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[Illustration: TOMB OF THE POET, WALLER.]

In the churchyard of Beaconsfield, Bucks, stands the above handsome
tribute to the memory of the celebrated poet and politician, EDMUND WALLER.
The monument is of marble, with a pyramid rising from the centre, and a
votive urn at each corner. On the east side is a Latin inscription,
stating that Waller was born March 30, 1605, at Coleshill, in
Hertfordshire; his father being Robert Waller, Esq. (of Agmondelsham in
Buckingham, whose family was originally a branch of the Kentish
Wallers,[5]) and his mother of the Hampden family; that he was a student
at Cambridge; "his first wife was Anne, only daughter and heiress to
Edward Banks, twice made a father by his first wife, and thirteen times by
his second, whom he survived eight years; he died October 21, 1687." The
original inscription is by Rymer, and is to be seen in most editions of
the poet's works. The monument was erected by the poet's son's executors,
in 1700, and stands on the east side of the churchyard, near the family
vault. The above engraving is from a sketch, obligingly furnished by our
Correspondent, W.H. of Wycombe.

Waller was proprietor of the manor of Beaconsfield, and that of Hall Barn,
in the vicinity, at which latter place he resided.

It is remarkable, that this great man, toward the decline of life bought a
small house, with a little land, on his natal spot; observing, "that he
should be glad to die like the stag, where he was roused." This, however,
did not happen. "When he was at Beaconsfield," says Johnson, "he found his
legs grow tumid: he went to Windsor, where Sir Charles Scarborough then
attended the king, and requested him, as both a friend and physician, to
tell him what that swelling meant. 'Sir,' answered Scarborough, 'your
blood will run no longer.' Waller repeated some lines of Virgil, and went
home to die. As the disease increased upon him, he composed himself for
his departure; and calling upon Dr. Birch to give him the holy sacrament,
he desired his children to take it with him, and made an earnest
declaration of his faith in Christianity. It now appeared what part of his
conversation with the great could be remembered with delight. He related,
that being present when the Duke of Buckingham talked profanely before
King Charles, he said to him, 'My lord, I am a great deal older than your
Grace, and have, I believe, heard more arguments for atheism than ever
your Grace did;