The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-07-31 00:00:00

ONE OF THE WORLD'S NOBILITY.

The beautiful statue which is to commemorate the
magnificent philanthropy of Mr. George Peabody was
unveiled on Friday, in last week, at the back of the
Royal Exchange, London, by the Prince of Wales,
amidst the applause of a dense crowd of spectators,
amongst whom were many distinguished persons.
After lunch, which was served in the Banquetipg-
roqm of the Mansion-house, the Lord Mayor proposed
the health of the Queen, the only additional toast be-
ing that of the Prince of Wales. In proposing this
the Lord Mayor said :
we are met this day to do honour to a man who, by his
great benevolence to the te.or of this metropolis, has not
only won the hearts of the citizens among whom he has lived !
for so many years, nut of the nation at large. I have no need
to praise him, or he has been actuated by such nobility of
purpose as to make it quite unnecessary. He has delightel
to do good to his fellow men, and in his great gifts to setk
the amelioration of the humblest class of our people. I see
around me those who have sought to perpetuate amongst us
the memory of that distingutshed American citizen, and I
am rejoiced we have here to-day that eminent servant of art
to whose hand this great work was entrusted.
The toast having been drunk most cordially., his
Royal Highness, in the course of a brief reply, said :
To me the pleasure is very great in being here to-day, to
unveil the statue ,d so great and no good a man. The name
of Mr Peabody will go down to coming generations as the
great philanthropist who sought not his own honour, but
your city's good, in a way which entitles him to the bating
gratitude of my fellow-citizens. (Cheers.)
The company then dispersed, and formed a proces-
sion to the Royal Exchange, and every window, roof,
balcony, and inch of ground that would admit of use
was occupied by spectators as far as the eye
I reach

could

Sir B. Phillips, chairman of the Committee, then
addressed the Prince in an admirable speech, which
told the tale of the work at which his Royal Highness
was to assist. The worthy Alderman, during his
address, said
. . . .

This statue will commemorate an act almost without a
parallel in English history. Ills the spontaneous expression,
the free-will gift, of a generous and grateful people, and the
testimony of their homage to a good and philanthropic
citizen exemplified during his life. It will proclaim its own
history, and " point a moral and adorn a tale. It will tell
to future generations how a plain and earnest man, born in
another country, settled among us, and by a long, prosperous,
and honourable career became one of our merchant princes,
and, having realised a kingly fortune, conceived the
Idea of distributing it in his life, not with the object
of sell-aggrandisement, but tor the god-like purpose of
ameliorating the miseries, assuaging the woes and
elevating the social and moral condition of his fellow-
creatures, hut therein something iii the free and unsectarian
character of George Pealiody's gifts broader, deeper, grander
than the gilts themselves, for they are like the genial dews
from heaven—they bless no special flower, but impart fra-
grance, sweetness and strength to all they light upon.
astly, bt us hope that this statue, erected by tee lons of
free England to the honour of one of Columbia's truest and
noblest citizens, may be symbolical of the peace and good-
will that exist bet risen the two countries, and that a people
Fpringing from the same at ck, speaking the same language,
and inspired and animated by the same love of frwsvioin arm
liberty, may live in uninterrupted friendship and
These passages were warmly applauded, as were also
several sentences praising the work of art which Mr.
Story had provided. In reply, the Prince of Walee
thus spoke :-
I am sure you all molt feel gratified at the speech we have
ust listened to. Allow me to say that amongst the many
duties ebb% I hare to perform, acme could ere me greater

happiness.