The Churchyard at Beaconsfield is chiefly remarkable for containing the tomb of the poet Edmund Waller, which occupies a most unpoetical extent of surface; and, what is worse, this surface is paved with flagstones. The tomb is in the form of a parallelogram chest, with drapery, cut in stone, hanging down on each side and at the ends; as if, after the body had been deposited in the chest, a pall had been thrown over it, and then the lid put on. The effect is good. On the centre of this lid is a small obelisk, or pyramid, containing the inscription, arms, &c. Out of one side of the surface of the pavement which surrounds this tomb rises a walnut tree, at least 18 in. in diameter at the ground; but whether planted, or originated by accident, we could not learn. Along one end of this churchyard there is a row of houses, with narrow gardens between them and the graves; a circumstance producing, in our minds at least, a peculiar kind of melancholy. Burke was buried in the church; but, as we hate interments of this kind, we did not visit his tomb. There is a yew tree, cut in a very odd form, in Beaconsfield churchyard, for which we could discover no reason, not having been able to find the clipper, Mr. Tripp. We should be much obliged to Mr. Smith of Hall Barns, if he would make enquiries, and let us hear from him on the subject.
