two grains of wheat will be hid in two bushels of chaff—a mass, indeed, which, from its extent, would require to be deposited with the Registrar-General, and arranged by the practised hands of his official staff.
MR. DUNKIN'S proposed record of existing monuments will be, if carried into effect, a very useful contribution to genealogists. Many years since I transcribed all the inscriptions inside the parish church of Rochdale, in Lancashire; but I never contemplated the possibility of any antiquary having the ardour to undertake a similar task outside. There are many thousands of gravestones, covering some acres; and I have understood that when one side of a grave-stone has been covered with inscriptions, the stone has been turned upside down, and the sculptor has again commenced his endless work on the smooth surface. In a great majority of these frail records nothing would be obtained which the parish register could not supply.
F. R. RAINES.
Milnrow Parsonage, Rochdale, June 4.
Our correspondent from Bruges furnishes, like YORK HERALD, valuable evidence as to what individual exertion may accomplish; and we are sure, that if he will take the trouble of securing, while he has the opportunity, a copy of the inscriptions in the cemetery allotted to the English at Bruges, confining himself merely to the names, dates, and genealogical information contained in them, and will then deposit his collections either in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries, or the Manuscript Department of the British Museum, he will not only be setting a good example to all antiquaries who may reside in any of the cities of the Continent, but earn for himself hereafter the thanks of many an anxious inquirer after genealogical truth.
The communications made in your interesting "NOTES AND QUERIES " have occasioned me much gratification, and if it be in my power to contribute but a mite to this rich treasury of information, I should consider it a privilege to be allowed to do so. To show that I am actuated by a kindred spirit, permit me to inform you, that a few years ago I undertook the formation of a desultory collection of "memorials of the ancient dead," and with that view corresponded with several hundred clergymen, inviting their local assistance; and I need scarcely add that a prompt and courteous attention to my wishes, encouraged my labours, and accomplished (so far as time and opportunity permitted) my object. It will be obvious that I had no intention of aiming at specimens in the higher department of monumental art, which have been so ably executed by Gough, Stothard, Neale, and others, but to content myself with those humbler efforts of skill which lay neglected and sometimes buried in holes and corners in many a rural church in remote districts.
The result has put me in possession of a collection of about three hundred illustrations, consisting of pen-and-ink outlines, pencil sketches, Indian ink drawings, and some more highly finished paintings in water colour; and in addition to these, upwards of two hundred autograph letters from clergymen, many of which contain not only inscriptions, but interesting parochial and topographical information.
The illustrations I have arranged (as well as I am able) in centuries, commencing with the plain cope lid of the eleventh century, according to the plan adopted by M. H. Bloxam, Esq., in his admirable treatise modestly intitled A Glimpse at the Monumental Architecture and Sculpture of Great Britain. The volume made for their reception is an atlas-folio, guarded; on one leaf is inserted the drawing, on the other the letter (if any) which accompanied it, to which are added a few brief memoranda of my own: it is still, however, in an unfinished state.
The book is a very cumbrous one, so that its transmission would be no very easy task; if, however, it should be thought desirable, and the practicability explained, I shall have much pleasure in placing its contents at the disposal of any one engaged in following out the plan proposed.
Allow me to add that, about a mile distant from the quaint and interesting city from whence this "note" is dated (and in which I have resided for some time), we come to the cemetery, a portion of which is allotted to the interment of those English residents, or visitors, who may have terminated their earthly career at this place. Should a copy of the inscriptions in this receptacle (which are numerous) be acceptable, I will endeavour to procure one; but in this case I should be glad to know whether these extracts should be confined to names, dates, and genealogical information only, or include the various tributes of affection or of friendship, by which they are generally accompanied.
M. W. B.