At the back is a monument sacred to the memory of the Honourable George Augustus Frederick Lake, late Lieutenant-Colonel in his Majesty’s twenty-ninth Regiment of Foot, who fell at the head of his Grenadiers, in driving the enemy from the heights of Roliea, in Portugal, on the 17th of August, 1808. This stone is erected to his memory by the officers, non-commissioned officers, drummers, and privates of the corps, as a testimony of their high regard and esteem.—Smith, sculptor.
Beneath is a monument to the Right Hon. George Tierney, whose bust is placed on a pedestal, with the following inscription:—“To the memory of the Right Honourable George Tierney, born in 1762; died in 1830. A man equally distinguished for the disinterested integrity of his public conduct, and the unpretended virtues of his private life. In Parliament he was long conspicuous for a style of oratory peculiarly his own; plain, familiar, forcible, and persuasive, abounding in proofs of natural shrewdness, and strokes of original learning, and sustained throughout by an accurate knowledge of details, and an unostentatious command of clear language. Without having obtained the rewards of wealth or station, he secured the respect and esteem of his contemporaries, by the consistency of his political principles, and his unwearied activity in supporting them; by the simplicity of his manners, and the benevolence of his character; and by an unaffected reverence for religion. His surviving friends have raised this monument, to be a testimony of their affection, and a reward of his talents and virtues.”—Westmacott, jun., sculptor.
Next is a new monument to the memory of Henry Richard Vassal Fox, Baron Holland, born November 23, 1773, and died October 22, 1840, aged sixty-seven. On the steps that lead up to the door of a vault are three figures; on the left hand of the spectator is Genius, with his old funeral emblem, the reversed torch; climbing the steps to the right are, in rich combination, Literature and Science. A scroll is in the hands of Literature, and that of Science rests upon her wheel. Over the doorway of the tomb, the key-stone, enriched by a coiling serpent (the old emblem of eternity), assists to support the cornice, from which rise a rusticated pediment and pedestal; on the latter is placed a colossal bust of the deceased Lord, and on either side of the tomb are bassi-relievi, representing severally Charity and Justice. The monument is twenty feet high, eleven feet six inches wide, and has six feet of projection from the wall. The architectural portions are of Sicilian marble. Without inscription.—Baily, sculptor.
On the left is a monument erected by the corps of Royal Engineers, to the memory of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Richard Fletcher, Knight and Baronet, who, after highly-distinguished services, as Commanding Royal Engineer, with the army under the Duke of Wellington, in the Peninsular War, was killed at the storming of St. Sebastian, 1812, in the forty-fifth year of his age.—Baily, sculptor.
Above is a tablet with naval trophies, sacred to the memory of Rear-Admiral Sir George Hope, K.C.B., erected by several Captains in the Royal Navy, who served under him as Midshipmen.—Turnerelli, sculptor.
A small tablet to the memory of the Hon. Charles Banks Stanhope, second son of Charles, Earl of Stanhope, and nephew of the Right Hon. William Pitt, Major of the fiftieth Regiment of Foot, who in the act of gallantly encouraging his men, fell by a musket-shot in the battle of Corunna. This tablet is affectionately inscribed by his afflicted sister, who can neither do justice to his virtues, nor sufficiently deplore his loss. Born 3rd June, 1785; died 16th January, 1809.
William Horneck, Esq.—This monument is embellished with books, plans, and instruments of fortification, alluding to the employment of the deceased as Chief Engineer to the Royal Train. The inscription informs us that he learned the art of war under the great Duke of Marlborough. He died May 9, 1746, aged sixty-two.
Beneath, to the right, is a bust erected to Major James Rennell, who died March 29, 1830, in his eighty-eighth year. His useful life, firm character, and high talents, are amply exhibited in his works, and need no other monument. This tablet, therefore, merely records, that this celebrated man was buried near this spot.—Baily, sculptor.
Zachary Macaulay.—A bust on a pedestal; the inscription as follows:—“In grateful remembrance of Zachary Macaulay, who, during a protracted life, with an intense but quiet perseverance, which no success could relax, no reverse could subdue, no toil, privations, or reproach could daunt, devoted his time, talents, fortune, and all the energies of his mind and body to the service of the most injured and helpless of mankind; and partook for more than forty years in the counsels and in the labours which, guided and blessed by God, first rescued the British empire from the guilt of the Slave Trade, and finally conferred freedom on 800,000 slaves; this tablet is erected by those who drew wisdom from his mind, and a lesson from his life, and who humbly rejoice in the assurance that, through the Divine Redeemer, the foundation of all his hopes, he shares in the happiness of those who rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.” He was born at Inverary, North Britain, on the 2nd of May, 1768, and died in London on the 13th May, 1838.—Weekes, sculptor.
THE NAVE.