THE CRYPT OF ST. PAUL'S.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 171, 21 July 1928, Page 8

THE CRYPT OF ST. PAUL'S.

The crypt of St. Paul « contain? the remains of many of England's greatest men. A high-raised casket holds the ashes of Nelson placed in th» centre of the crypt and immediately beneath the. cross of the dome. Store pillars surround the monument and mosaics cover the floor.- Towards the western end is the huge marble and granite sarcophagus of the Duke of Wellington. There stands also the black funeral car used in the public funeral procession of Wellington. It was east from cannon taken in various engagements, and is covered with floral and military devices and names of great battles. Both Nelson and Wellington lie surrounded by fellow officers. South of Nelson's tomb is that of Collingwood, second in command at Trafalgar, while to the north lies that of Northesk, third in command. Nelson was one of the earliest of great Englishmen to be laid to rest in St. Paul's, for up to the year 1790 a sentiment had prevailed against the erection of monuments in the new building. In that year, however, a monument to John Howard, the social reformer, was set up in the cathedral, and almost immediately afterwards the-great outburst of national feeling for the heroes of the struggle of Britain against Napoleon on land and sea brought about the erection of a large number of memorials and a smaller number of burials within the precincts. From a rectangular opening in the pavement of the cathedral proper coffins of the illustrious dead are lowered through the crvpt roof 011 the occasion of national funerals. These have been multiplied within recent years to include great artists, musicians and writers, as well as soldiers and sailors. Besides Xelson and Wellington, Roberts and Sir Henry Wilson lie buried there. Of military monuments none is more beautiful than the irrey-«reen marble under which lies Lord Napier of Magdala: none is more simple than the black cross on the wall inscribed '"Roberts." A few steps away is the burial place of Wolseley and Picton and memorials to Lord Charles Beresford and Sir Evelyn Wood. The tablet to Kitchener was erected not in the crvpt, but in the chapel of All Souls' in the cathedral above. Those distinguished in other fields who have memorials in St. Paul's include Sir William Russell, "first and ,Greatest of war correspondents," Melton Prior, Florence Nightingale, Sir Williams, founder of the Y.M.C.A.. Canon Scott Holland. George Cruicksliank, Charles Reade. Parry and Sullivan, the composers. Sir Joshua Reynolds. Millais, Holman Hunt and Sargent, and Sir Christopher Wren, the designer of St. Paul's.