NEAR THIS MONUMENT
LIES INTERRED
THE REMAINS OF COLONEL J.P. DESMARETZ
LATE HIS MAJESTY'S COMMISSARY
FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE WORKS AT DUNKIRK
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 16TH SEPTEMBER 1768
IN THE 82ND YEAR OF HIS AGE
THOUGH BORN A FOREIGNER
HE EARLY ADOPTED
EVERY GENEROUS SENTIMENT OF
CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
AND EXERTED HIS ACTIVE ABILITIES
FOR THE SERVICE OF THIS NATION
IN THE QUALITY OF AN ENGINEER
AN INDEFATIGABLE ZEAL
AND UNSHAKEN INTEGRITY
IN THE EXECUTION OF SEVERAL IMPORTANT WORKS
COMMITTED TO HIS CHARGE
DESERVEDLY ENTITLED HIM
TO THE APPROBATION OF HIS SUPERIORS
AND THE ESTEEM OF THE PUBLIC
HIS SOCIAL VIRTUES IN THE SPHERE
OF PRIVATE LIFE
ENDEARED HIM TO ALL HIS FRIENDS
BY WHOM HE IS SINCERELY REGRETTED
HIS AFFECTIONATE DAUGHTER
MARY DESMARETZ DURNFORD
HATH CAUSED
THIS MONUMENT TO BE ERECTED
AS A TESTIMONY OF
FILIAL PIETY
TO THE MEMORY OF THE BEST OF FATHERS
AND OF A TENDER MOTHER
WHOSE RELIQUES ARE ALSO DEPOSITED
IN THIS CHAPEL
ON THE 21ST JULY
IN THE YEAR 1761