Slavery

Memorial: M3859

Wall tablet in All Saints Church, Selworthy, Somerset commemorating Commander Charles Acland, RN d. 1828

Location

All Saints Church, Selworthy, Somerset, England

Transcript

[Bottom of sarcophagus plinth] 'CHARLES RICHARD DYKE ACLAND / THIRD SON OF SIR THOMAS DYKE ACLAND, BART. / DIED AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE APRIL 23, 1828, / COMMANDER OF H.M.S. HELICON / IN THE THIRTY-FIFTH YEAR OF HIS AGE' [Inscription plate] 'THE BATTLE'S RAGE O'ERWHELMED THEE NOT, NOR OCEANS STORMY WAVE / THOUGH KINDRED TEARS MAY NOT BEDEW THY DISTANT EARTHLY GRAVE; / IN DELAGOA'S FATAL BAY THE FEVER'S BURNING ZONE / TO SAVE THE CAPTIVE'S LIFE FROM BONDS THOU FREELY GAV'ST THINE OWN. / OH NURTUR'D IN THIS QUIET VALE IN JUSTICE, MERCY, TRUTH / HOW WELL THINE AFTER YEARS REDEEMED, THE PROMISE OF THY YOUTH / WITH RECTITUDE OF PURPOSE BLEST, FAITH SIMPLE AND SINCERE, / THE KINDNESS OF A MANLY HEART, THE STRENGTH OF GODLY FEAR / SON, BROTHER, HUSBAND, BEST BELOV'D WE MOURN THEE NOT UNBLEST; / DEAR IS THE HOPE THAT THOU HAST GAIN'D THE HAVEN OF THY REST; / THEIR STEADFAST LOVE WHO WALK IN FAITH NOR DEATH NOR TIME DESTROY, / AND THEY WHO SOW TO GOD IN TEARS, SHALL SURELY REAP IN JOY'

Details

Description: Sarcophagus draped in Union Flag. Rounded pediment with scrolls on the ends.
Type: Wall tablet
Materials: Marble
Artists: Francis Legatt Chantrey
Vessel: HMS Helicon

People

Acland, Charles Richard Dyke
Age: 34
Date of Death: 23/4/1828
Cause of Death: Infectious disease
Rank / Occupation: Commander RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: 'Nov 8 1830. Recd. an order from Sir Thomas Acland Bart. and his sister to execute a draped Sarcophagus in memory of Her husband. A Mariner's Sextant to be cut below and the drapery to imitate the British Flag. Price about £200.' Acland died of blackwater fever while on anti-slavery duties.

Bibliography: Alison Yarrington, Ilene D. Lieberman, Alex Potts and Malcolm Baker 'An Edition of the Ledger of Sir Francis Chantrey R.A...', 'The Fifty Sixth Volume of the Walpole Society' p. 262 (1991-1992); Anne Acland 'A Devon Family' (Chichester, 1981).
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