George Downing KNOTTESFORD [14700]

  General Notes:

Colchester August 25.
A few days since died at Bridgetown House Stratford-on-Avon, deeply regretted by his family George Downing, elder son of the Rev F Fortescue Knottesford.
Ref: The Ipswich Journal 26 August 1826

  Other Records

1. George Downing Fortescue: His book on Roman History, 1812.
M F [?] Knottesford- for the use of her dear children 1815.

G D Fortescue given him by his dearest Mama January 1824

2. Death of George Downing Fortescue: By Matthew Bridges, Abt 1826.
Liveing Archive 153a-b LT13

Verses
Sacred to the Memory
of
George Downing Fortescue
Who died
Aged 13 years.

An early flower of fairest form
In lowliness retired?
Was withered by a sudden storm
And in an hour expired
Sweet youth too lovely in thy life
To live a longer day
And yet more lovely when thy strife
Of nature passed away.

So dies the Dolphin, as in death
His fleeting beauties fail
So sinks the day star as the breath
Of morning swells the gale.

So fades an Iris on the sky
Too beautiful to last
And as we gage with wondering eye
The miracle is passed.

Yet these are transitory things
Which only shine awhile
Like chequer'd joys which pleasure brings
Oh like a mourners? smile
But that which now is dust is laid
Shall from the dust arise
No more to die no more to fade
In phrenia? of the skies.

Sweet youth thy grave embellish'd with tears
One day shall yield her dead
While cleansed from sin and free from fear?
Thy soul hath homed and fled
We we who weep would follow too
To share that blissful scene
And see the Lamb as thou canst do
Without a veil between.
M Bridges.