LETTER XXX
COLONEL MORDEN[IN CONTINUATION.]THURSDAY NIGHT, SEPT. 14.
We are just returned from the solemnization of the last mournful rite.My cousin James and his sister, Mr. and Mrs. Hervey, and their daughter,a young lady whose affection for my departed cousin shall ever bind me toher, my cousins John and Antony Harlowe, myself, and some other moredistant relations of the names of Fuller and Allinson, (who, to testifytheir respect to the memory of the dear deceased, had put themselves inmourning,) self-invited, attended it.
The father and mother would have joined in these last honours, had theybeen able; but they were both very much indisposed; and continue to beso.
The inconsolable mother told Mrs. Norton, that the two mothers of thesweetest child in the world ought not, on this occasion, to be separated.She therefore desired her to stay with her.
The whole solemnity was performed with great decency and order. Thedistance from Harlowe-place to the church is about half a mile. All theway the corpse was attended by great numbers of people of all conditions.
It was nine when it entered the church; every corner of which wascrowded. Such a profound, such a silent respect did I never see paid atthe funeral of princes. An attentive sadness overspread the face of all.
The eulogy pronounced by Mr. Melvill was a very pathetic one. He wipedhis own eyes often, and made every body present still oftener wipetheirs.
The auditors were most particularly affected, when he told them, that thesolemn text was her own choice.
He enumerated her fine qualities, naming with honour their late worthypastor for his authority.
Every enumerated excellence was witnessed to in different parts of thechurch in respectful whispers by different persons, as of their ownknowledge, as I have been since informed.
When he pointed to the pew where (doing credit to religion by herexample) she used to sit or kneel, the whole auditory, as one person,turned to the pew with the most respectful solemnity, as if she had beenherself there.
When the gentleman attributed condescension and mingled dignity to her,a buzzing approbation was given to the attribute throughout the church;and a poor, neat woman under my pew added, 'That she was indeed allgraciousness, and would speak to any body.'
Many eyes ran over when he mentioned her charities, her well-judgedcharities. And her reward was decreed from every mouth with sighs andsobs from some, and these words from others, 'The poor will dearly missher.'
The cheerful giver whom God is said to love, was allowed to be her: anda young lady, I am told, said, It was Miss Clarissa Harlowe's care tofind out the unhappy, upon a sudden distress, before the sighing heartwas overwhelmed by it.
She had a set of poor people, chosen for their remarkable honesty andineffectual industry. These voluntarily paid their last attendance ontheir benefactress; and mingling in the church as they could crowd nearthe aisle where the corpse was on stands, it was the less wonder that herpraises from the preacher met with such general and such gratefulwhispers of approbation.
Some, it seems there were, who, knowing her unhappy story, remarked uponthe dejected looks of the brother, and the drowned eyes of the sister!'O what would they now give, they'd warrant, had they not been sohard-hearted!'--Others pursued, as I may say, the severe father andunhappy mother into their chambers at home--'They answered for theirrelenting, now that it was too late!--What must be their grief!--Nowonder they could not be present!'
Several expressed their astonishment, as people do every hour, 'that aman could live whom such perfections could not engage to be just to her;'--to be humane I may say. And who, her rank and fortune considered,could be so disregardful of his own interest, had he had no other motiveto be just!--
The good divine, led by his text, just touched upon the unhappy step thatwas the cause of her untimely fate. He attributed it to the state ofthings below, in which there could not be absolute perfection. He verypolitely touched upon the noble disdain she showed (though earnestlysolicited by a whole splendid family) to join interests with a man whomshe found unworthy of her esteem and confidence: and who courted her withthe utmost earnestness to accept of him.
What he most insisted upon was, the happy end she made; and thence drewconsolation to her relations, and instruction to the auditory.
In a word, his performance was such as heightened the reputation which hehad before in a very eminent degree obtained.
When the corpse was to be carried down into the vault, (a very spaciousone, within the church,) there was great crowding to see the coffin-lid,and the devices upon it. Particularly two gentlemen, muffled up inclokes, pressed forward. These, it seems, were Mr. Mullins and Mr.Wyerley; both of them professed admirers of my dear cousin.
When they came near the coffin, and cast their eyes upon the lid, 'Inthat little space,' said Mr. Mullins, 'is included all human excellence!'--And then Mr. Wyerley, unable to contain himself, was forced to quit thechurch, and we hear is very ill.
It is said that Mr. Solmes was in a remote part of the church, wrappedround in a horseman's coat; and that he shed tears several times. But Isaw him not.
Another gentleman was there incognito, in a pew near the entrance of thevault, who had not been taken notice of, but for his great emotion whenhe looked over his pew, at the time the coffin was carried down to itslast place. This was Miss Howe's worthy Mr. Hickman.
My cousins John and Antony and their nephew James chose not to descendinto the vault among their departed ancestors.
Miss Harlowe was extremely affected. Her conscience, as well as herlove, was concerned on the occasion. She would go down with the corpseof her dear, her only sister, she said; but her brother would not permitit. And her overwhelmed eye pursued the coffin till she could see nomore of it; and then she threw herself on the seat, and was near faintingaway.
I accompanied it down, that I might not only satisfy myself, but you,Sir, her executor, that it was deposited, as she had directed, at thefeet of her grandfather.
Mr. Melvill came down, contemplated the lid, and shed a few tears overit. I was so well satisfied with his discourse and behaviour, that Ipresented him on the solemn spot with a ring of some value; and thankedhim for his performance.
And here I left the remains of my beloved cousin; having bespoken my ownplace by the side of her coffin.
On my return to Harlowe-place, I contented myself with sending mycompliments to the sorrowing parents, and retired to my chamber. Nor amI ashamed to own, that I could not help giving way to a repeated fit ofhumanity, as soon as I entered it. I am, Sir,
Your most faithful and obedient servant,WM. MORDEN.
P.S. You will have a letter from my cousin James, who hopes to prevail upon you to relinquish the executorship. It has not my encouragement.