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Literary
May 24, 1827
The Wilmingtonian, And Delaware Advertiser
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
What is this article about?
Description of the elegant monument in Ashbourne church, erected by Sir Brooke Boothby for his six-year-old daughter Penelope, who died in 1791. Includes multilingual inscriptions and a moving tourist's account of the marble sculpture depicting the child's suffering.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
ELEGANT MONUMENT.
Ashbourne is a town of some size, and contains many genteel families. The church is the only object worthy of attention. Here we found the beautiful monument raised by Sir Brooke Boothby, to the memory of his only daughter, a child of six years of age.—It has inscriptions upon it in English, Latin, French and Italian. The lines under the pedestal are very impressive:
TO PENELOPE,
Only child of Sir Brooke, and Dame Susannah Boothby,
Born April 11th, 1785, died March 18th 1791.
She was, in form and intellect, most exquisite.
The unfortunate parents ventured their all upon this frail bark, and the wreck was total.
I was not in safety, neither had I rest, and the trouble came.
A tourist has so happily described this monument, that I cannot help transcribing his words: ...."Nobody ought even to overlook this tomb, as it is perhaps the most interesting and pathetic object in England.—Simplicity and elegance appear in the workmanship, tenderness and innocence in the image. On a marble pedestal and slab, like a low table is a matrass with the child lying on it, both likewise in white marble.—Her cheek expressive of suffering mildness, reclines on a pillow, and her little fevered hands gently rest on each other near to her head. The plain and only drapery is a frock, the skirt flowing easily out before, and a ribbon-sash, the knot twisted forward in connection with the frock. The delicate naked feet are carelessly folded over each other, and the whole appearance is as if she had just turned in the tossings of her illness to seek a cooler or an easier place of rest. The man whom this does not affect need not proceed any further on his tour; his heart is not formed to relish the beauties of nature or of art!"
This tourist then pertinently adds, alluding to the several inscriptions, "To all these expressions of grief might not one be added .... Weep not, the damsel is not dead but sleepeth " Surely in such cases it is our duty as well as privilege to have recourse to the superior consolations of christianity.
Ashbourne is a town of some size, and contains many genteel families. The church is the only object worthy of attention. Here we found the beautiful monument raised by Sir Brooke Boothby, to the memory of his only daughter, a child of six years of age.—It has inscriptions upon it in English, Latin, French and Italian. The lines under the pedestal are very impressive:
TO PENELOPE,
Only child of Sir Brooke, and Dame Susannah Boothby,
Born April 11th, 1785, died March 18th 1791.
She was, in form and intellect, most exquisite.
The unfortunate parents ventured their all upon this frail bark, and the wreck was total.
I was not in safety, neither had I rest, and the trouble came.
A tourist has so happily described this monument, that I cannot help transcribing his words: ...."Nobody ought even to overlook this tomb, as it is perhaps the most interesting and pathetic object in England.—Simplicity and elegance appear in the workmanship, tenderness and innocence in the image. On a marble pedestal and slab, like a low table is a matrass with the child lying on it, both likewise in white marble.—Her cheek expressive of suffering mildness, reclines on a pillow, and her little fevered hands gently rest on each other near to her head. The plain and only drapery is a frock, the skirt flowing easily out before, and a ribbon-sash, the knot twisted forward in connection with the frock. The delicate naked feet are carelessly folded over each other, and the whole appearance is as if she had just turned in the tossings of her illness to seek a cooler or an easier place of rest. The man whom this does not affect need not proceed any further on his tour; his heart is not formed to relish the beauties of nature or of art!"
This tourist then pertinently adds, alluding to the several inscriptions, "To all these expressions of grief might not one be added .... Weep not, the damsel is not dead but sleepeth " Surely in such cases it is our duty as well as privilege to have recourse to the superior consolations of christianity.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Monument
Penelope Boothby
Ashbourne Church
Child Death
Tourist Description
Marble Sculpture
Christian Consolation
Literary Details
Title
Elegant Monument.
Subject
To The Memory Of Penelope Boothby
Key Lines
To Penelope, Only Child Of Sir Brooke, And Dame Susannah Boothby, Born April 11th, 1785, Died March 18th 1791.
She Was, In Form And Intellect, Most Exquisite. The Unfortunate Parents Ventured Their All Upon This Frail Bark, And The Wreck Was Total.
Nobody Ought Even To Overlook This Tomb, As It Is Perhaps The Most Interesting And Pathetic Object In England.
The Man Whom This Does Not Affect Need Not Proceed Any Further On His Tour; His Heart Is Not Formed To Relish The Beauties Of Nature Or Of Art!
Weep Not, The Damsel Is Not Dead But Sleepeth