Blaney's Last Directions

It is usual

for people in this country

(out of pretended respect

but rather from an impertinent curiosity)

to desire to see

persons

after they are

dead.

It is my earnest request that no person

on any pretence whatever

may be permitted to see my

corpse

but those who

unavoidably must.

I desire to be buried

in the north side of the churchyard

of Tregynon

somewhere about the centre

my coffin to be made in the most

plain and simple manner

without the usual fantastical decorations

and the more

perishable the material

the better.

I desire that no undertaker

or professed performer of funerals

may be employed:

but that I may be conveyed

to the churchyard

in some country hears

which may be hired for the occasion

and my corpse

to be carried

from hearse to the grave

immediately

without going into the church

by six of the chief Tregynon tenants

to whom I give two guineas each

for their trouble.

It is my earnes request and desire

to have no upper bearers

or any persons whatever

invited to my funeral

which I desire may be at so

early an hour as will best prevent

a concourse of people

from collecting together:

the better sort

I presume will not intrude

as there is no

invitation.

I have been present at the funerals

of three of my uncles at Morville.

I was pleased with the privacy and decency

with which all things were conducted:

no strangers attended

all was done

by the servants of the family.

It is my earnest desire to follow these examples

however unpopular

and that

no coach

no escutcheon

and no pomp of any kind may appear.

I trust that my executor will be well justified

against the clamor and obloquy

of mercenary people

when he acts in performance of the last request

of a dying friend

who solemnly adjures him in the name of God

punctually to observe these directions.

codicil

I likewise give to all my servants

five guineas each

in lieu of all mourning

which it is my desire

no person may use on my account.