The history of Queen Charlotte's Lying-in Hospital : from its foundation in 1752 to the present time, with an account of its objects and present state / by Thomas Ryan.

  • Ryan, Thomas.
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of Queen Charlotte's Lying-in Hospital : from its foundation in 1752 to the present time, with an account of its objects and present state / by Thomas Ryan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    thirty years ago. Things have so changed since then that where the Tyburn Brook crossed the road, and where the Tyburn Tree stood, are questions upon which there are many diverse opinions. At the back of the Hospital, as has been before intimated, was situated the burial ground of St. George's Parish. Here in 1768 was buried all that was mortal of the Rev. Laurence Sterne, author of Tristram Shandy and The Sentimental Journey, the English Rabelais, as he was called, of whom Horace Walpole sneeringly wrote:- I know, from indubitable authority, that his mother, who kept a school, having run in debt on account of an extravagant daughter, would have rotted in a gaol if the parents of her scholars had not raised a subscription for her. Her own son had too much sentiment to have any feeling. A dead ass was more important to him than a living mother. His grave is denoted by a headstone which was set up by two Freemasons, and restored by a shilling subscription in 1846.* The inscription is as follows :— alas! poor L'ottcft. Near to this Place lies the body of THE REVEREND LAURENCE STERNE, Dyed September-Ll, 11^%. Aged 53 Years. Hb! flDoUitcr, ossa quicscant. If a sound head, wann heart, and breast humane, UnsuUy'd worth, and soul without a stain. If mental powers could ever justly claim The well won tribute of immortal fame, Sterne was the Man who with gigantic stride Mow'd do\ra luxuriant follies far and wide. Yet what though keenest knowledge of mankind Unseald to him the Springs that move the mind. What did it boot him, Ridicul'd, abus'd. By foes insulted and by prudes accus'd. In his, mild reader, view thy future fate. Like him despise what t'were a sin to hate. This Monumental Stone was erected to the memory of the deceased by two Brother Masons, for although he did not live to be a Member of their Society, yet all his incomparable Performances evidently prove him to have acted by Rule and Square ; they rejoice m this opportunity of perpetuating his high and unapproachable character to after ages. ^^ ^ ^^ Here also was buried, forty-seven years later. Sir Thomas Picton.t one of the heroes and victims of Waterloo ; his body was subsequently removed to St. Paul's Cathedral,- where it now rests. * '■■ Timbs' Curiosities of London. t London in 1883. Herbert Fr)-.