Uploader's Comments

A standing wall monument to the 9th Earl of Huntingdon (d 1746) was designed by William Kent and carved by Joseph Pickford. It has a demi-figure of his widow, Selina Countess of Huntingdon, by Michael Rysbrack. Coat of Arms with about 30 quarterings. Urn with cameo of Countess Selina praying and below, a skull and crossed palm leaves. signed Gulmo Kent.
Inscriptions: Here lye the Rema(in)s Of The Honourable Theophilus ( )on Lord Hastings, Hungerford, Bottrell, Moels, N(ewmarch) and Molins If H(is b)irth (d)es(eved r)espect His Life deserved no more. If He derived his Titles from a Long Roll Of illustrious Ancestors, He reflected back (eg no less) Superiot Honours. He enobled Society He enobled Nobility By Virtue . He was of the first Rank in Both. Good in every Relation Of Natural Duty, and of Social Life. The Learning he acquired at School He improved at Oxford Under the Care of that Excellent Person The present Bishop of Glocester. Acquainted by his Studys With the Characters of all Ages He aequired (sic) by his Travels A Knowledge of the Men and Manners of his own. He visited Erance, Italy, and even Spain; After these Excursions into other Countrys He settled in his Own.
His own was dear to him. No Man had juster Notions Of the true Constitution of her Government. No Man had a more Comprehensive View of her (real interests), Domestick and Foreign. Capable of excelling in every Form of Public Life, He chose to appear in none. His Mind fraught with Knowledge, His Heart elevated with Sentiment and unaffected Passion, he looked down from higher Ground On the low Level of futile and Corrupt G(eneration), Despairing to do National Good He mingled as little as his Rank permitted In National Affairs. Home is the Refuge of a Wise Man’s Life; Home was the Refuge of His. By his Marriage with the Lady Selina Shirley, Second daughter, and one of the Coheirs, Of Washington Earl Ferrers; He secured to himself in Re(treat) A scene of Happiness he could not have found (in the World) The uninterrupted Joys of Conjugal Love, The neverfailing Comforts of cordial Friendship. Every care was softened, Every Satisfaction heightened, Every Hour passed smoothly away (Third panel transcribed from Nichols Leicestershire: in the Company of one who enjoyed a perpetual Serenity of Soul, that none but those can feel in this life, who are prepared for greater bliss in the Next. By her this Monument is Erected, to record the Virtues of the deceased, and the grief of the living. He was born November 12th, 1696; and married the said Lady June 3, 1718. By her he had four Sons and three Daughters; Francis, the present Earl, born March 13, 1728-9; George, born March 29, 1730, who died of the small-pox, aged 14, Ferdinando, born January 23, 1732, who also died of the small-pox, aged 11; Henry, now living, born December 12th, 1739; Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, born March 23, 1731; Selina, born June 1735, who died an infant; Selina, the third daughter, born December 3, 1737. The said Earl died of a fit of the apoplexy, October 13, 1746, in the 50th year of his age). (Photo Aug 2015).