The Press. — London, England, 1854-08-05 00:00:00

THE PRESS. AUGUST 5, 1854. THE COALITION COURT AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. JoioNG the attractions which are being added to the Crystal Palace at Sydenham is a new court, which will, it is expected, offer much invaluable information and instruction to the intelligent people of England. It is the contribution of her Majesty's Government, who have desired to lend all the assistance in their power towards the success of the Sydenham undertaking. It will be called the Coalition Court, and, although not yet thrown open to the public, its position can easily be discerned by remarking that it is under the statue of the double-faced Janus, who is a sort of presiding deity to it, and that it has Peel's effigy at one end, while the other closely adjoins the Roman department. The handbook to the court is not yet ready, but we have been favoured with a few of the proof-sheets, from which we subjoin an extract or two : COALITION COURT. " UNION IS WEAKNESS." The decoration of this court is of a mixed description, and is intended to show with what success juxtaposition may be preserved without the least approach to unity of purpose. Immediately to the right is an an cient fresco, representing a Jew approaching the table of a legis lative assembly to take an oath to regard a Christian constitution, while a Protestant nobleman, having torn a sacred volume into two parts, is offering the Hebrew one of them upon which to be sworn. In the next compartment are several Hibernian labourers, who, under the direction of a Romish priest, are busily undermining a church whose wardens are asleep. In a third, a warlike expedition is being despatched from a port, and its apparent promoters are waving hand kerchiefs and otherwise expressing joy at its departure, while sub marine ropes, attached to the keels of the vessels, effectually prevent any real progress from being made. These frescoes are somewhat obscure, but discoveries which are daily coming to light will elucidate their meaning. STATUARY CATALOGUE. 1. A PREMIER, OR FIRST LORD. This piece of stonework bears the date 1784. It is not remarkable for grace, but is interesting as a type. The attitude is singular, com bining doggedness with irresolution. The head turned back denotes a reluctance to advance, but there is something almost ludicrous in the way the foot is lifted, in pretence of making great progress. The pedestal which supports the person is malachite—a Russian marble. The student of art will notice the want of truthfulness which charac terises the composition. 2. A TREASURER. Not an ungraceful production, but pretentious, and frittered away into endless details. Great art in the concealment of the real nature of the figure affected to be shown. Has obviously at some time or another been used for Roman Catholic purposes. The cup and ball would seem to denote a juggler. Was first discovered at Oxford in 1831, and formed part of the collection of the late Sir Robert Peel. THE ELECTED OF BEVERLEY. 733 " In reference to the war he (the Hon. Arthur Gordon) said he was desirous of seeing it carried on with the utmost vigour of which human nature was capabk."—lieerley Election (Tunes, July 31,1854). So the Beverley crowd by their votes have allowed That Young Rapid will cut quite a Parliament figure, And doubtless surmise they've no end of a prize In a Gordon who threatens to make war with vigour. The quidnuncs approve, at a single remove, That the Aberdeen blood should break out in such bristles ; And the prodigy warns we shall find grapes on thorns If we gather such figs from such very Scotch thistles. It occasions less shock to find of one stock Sir Charles Wood and a sage, Robert Lowe and a nigger, Than to hear that Parolles can beget valiant souls, Or Bob Acres be father to Lucius O'Trigger. The Stagyrite tells of a nation that dwells On the confines of Greece in an easy condition, Where the husbands and wives led the freest of lives, On a partnership system or wife coalition ; Where each daughter and son were assigned one by one To the father whom most of the tribe they resembled ; But, were this the plan here, the Premier, we fear, Couldn't claim his own offspring unless he dissembled. Take the father and son and combine them in one, And two such extremes make a proper concoction ; Though they do not compare, or by any means square, And could never be sold as a pair at an auction. Could Britain and Beverley change them as cleverly, As Hamlet and Laertes change in the scuffle, To Britain at least, in respect of the East, No loss would accrue from the family shuffle. Such a close of the piece Aberdeen pare et fils Omit from their stage tricks and scenic sdjustings, So feebleness reigns and prepares our campaigns, While "vigour" is freely displayed—on the hustings. X. 3. A JESTER. Of Portuguese origin. Some boldness of expression ; and the student will observe that the organs of memory are well developed. A type of no great value, but curious. The meaning of the little ship in one hand, and of the pen in the other, has not been discovered; but it may imply that one of the jokes of the individual was his assuming to be secretary to some naval institution. (From the Osborne Gallery.) 4. A DUX, OR DUKE. A small figure, marked by extreme self-assertion. The thistle upon a book may indicate its Scottish origin, or be an intimation of the posi tion in natural history of those who admire the book. It is not impos sible that time may give a value to this type, but its crudity is evident at a glance. 5. AN ECONOMIST. This name has been given to the figure, upon what grounds it is diffi cult to say. A paper, somewhat resembling in form a weekly news paper, is in the hand of the figure, and several hats are behind it, as if thrown away. The features are remarkable, and the mouth indicates great volubility. The typo is by no means recommended as a model. 6. AN ATHLETE. A manly figure, apparently somewhat advanced in years, but full of vigour. A Cupid's bow, sculptured on the pedestal, is not easily ex plicable. The face apparently expresses scorn of those immediately around the figure, and the position of the foot indicates hesitation whether to kick them away, or to walk from among them. 7. A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. A massy figure, and the expression one of apparent recklessness, but real caution. A close observer will see a small botanic object upon the tongue : it is what is called a burr. This type should be studied, in evidence of how talent is misapplied where there is no lofty pur pose in view. The head is good. (From the Cumberland Gallery.) 8. A FIGURE IN WOOD. No particular name seems likely to belong to this figure. It was on ginally found at Pontefract, and has been regarded with a respect to which its merits hardly entitle it. There is the utmost confusion in the composition, and its details are signally ill balanced. A tablet, or slate, with clumsy and contradictory figures upon it, would seem to imply that the original had been some unlucky accountant. The In dian turban upon the head is evidently of later date, and is a ridiculous addition which might be removed with advantage. 9. A PHILOSOPHER. A very curious figure, dug up in Southwark. It is difficult to state whether its intention be serious or satiric. Some suppose it to be the " skolasticos" of ancient Greek litarature, but the book under the arm bears the inscription 0B S. The nose is turned up fastidiously, as if the per son were avoiding the odour of his constituents, or of a drain, and he is delivering a speech, the MS. of which appears from a fold of his robe. A box at his foot, with a ball in it, but kicked over, has some hidden meaning. SOMETHING IN THE WIND. The Court Circular of Wednesday announces that Dr. FORBES WmLow had an interview with Lord ABERDEEN the previous day, but it is not stated whether this eminent authority in eases of lunacy was authorised to wait on the Premier by his lordship's colleagues or his family. DOWNING-STREET NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. INTRODUCTION. CONTAINING THE STORY OF THE POOR PORTER OF WHITEHALL. UNDER the reign of Coalition-all-Renegades, there resided in Mid dlesex a poor porter of the name of Bernal, who, notwithstanding his laborious and mean business, professed to be a fellow of wit and humour; but all his acquaintance were used to say, pleasantly, tlmt the greatest weight he carried was his jokes. One day, as he was sauntering about Whitehall, clamouring violently, and crying, " Who has a pannier to carry? Who lacks a porter?" and looking eagerly at each passer-by for a job, an old man with one foot in the grave came to hint and said, with a pleasant air, in the accent of the North, " Hark ye, porter! tak' your basket, and follow me !" The porter, charmed with these words, took his basket imme diately, put it on his head, and followed the old man, exclaiming, "Oh ! happy day ! Oh! day of good luck !" "Do not," said the Old Man of the North, " apprehend much labour, porter, for I only require you to carry the abandoned professions of certain viziers, emirs, and Janissaries. So the porter followed the Old Man of the North until he came to Carlton House-terrace, where he stopped and knocked. Presently came out one who said, " What means so small a basket as that? Do you not know that there are all the speeches and protesta tions since 1843 to be carried ? The porter is not strong enough." " Never mind," replied the Old Man, " throw them in." So they were all thrown into the porter's basket, who went on his way, very much marvelling that his basket seemed scarcely heavier than before. In like manner the porter followed the Old Man of the North to Eaton square and Chesham-place, and round almost the entire town, taking in the same kind of load, and feeling no whit the more burdened, exclaiming, " Blessed be Allah ! the speeches of viziers are not weighty when once they are spoken." Then the Old Man went on his way through several very crooked roads and dirty turnings until he arrived at a decayed and dilapidated street, the end of which was propped up by wood, and the front very smoky and dingy. " Now, porter," said the Old Man of the North, " this is Downing street ; tread very softly, and be quiet, for we have no right here ; and, if we awake the inhabitants, even he that carries the basket may chance to get into trouble." The porter replied, " Blessed be the prophet !" and followed the Old Man. Now it is fit that you should know that just as the Old Man and the porter,had ceased speaking the Old Man clapped his bands, and be ae.4 foi wi no ha im sei bo tic ail at cu PH if gr P 1 ar Iv] re tb iL P( gi w. ti: al in di b. if Scof IL iNM