which deprived him of the power of speech. It was now early on the morning of January 20. Admiral Mordvinoff had come in to see him, and found that the end was rapidly approaching. A physician was sent for, but came too late to be of any service; and, shortly after his arrival, Howard's spirit passed away. He was buried in the spot which he had himself selected,1 Admiral Priestman reading the English Burial Service, according to his desire; but such was the popular feeling aroused by his death that it was found impossible strictly to carry out his wishes with regard to the character of the funeral, "for the concourse of spectators was immense, and the order of his funeral was more magnificent than would have met with his approbation." The Prince of Moldavia was present "in a sumptuous carriage, drawn by six horses, covered with scarlet cloth." The admirals, generals, and staff officers of the garrison, the magistrates and merchants of Cherson, followed in their carriages, together with a large body of cavalry, and "an immense concourse of spectators on foot, amounting to two or three thousand." 2 1 The village was at that time apparently known as Dophinovka, from Mr. Dauphiné, its owner. It is now known as Stephanovka, and lies in the valley of Verofchina, six versts north of Cherson. 2 Clarke's Travels, vol. i. p. 609. In another matter also Howard's wishes were disregarded. He had asked to have a sun-dial placed over his grave. For some reason that is not apparent this was not done, but in place of it there was erected by Admiral Mordvinoff "a small brick pyramid, white-washed, but without any inscription." 1 When Clarke and Heber saw it, it was already falling into ruin, and since then an endeavour has been made to carry out Howard's wishes, and its place is taken by a block of marble surmounted by a sun-dial, bearing the following inscription in Latin and Russian : JOHN HOWARD Whoever thou art, thou standest at 1790 When the tidings of Howard's death reached the shores of England the feeling of sorrow was universal.1 The fact was announced in the Gazette of March 23, a distinction which, it is said, was never before conferred on a private person; and the honour of a statue, which he had declined in his lifetime, was at once accorded to him. It was erected in St. Paul's Cathedral, and the following inscription, from the pen of his friend and kinsman, Mr. Whitbread, was placed upon it: 1 Heber's Life, vol. i. p. 277. Henderson visited it in 1821, and found the pyramid still there, with an inscription " Vixit propter alios" upon it (Biblical Researches, p. 284). 2 In Mr. Scullard's lecture, John Howard, a photograph of the tomb as it now stands is given, as well as one of the monument raised to Howard's memory in Cherson itself, near the Church of the Assumption opposite the prison. This is an obelisk of grey stone, with a sundial on one face, and Howard's medallion in bronze on the other. In Clarke's Travels, vol. i. p. 573, will be found the representation of the original pyramid erected over the tomb, from a drawing by Heber which is reproduced here. This extraordinary man had the Fortune to be In the manner which his Virtues deserved; Of both Houses of the British and Irish Parliaments, For his eminent services rendered to his Country and to Mankind. Our National Prisons and Hospitals, In every Part of the Civilised World, 1 Thomasson on his return to England handed over Howard's papers, containing the notes of his last tour, to Dr. Aikin and Dr. Price, who were named as his literary executors. Dr. Price died very shortly afterwards, but the various memoranda which Howard had made were printed by Dr. Aikin exactly as he left them, as an appendix to the second edition of the work on Lazarettos, which was published in 1792. |