WESTMINSTER ABBEY.-MONUMENT OF LADY

NIGHTINGALE.

THIS monument, the work of Roubiliac, and the last which he ever executed, except that of the great musician Handel, stands on the east side of St. Michael's Chapel, which originally formed a part of the North transept. Though generally called the Monument of Lady Nightingale, who was the daughter of Washington, Earl Ferrers, it records also the memory of her husband, Joseph Gascoigne Nightingale, Esq., and was erected in 1761, pursuant to the will of their son, Washington George Nightingale, Esq.: Lady Nightingale died in August, 1734, aged twenty-seven, and her husband, in July, 1752, aged fifty-six.

The sentiments excited by this production, which ranks with the choicest specimens of sculpture, either of ancient or modern times, are fraught with associations of the deepest interest. It principally consists of three figures, in statuary marble; namely, a group of Lady Nightingale and her Husband, and a personification of the ideal grim monster,' Death. The latter is represented as a complete skeleton, in shroud-like habiliments, bursting hideous from his darksome cavern, (which forms the base of the monument,) and raising his fatal dart to pierce the bosom of the lady, who appears sinking to the grave in the final stage of sickness and debility. With mingled horror and dismay, her husband, rushing forward, extends his right arm to repel the threatening shaft; whilst, with his

left, he fondly clasps to his breast the dying female, whose languid helplessness, and utter destitution of strength, beautifully contrasts with the attitude and muscular exertion of her affectionate partner, thus vainly endeavouring to protect her from Death's unerring aim. Admitting the propriety of the design, in giving a visible presence to the grisly King of Terrors, the expression and pathos displayed in this composition are of the very highest character. The impatience of Death to secure his prey is forcibly marked by the distorted attitude in which he rushes from his sepulchral cave at the base of the tomb, and grasps his destructive dart; yet the truth and correctness of the anatomy, and the vast animation which the Sculptor's talents has bestowed on this wonderful arrangement of unhearsed' bones, cannot be too highly praised: the difficult task of giving stability to such a figure is accomplished by the judicious cast and disposition of the drapery. Every sympathetic feeling of the mind and heart is awakened by the contemplation of this extraordinary performance; and a throb of real anguish fills the breast, on viewing the alarmed countenance of the afflicted husband, thus striving, ineffectually, to shield his beloved wife from the blow which consigns her an early victim to the gloomy mansions of the dead. It is almost impossible to speak of such a masterly work without a degree of admiration bordering on enthusiasm; yet, even the language of enthusiasm itself would hardly be too energetic to do justice to its merits. The genius that could conceive, and the

abilities which could execute so noble a composition, will for ever rank the name of Roubiliac in the highest class of human intelligence. It has been his to express the severe pangs of conjugal affliction, when about to be bereaved of its every hope; to pourtray the last expiring struggle of female imbecility; and to realize the daring idea of the poet Milton, by creating a soul,

under the ribs of Death."

If there be any thing that detracts from the gracefulness of this design, it is that the Statue being rather smaller than the life, possesses less dignity than the heroic style requires; but the air of truth and nature, which pervades the whole, fully compensates for this presumed deficiency. A rustic niche of dove-coloured marble, nearly similar to the basement, affords relief to the principal figures, and contains within its concave recess, an artless inscription in memory of the deceased lady and her consort.

SHERIFFS OF LONDON.

THE following particulars relating to the office of Sheriff, are derived from a manuscript copy of the Journal of Richard Hoare, Esq. during the year of his Shrievalty, in 1740-41, in his own hand-writing, which is now in the possession of his grandson, Sir Richard Colt Hoare, Bart., of Stourhead, in Wiltshire. The above year became memorable in the City Annals, from there having been three Lord Mayors during its