Even the open or half-open coffin, shewing the skeleton within, may possibly have some reference to the rising at the Last Day.  We have this figure employed in a comparatively recent case at Fawkham in Kent, being one example of nineteenth-century sculpture.

Fig. 36.—­At Fawkham.

“Thomas Killick, died 1809, aged 1 month
1 day.”

A crown is usually the emblem of Victory, but held in the hand, as in this instance, it indicates, I am told, an innocent life.

Other coffins displaying wholly or partly the corpse or skeleton within are perhaps not intended to convey any such pious or poetic thought as do the two foregoing, but simply to pourtray the ghastliness of death, a kind of imagery much fancied by the old stonemasons.

[Illustration:  Fig. 34.  Darenth.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 35.  Kingsdown.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 36.  Fawkham.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 37.  Swanscombe.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 38.  Ashford.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 39.  Cooling.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 40.  Hendon.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 41.  East Wickham.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 42.  Snargate.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 43.  East Ham.]

Fig. 37.—­At Swanscombe.

“To Elizabeth Hall, died 1779, aged 76 years.”

Fig. 38.—­At Ashford.

“To Stephen Kennedy, died Sept. 1791, aged
61 years.”

In the latter illustration there are three stars to which I can give no signification.  The snake-ring is, of course, eternity, and the book, as before surmised, may stand for the record of a good life.

More ingenious, more didactic, and altogether more meritorious than these is another series of designs belonging to the same period of time.  They are not only as a rule conceived in better taste, but are, almost consequently, better in their execution.  The following example from Cooling, a small village in the Medway Marshes, is an excellent specimen of its class, and a very exceptional “find” for a spot so remote.

Fig. 39.—­At cooling.

“To M’r Richard Prebble of Cliffe, died April
1775.”

One of later date at Hendon, Middlesex, is also to be commended.  The lyre, cornet, and tambourine speak of music, and the figures of Fame and Hope are hardly to be misunderstood, but the large box in the background is not quite certain of correct interpretation.

Fig. 40.—­At Hendon.

“To Ludwig August Leakfield, Esq., died
Nov. 22, 1810, aged 48 years.”

The following is rougher in form, but seems to have suffered from the weather.  It needs no explanation.