He writes--
"It were to be wished that neither superstition, affectation, idle
curiosity, or avarice, were so frequently invading the silence of
the grave. Far from dishonouring the illustrious dead, it is rather
outraging the common condition of humanity, and last melancholy
state in which our present existence terminates. Dust and ashes
have no intelligence to give, whether beauty, genius, or virtue,
informed the animated clay. A tooth of Homer or Milton will not be
distinguished from one of a common mortal; nor a bone of Alexander
acquaint us with more of his character than one of Bucephalus.
Though the dead be unconcerned, the living are neither benefited nor
improved: decency is violated, and a kind of instinctive sympathy
infringed, which, though it ought not to overpower reason, ought not
without it, and to no purpose, to be superseded." Notwithstanding
the right feeling shewn in this passage, it is quite sufficient to
condemn Capel Lofft as a Philister. Let us for a moment examine
some of these very eloquent assertions. Agreeing as I cordially do
with his wish, that neither superstition, affectation, whatever that
may mean, idle curiosity, or avarice, were the motives which actuate
those who molest the relics of the dead, I cannot allow that neither
dust and ashes, bones, nor teeth, have any intelligence to give us;
nor yet that by the reverential scrutiny of those relics the living
can be neither benefited nor improved.
Pages:
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44