GIBBON 261 



clmrcliyard wall, bears an iiiscriptiou recounting this 

 terrible happening : — 



In rememl^riince 



Of God's dreadful visitation by Fire, 



AVhich broke out the 4th of June, 1731, 



and in a few Hours not only reduced the 



Church, but almost the Avhole Town, to Ashes, 



Wherein 1-4 Inhabitants perished. 



But also two adjacent Villages ; 



And 



In grateful Acknowledgement of the 



Divine Mercy, 



That has since raised this Town, 



Like the Phoenix from its Ashes, 



To its present flourishing and beautiful State ; 



and to prevent. 



By a timely Supply of Water, 



(With God's Blessing) the fatal 



Consequences of Fire hereafter : 



This Monument 



Of that dire Disaster, and Provision 



Against the like, is humbly erected 



By 



John Bastard 



A considerable Sharer 



In the great Calamity, 



1760. 



Between 1760 and 1762 Gibbon, the historian of 

 the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, was 

 constantly in the neighbourhood of Blandford, camp- 

 ing on the downs which surround the town, and 

 enjoying all the pomp and circumstance which may 

 have belonged to his position as a Captain of Hants 

 Militia. 



Of these amateur soldierings he speaks as a 



