George Stepney, Esq., descended from the Stepneys of Pendergraft, in Pembrokeshire, but born at Westminster, 1663, elected into the College of St. Peter’s, at Westminster, 1676, and entered of Trinity College, Cambridge, 1682. In 1692 he was sent Envoy to the Elector of Brandenburgh; in 1696 and 1697, to the Electors of Mentz, Triers, Cologne, Palatine, Landgrave of Hesse, and to the Congress of Frankfort, on his return from which he was made Commissioner of Trade; in 1698, was sent a second time Envoy to the Elector of Brandenburgh; in 1699, in the same quality to Poland; in 1701, a second time to the Emperor; and lastly, in 1706, to the States General. All these several embassies he conducted with such integrity, application, and ease, that he generally exceeded the expectations of his sovereigns, William and Anne, by whom he was employed. He died at Chelsea, 1707.
Above is a monument erected to the memory of John Methuen, Esq., who died in the service of his country, in Portugal, July 13, 1706, and was here interred, September 17, 1708.—Rysbrack, sculptor.
Also to that of his son, the Right Hon. Sir Paul Methuen, of Bishop’s Canning, Wilts, one of his Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council, and Knight of the most Honourable Order of the Bath, who died April 11, 1757, aged eighty-five.
Beneath is a bust—“To the memory of Charles Burney, LL.D., L.D., F.S.A., et R.S., in the Royal Academy, London, Professor of Greek and Latin, Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty George III., Prebendary of the Church of Lincoln, Rector of Cliff, and of St. Paul, Deptford, in the county of Kent, eighteen years master of Greenwich School. He died on the 28th Jan. 1818, in his sixty-first year, and was buried at Deptford.” The Latin inscription sets forth, that “he was a man of various and deep learning, of a judgment of critical nicety and elegance of style, polished by unremitting exercise, and in solving difficulties in metrical composition, of exquisite skill. His pupils, from a collection raised amongst themselves, caused this monument to be erected.”—Gahagan, sculptor.
John Wesley, M.A. Born June 17, 1703; died March 2, 1791.
Charles Wesley, M.A. Born December 13, 1708; died March 29, 1788.
“The best of all is, God is with us.”
“I look upon all the world as my parish.”
“God buries His workmen, but carries on His work.”
Thomas Knipe, S.T.P.—This monument was erected by Alice, second wife of this learned man, who, for fifty years, was employed in Westminster School, sixteen whereof as Head Master. He was also a Prebendary of this Cathedral. The long Latin inscription contains nothing more than a laboured recital of a good man’s virtues, and that he died August 8, 1711, aged seventy-three. At his feet is the grave of his affectionate scholar, William King, LL.D., without any inscription. Here hath been lately added an inscription in memory of two brothers, who both died in the service of their country: Captain John Knipe, 90th regiment, at Gibraltar, October 25, 1798, in the twenty-second year of his age; Captain Robert Knipe, 14th Light Dragoons, at Villa Formosa, May 17, 1811, aged thirty-two.
Opposite, on your left, is the monument to Dame Grace Gethin.—This lady, married to Sir Richard Gethin Grot, in Ireland, was famed for exemplary piety, and wrote a book of devotion, which Mr. Congreve complimented with a poem. She died October 11, 1697, aged twenty-one.
Elizabeth and Judith Freke.—A long inscription, setting forth the descent and marriage of these two ladies, whose busts in relief ornament the sides. They were, as the inscription says, the daughters of Ralph Freke, of Hannington, in Wilts, Esq. Elizabeth was married to Percy Freke, of West Belney, in Norfolk, and died April 7, 1714, aged sixty-nine. Judith married Robert Austin, of Tenterden, in Kent, and died May 19, 1716, aged sixty-four. They were both great examples to their sex; the best of daughters, the best of wives, and the best of mothers.