In accordance with the
Scottish practice, there was no service read, and Mr. Carlyle threw
a handful of earth on the coffin after it had been lowered into the
grave.
* * * * *
Carlyle wrote the following inscription to be placed on his wife's
tombstone:--
"Here likewise now rests Jane Welsh Carlyle, spouse of Thomas
Carlyle, Chelsea, London. She was born at Haddington 14th
July, 1801; only child of the above John Welsh and of Grace
Welsh, Caplegell, Dumfriesshire, his wife. In her bright
existence she had more sorrows than are common, but also a
soft invincibility, a clearness of discernment, and a noble
loyalty of heart which are rare. For forty years she was the
true and loving helpmate of her husband, and by act and word
unweariedly forwarded him as none else could in all of worthy
that he did or attempted. She died at London, 21st April,
1866, suddenly snatched away from him, and the light of his
life as if gone out."
Later in the same year, weighed down as he was by his great sorrow,
Carlyle nevertheless thought it a public duty to come forward
in defence of Governor Eyre, when the quelling of the Jamaica
insurrection excited so much controversy, and seemed to divide England
into two parties.
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