Combe, William: The history of the abbey church of St. Peter's Westminster: its antiquities and monuments ; in two volumes (Band 2) (London, 1812) [Cicognara, 3926-2]

WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

89

(81). Sir James Adolphus Oughton.--In the area on the north side of Ed-
ward the Confessor's chapel is a mural monument, which consists of a tablet sup-
porting an urn, behind which is a pyramid of costly and beautiful marble. It
is " sacred to the memory of Sir James Adolphus Oughton, lieutenant-general,
" commander-in-chief of his majesty's forces in North Britain, colonel of the
" 31st regiment of foot, lieutenant-governor of the Island of Antigua, and knight
" of the most honourable military Order of the Bath. He departed this life the
" 14th day of April, 1780, in the sixty-first year of his age."

(82.) John Dryden.-A chaste Ionic monument, with an arch and a bust

of the immortal poet, is thus inscribed:

** J. Dryden, born 1632, died May 1, 1700__John Sheffield, Duke of

" Buckingham, erected this monument, 1720."

It is not generally known, that the duchess, sharing with her lord in the re-
gard he bore to Mr. Dryden, ordered the first bust to be taken away, as being of
inferior workmanship, and replaced it with one which is more worthy of the
genius whom it represents.

(83.) Mrs. Martha Birch.-High on a pillar, adjoining to St. Benedict's

<chapeL is a neat tablet, which is thus inscribed :

M. S.
Martha Birch,
Filia Samuelis Viner, Armigeri,
Nupta primo Franc. Millington, Arm.
Deinde Pet. Birch, hujus ecclesia? prebend.
Pia, pudica, prudens
Utrique marito optima conjux.
Obiit 25 Maii, A.D. M.DCC.III.
Annos L. nata.

Vol. II.