MEDITATIONS ON THE BRISTOW MAUSOLEUM AT MORTLAKE¹
BY J. K. MACKAY
The Burton mausoleum in Mortlake (Surrey, England), in the form of a stone-built 'Arab' tent, was largely inspired by Richard Burton's poem The Kasidah, a work which throws rare light on Burton's religious beli
THE MAUSOLEUM at Mortlake, whose history I am about to relate, is located at a spot that has long been famous in connection with various historical characters, including such prominent persons as John Dee, astrologer, mathematician, and alchemist, who died in absolute poverty, and whose grave is situated near the chancel screen in Mortlake Church. He lived in a house near the riverside, a little westward of the church, where he was frequently visited by Queen Elizabeth. Later, the same building was used by Sir Francis Crane for the manufacture of tapestry, and it is recorded that King Charles I. patronised the establishment. Here also lived the eccentric John Partridge, the astrologer and almanac-maker, who was apprenticed to a shoemaker, and whose grave in the churchyard is covered by a flat black marble slab with a Latin inscription, which records that he was born at East Sheen, 1644, and died in London, 1715.
Then there is the resting-place of John Barber, Alderman and Lord Mayor of London, who died in 1741, whose epitaph states that "he was a person of great ability and eminent knowledge." In the Roman Catholic burial ground attached to the church is the tomb of the famous African explorer and author, Sir Richard Burton, and that of his wife. This tomb is constructed in the form of an Arab tent, which is a conspicuous object from the railway line close by. There is also the grave of the celebrated comedian, John Quick, who died in 1831, aged 83 years.
In the old churchyard is a very remarkable and handsome tomb, in the shape of a Egyptian Mausoleum, which contains the remains of the Bristow family, which was formerly of considerable importance in this parish. It appears that it was erected by Timothy Bristow, Esq., in the year 1786. He was a Governor of Christ’s Hospital, and a man of great wealth, who died in 1808 at the advanced age of 76 years. On the north side of the tomb is a large marble panel, on which is carved an inscription in memory of the founder and his wife, and on the south side are inscribed the names of several of his children and grandchildren. The family appears to have become extinct, as there are no records of any burials in the tomb since 1856. The structure is now in a very neglected and dilapidated condition, and it is a matter of regret that no steps are taken to preserve it from decay.
The above-mentioned summary of historical associations with Mortlake will prepare the reader for the following story:—
In the early part of the last century, when the country was under the severe strain of the long war with France, there lived in a large house near the riverside at Mortlake, a gentleman named Bristow, who was a merchant of great wealth. He had three daughters, all young and beautiful, who were the pride of their parents, and the admiration of all who knew them. Their names were Maria, Sophia, and Caroline. It was in the year 1805, when the country was in a state of great excitement on account of the threatened invasion of the French by Napoleon Buonaparte, that the three sisters were introduced into society. They were highly accomplished, and their society was much sought after by the principal families in the neighbourhood. Amongst those who visited at the house was a young gentleman named Henry Villiers, who was an officer in the army, and who was then stationed with his regiment at Richmond. He was a young man of good family, and possessed of considerable ability and energy, and he soon became an intimate friend of the family. He was particularly attracted by the charms of Maria, the eldest daughter, and it was not long before he became her accepted lover. The parents of the lady approved of the match, and everything seemed to promise a happy future for the young couple.
But their happiness was destined to be of short duration. In the autumn of the year 1805, the regiment to which Henry Villiers belonged was ordered to proceed to the Continent to join the army under the command of Sir John Moore, who was then preparing to oppose the French in Spain. This was a severe blow to the lovers, but they bore it with fortitude, and on the day before his departure, Henry Villiers took a tender farewell of Maria, promising to write to her by every opportunity, and expressing a hope that he would soon return to claim her as his bride.
After his departure, the family at Mortlake remained in a state of great anxiety for his safety. Letters were received from him at intervals, which gave a vivid account of the hardships and privations to which the army was exposed, but they always expressed a hope that a glorious victory would soon crown their efforts, and enable him to return to his beloved Maria. At length the news arrived of the battle of Corunna, which was fought on the 16th of January, 1809, in which the British army, after a long and disastrous retreat, succeeded in defeating the French, but with the loss of their brave commander, Sir John Moore, who was killed in the action.
The news of the battle was received with mingled feelings of joy and sorrow throughout the country. While there was general rejoicing for the victory, there was also deep mourning for the loss of so many brave men. In the family at Mortlake, the anxiety was intense. No letters had been received from Henry Villiers for several weeks, and they feared the worst. At length a letter arrived from one of his brother officers, which confirmed their worst fears. It stated that Henry Villiers had been severely wounded in the battle, and that he had been carried on board one of the transports, but that he had died on the passage home, and his body had been committed to the deep.
This sad news was a terrible blow to the family, and especially to Maria, who was completely broken-hearted. She never recovered from the shock, and from that time her health began to decline. She spent her time in retirement, and her only consolation was in reading the letters she had received from her lover, and in meditating upon his memory. Her sisters did everything in their power to comfort her, but their efforts were in vain. She gradually grew weaker, and in the spring of the following year, 1810, she died at the early age of twenty-two years. She was buried in the family mausoleum at Mortlake, and her death was deeply lamented by all who knew her.
The death of Maria was followed by another affliction. Her sister Sophia, who had been tenderly attached to her, was so affected by her death that her health also gave way, and she died in the autumn of the same year, 1810, at the age of twenty-one years. She was also buried in the family mausoleum. The loss of his two daughters was a severe blow to Mr. Bristow, who was now left with only one child, Caroline, who was the youngest of the family. He determined to leave Mortlake, where everything reminded him of his lost children, and he removed to a house in London, where he spent the remainder of his days in retirement. He died in the year 1818, and his remains were brought to Mortlake and deposited in the family mausoleum.
The following lines, which were written by a friend of the family on the occasion of the death of the two sisters, are inscribed on a marble tablet inside the mausoleum:—
The reading of these lines by any casual visitor to the tomb cannot fail to awaken a feeling of sympathy for the fate of these two young and beautiful sisters, who were cut off in the prime of their youth, and whose names are now almost forgotten. The story of their lives is a touching instance of the uncertainty of human happiness, and of the truth of the poet’s words:—
¹ This account is compiled from various old records and manuscripts relating to the parish of Mortlake, and from the inscriptions on the tomb itself. The author is indebted to the late Mr. John Eustace Anderson, a well-known local antiquary, for much valuable information.
Note.—The dates in the text and in the verses are given as they appear in the original manuscript.