The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-31 00:00:00

THE NELSON COLUMN.

£4,000 towards four colossal lions couchant, to be placed
on the base of Nelson column, Trafalgar-square.
Admiral WALCOTT trusted that some earnest effort
would be made to complete the column, and thus to remove
from the country the imputation of having neglected the
memory of one of her greatest sons. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. WILLIAMS also thought it disgraceful that the
completion of the monument should have been so long
delayed.
Mr COWPER regretted that the work should not have
been finished, but the delay had not arisen from any want
of care, but rather the reverse; for Sir Edwin Landseer
had been exceedingly fastidious in his preliminary studies.
He (the right hon. gentleman) trusted that the first lion
would be cast in the course of the year, and after then he
trusted that no long time would elapse before the gallant
admiral had the pleasure of seeing one of the finest works
of art of these days.
Sir M RIDLEY said that individual to whom the com-
mission had originally been entrusted had contracted to
supply four lions, each different from the rest, for 6,000
guineas. If that was so, he did not see why the British
public should be called upon to pay £17,000 for the same
work.

Sir G, BOWYER observed the house had been told last
year that Sir Edwin Landseer was going every day to the
Zoological Gardens—he presumed at feeding time—to study
the lions. Now the public were told that they were only
going to have one cast some time this year. He trusted,
however, that the right hon. gentleman would give them
some more precise information on the point, He hoped the

four would not be all alike—and he thought that it would
have been better to have engaged four artists. He really
could not understand why Sir.E.Landseer should have bean
commissioned at all. Because he was a great painter of
animals was not a very satisfactory reason why he should
be a good artist in bronze. Indeed he should have thought
that Sir Edwin was one of the worst persons to whom the
work could have been entrusted, for the great merit of his
painting was the great finish of his work, whereas what was
wanted was something bold and striking. (Hear, hear.)
Lord J. MANNERS believed that one of the lions would
be ready for casting in the course of the month. The hon.
baronet seemed to find fault with Sir Edwin Landseer for

going so often to see the lions at the Zoological Gardens

but the fact was that if the lions would not go to Sir
Edwin, Sir Edwin had no alternative but to go to the
lions. He believed that in a few months the hon. baronet
would admit that those who had selected Sir Edwin Land-
seer had done well. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. C R,EGOB,Y reminded the House of the heraldic
painter, who thought the first real lion he saw as an ex-
ceedingly misshapen animal. Sir E. Landseer had been
selected in order that the British public might see what a
lion was really like.
The vote was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN having been ordered to report

progress,
The LORD ADVOCATE moved the second reading
of the Writs Registration (Scotland) Bill, explaining the
object of the measure, and the ground upon which it
was proposed.
Major HAMILTON moved that the debate be ad-
journed, and this amendment was seconded by Mr.
SMOLLETT, and ultimately agreed to.
Other bills were forwarded, and the remaining orders snd
motions having been disposed of, the house adjourned at
half-past ono o'clock.