The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-28 00:00:00

THE HOOD MONUMENT.

Yesterday evening a meeting was convened at the
Crown and Anchor, Strand, for the purpose of winding
up the affairs of the Hood Testimonial. There was a
rather numerous gathering of the subscribers ; and a
particular interest was imparted to the proceedings by
the exhibition of a really exquisite model of the design,
made by Mr. Matthew Noble, for the monument to be
erected over the grave of the poet in Kensal-green
Cemetery. This monument, which will consist of a
huge pedestal of polished red granite, will be surmounted
by a colossal bust of Thomas Hood—immediately below
which are to be inscribed the words—
" He sang the song of the shirt."
Underneath will be displayed the name of the departed,
together with the dates of his birth and death, and an
intimation that the tomb was erected by public subscrip-
tion. On either side of the entablature will be bronzes
in basso relievo, illustrating—one, " Eugene Aram's
Dream," the other, "The Bridge of Sighs"—

" Take her up tenderly,
Lift her with care,
Fashioned so slenderly,
Young and so fair."

Altogether, the design reflects the highest credit upon
the artistic genius and the poetic taste of the sculptor.
The model is a happy indication that the project of the
Hood Monument is now in actual process of realisation.
On the motion of Mr. MURDO YOUNG, seconded by
Mr. YAPP, James Wyld, Esq., was called to the chair.

The CHAIRMAN said it had not been his intention to
preside over the meeting, as he attended simply as a
visitant, but since it was the wish of the subscribers
that he should take the chair, he would do his best to
give satisfaction. The first business to be disposed of
was to _read the minutes of the last public meeting, and
then the report of the committee. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. WATKINS, the honorary secretary, then read the
minutes, and afterwards the report, which was as fol-
lows :

"April 27, 1853.
" The committee have to report, that, in pursuance of a
resolution passed by them, December 2, 1852, the present
meeting has been called to receive their final report and
statement of accounts.

" They have much pleasure in announcing that
the total amount of subscriptions is £448 8 0
Of which remains to be collected only, sub-
ject to loss by defaulters
" The gross expenses paid and incurred, includ-
ing the purchase of ground for the erection of
the monument, amounted to
"And the sum deposited in the London and
Commercial Bank is

54 9 1

" The committee have also to report that 4001. has been
guaranteed to the sculptor by Mr. Murdo Young, the
:trustee elected by the subscribers. Upon which, the form
and style of the monument having been discussed with re-
ference to the means at the disposal of the committee, and
the generally expressed wish of the subscribers, a copy of
the annexed letter was addressed to the following gentle-
men :—Messrs. E. H. Baily, R.A., P. Macdowell, R.A.,
W. C. Marshall, R.A., R. Westmacote, R.A., J. H.
Foley, A.R.A., H. Weekes, A.R.A., W. Behnes, J. Bell,
and M. Noble."

" Sir,—The sum of 4001. having been subscribed for a
monument to be placed above the grave of Thomas Hood,
in Kensal-green Cemetery, I beg to hand you, by desire of
the committee for the fund, the following description of
the style of monument which they have approved.
" A colossal bust, in bronze, upon a pedestal of red po-
lished granite, the whole 12 feet high, and 6 feet 6 inches
square at the base. In front of the bust, and leaning
against it, a laurel wreath, in bronze. Upon either side
of the pedestal bas-relief compositions in bronze, about
two feet in diameter, illustrating The Bridge of
Sighs,' and Eugene Aram's Dream,' or The Plea
of the Midsummer Fairies' Upon the front of the
pedestal this inscription He Sang the Song of
the Shirt.' The poet's name, date of birth, and death,
with the statement—' Erected by public subscription.
A.D. 1853' Upon a separate portion of the pedestal to
be introduced a Comic Mask,' veiled, in bronze, and the
whole to be protected by a suitable railing of bronze or
iron. Should you be pleased to prepare a model of the
above composition, not exceeding four feet in height,
the committee request that it may be sent to the
Whittington Club, Strand, on the 31st of March, with a
motto or monogram attached, accompanied by a sealed
envelope containing a repetition of the same, with your
name added, and addressed to myself. Messrs. Macdonald
and Leslie, of Aberdeen, having promised to supply the
granite pedestal at a, considerable abatement on their usual
price, and it being probable that the metal castings may
be obtained on similarly advantageous terms, the com-
mittee are induced to hope that, in consideration of the
literary eminence and moral worth of the poet whose genius
they desire to honour, and of the humble sources from
whence a large proportion of the subscriptions have been
received, they will be met in a liberal spirit by the gentle-
men to whom this letter is addressed. The following are
the sculptors who have been applied to. [Here the names
were given.j—l have the honour to be, &c.,
" ' JOHN WATKINS, Hon. Sec'
"In reply to these communications, the secretary re-
ceived letters from each of the above gentlemen, the ma-
jority of whom expressed regret that, in consequence of
the number of their engagements, and in some cases the
resolution they had formed of declining all unre-
munerated competition for public monuments, they
could not comply with the request of the committee.
Mr. Bell, Mr. Behnes, and Mr. Noble wrote expressing
their intention to prepare designs ; and on the 31st of
March. Mr. Bell having in the interim relinquished the
idea of competing for the monument,' the model by Mr.
Noble and the sketch by Mr. Behnes, now submitted to
the subscribers, were received.
"Mr. Behnes' design not having been executed in com-
pliance with the terms of the application made to him,
and Mr. Noble's model proving not only correct in
these particulars, but in the opinion of the committee
an admirable work of art, they have determined
to recommend it to the general body of subscribers."

The CHAIRMAN said the secretary had received an in-
teresting communication from Miss Eliza Cook, which
the secretary wished to read, and which he was sure the
meeting would be glad to hear, (Cheers.) The letter
was as follows :

" 54, Great Ormond-street, April 25, 1853.
"My dear Sir,—Permit me before the final meeting on
Wednesday next, of the committee and subscribers con-
nected with the Hood Memorial Fund,' to express to you
my extreme gratification at the result of a project which I
never imagined would have been so successful as it has
proved.
" A simple tabular erection to the memory of one of
England's truest poets was all I hoped to realise, but
the generous sympathy of English spirit, extending from
the poor shop girl to the princely duke—has increased
the Fund to an amount far beyond my expectation, and a
memorial of an important character can now be placed over
the remains of him who has slept for nearly nine years
without a common head-stone to direct the worshipping
stranger to his ashes.

"The design for the intended monument, by Mr. Matthew
Noble, which has met the approval of the committee,
claims my unqualified admiration, and I believe this admi-
ration will be shared by all who look on the production.
"I request you to give my warmest thanks to the sub-
scribers who so readily did honour to the glorious dead ;
and assure them that their response to my unworthy but
heartfelt appeal in this cause will ever be a proud and fond
remembrance to me.

" Oblige me by presenting to the committee my acknow-
ledgment of their services, and by expressing to Mr. Murdo
Young my perfect sense of his disinterested zeal in advanc-
ing the interests of the monument.
" As regards yourself, you have too certain a conviction
of my high estimation of you as a private friend and public
co-operator to require any complimentary declaration in
this letter. Moreover, you are cognisant of my severe suf-
fering, which forbids all unnecessary correspondence—so,
with the reiteration of my sense of satisfaction at the
thorough accomplishment of the endeavour to raise a me-
morial to Poor Hood,' I beg to subscribe myself with
sincere regard, yours most faithfully,

" ELIZA COOK

" To John Watkins, Esq."
The CHAIRMAN said no formal programme had been
prepared of the evening's proceedings, but if any
gentleman had any proposition to make, he should
be happy to - hear him. It was right, however,
that he should state that this was simply a busi-
ness meeting convened% for the purpose of bringing
this noble monument to a close. (Hear, hear.) The
purpose of it was nearly accomplished ; and all they
could now desire was to see the model before them put
into execution ; but before this was done, the committee
would be glad to hear any suggestions that subscribers
might wish to offer. (Hear, hear.)
After a brief pause,
Mr. MURDO YOUNG moved that the report be approved
of, and the model accepted, in accordance with the
wish of the committee. (Hear, hear.) •
This motion having been seconded by Mr. WALLER,
was put from the chair, and carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN again repeated that he should be
happy to hear any gentleman who felt disposed to ad-
dress the meeting.
Mr. W. C. ICENT—Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
in presenting myself before you as asubscriber--as merely
one of the subscribers—l cannot, of course, presume to
speak with any degree of authority in regard to the
feelings entertained by those gentlemen who have par-
ticipated in furthering this memorial. At the same
time, I think I may, without much presumption, ven-
ture on my part to submit to this meeting the propriety
of expressing to the originators of this design the thanks
of those who have helped to swell the subscriptions. I
think it would be ungrateful in us as subscribers if
we did not do so, seeing that but for the exertions
of those amiable persons who have co-operated in
bringing this subject before the public, we should
not have been afforded this opportunity of marking the
grave of Thomas Hood with some testimonial. Without
these exertions the ashes of Hood might have been al-
lowed to remain uncommemorated in Kensal-green Ce-
metery, without either a brick or a bramble to indi-
cate the spot where the poet rested. I may possibly be
allowed, therefore, to submit most respectfully to this
meeting, that we ought to express our gratitude to Eliza
Cook for those lyric sympathies—(cheers)—with which she
awakened popular attention to the subject. (Hear.) We
ought also to express our thanks to those gentlemen who
have most kindly aided in enforcing the necessity of this
testimonial—to one gentleman in particular, for the
liberality he has displayed in guaranteeing the payment
of the full amount, in case of emergency, and to another
gentleman for the assiduity with which he has discharged
the duties of honorary secretary. (Hear, hear.) I
think these two gentlemen may be well associated with
the fair originator of the design, without any disparage-
ment to the paramount and popularly-recognised merits
of Eliza Cook. (Hear, hear.) I also think that, before
the dissolution of the committee—for I am given to
understand that such is the purpose for which we have
been called together here this evening—we ought to
express to them also our thanks for the share they
have taken in the proceedings. (Cheers.) I also think,
Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, that we ought to con-
gratulate ourselves on being enabled to witness this even-
in.- that exquisite model, the product of the genius of
Mr.' Noble ; and also to rejoice in thinking that we have
arrived in so many respects at • such a satisfactory con-

elusion. (Hear, heart) For we have not only the
501.1
before us, but we have now in the bank upwards of 4 „ the
and there need therefore be no further anxiety es
ultimate settlement of this memorial to the entire:4)
faction of all parties here assembled. (Hear, tiler
Gentlemen, we have associated ourselves tMete
in promoting this testimonial not simply I
as admiring critics, but also as lovers of true Pm „.1
thropy. For I am sure it is impossible to r',l4
the memory of Thomas Hood without entertan;s,
feelings of profound admiration for the humanitYTtie
rent in all his writings. It seems to me, as far as -1- to of
been enabled to learn from the disjointed freguleiltiot
information which the public have as yet obtained, ~to
his whole life appears to have been one coot t,,
struggle against poverty. (Hear, hear.) With 60,3,,
ordinary genius, and a truly and splendidly poetic
aitt
perament, he was, nevertheless, compelled by neC!..,T. ;It
to forego the seductions of the Faeryland of Pc'e";
order to obtain bread for his family by his labours
wit and a jester. (Hear, hear.) I have always the of
and I think this the more I reflect on the carecroo
Thomas Hood, that there is something lunch Ing
pathetic in the recognition of his humourous wrl„ ho
than in that of his more plaintive productions. -`-`ollo
always' appeared to me exceedingly touching—that" ter,
of tears that falls in the intervals of his innocent 10,6;h; I
(Cheers.) And in that charming model, to vr''_.,ol
have already referred, we have this recorded ins 61 bl
ful manner through that comic mask (partially veile,oci
the side of the lyre. We ought to recollect thateelosita
has given us reason to regard his memory with 014
of gratitude, not simply in reference to the PstAtie-
merely in remembrance of our having read his PMeel
tions once, or twice, or three times but we ought 700 e.
a special gratitude to Thomas Hood for the store the
solation which his works will always afford us 1/16111,1
f
future. (Cheers.) I think if I had the toothaehe of
almost forget the pain I suffered in the whirusicen'O
his " Comic Annual"—(a laugh)—while lam cinitmeeill
that, if I had the heartache, I should find it asslis„e.,,-00
those fictitious sorrows to which in his more tender enAl-thel
he so frequently gives utterance. (Cheers.) I fl°,l,see-• r
I am wandering into a kind of presumptuous ,Arots
tation on his genius. I hope, however, you tb
me, for I assure you I esteem it as a great prilriosroods
patient hearing you have accorded me, because it
foligll
me
,the opportunity of proposing to this meeting, tmrs
our excellent chairman, a vote of thanks to, en" gee'
cognition of the services of, Eliza Cook, and those go
tlemen who have been associated with that lady du
some months past in these proceedings. (Chner°,,"o(l6,
Mr. HART reminded the meeting that the
would have cost a much larger sum than that mend°ller
in the report had it been prepared under other el" u
stances, but no doubt the artist sympathised l'it'oex
object of the subscribers, and he had, thereforef,bor
sented to do the work for a much less sum than nor)
wise would have been entitled to demand. (Hear' "boel
Now, he thought that being so, they ought to eintsbo
the liberality of Mr. Noble in the resolution whi°'
just been proposed. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. C. KENT cordially acceded to this Ole
sition.
100

Mr. HART had very much pleasure then in seee2.lo
the resolution, but, in doing so, he must be a11°,404
make a few remarks upon the different sorts of sera'
which had been rendered by the various Po P)
engaged in this graceful undertaking. (Ifear.
_At .400
According to his view the subscribers IT, for
the least in the matter, because it was e7ther:
them to contribute according to their means, aa,. Wit
was an end to their trouble. It was not so, howeve"Se9
the originator of the memorial and the committee'o
to the originator, he thought Mr. Murdo young w, sty
titled to much credit in the matter, for he not onifiogi
scribed a very handsome sum, but had also givel:direr.
amount of time to the undertaking, and affordeu tbet
tising facilities for enabling the committee to insteofel
wishes known throughout the length and breadth te
land. In addition to that, Mr. Young had gliaj,. ple°;
to the sculptor the 4001. which he claimed for hilt Or
did work, and on the whole, therefore, he thougPeribet
.
gentleman ought to be put down as the largest subs t ti?
to the memorial. (Hear.) He would taken° tY,
gentleman who had contributed so much tow",[not
success of this effort in the character of c''„,
secretary. (Hear, hear.) That gentleman tithe
voted a large amount of time and anxiety to 70101
ject, as, indeed, had all the members of the COla,l-00:
and it was especially necessary that they shoun'ibic'
their sense of the willingness and efficiency vritrefh ero
those services had been rendered by distinctly
to them in the resolutions then under consivaOiall,
(Hear, hear.) To show how energetic these 0, 'l,',
had been in the discharge of their delicate fune..tc,oo
need only mention that the numerous and aru"-„po.01,:
committee which had been formed for raising 3 t"
ment to Tom Moore had been unable to con,T cool:
three-fifths of the sum which the Hood Memorni`
mittee had collected in the metropolis. (Cheers•lio
fact was sufficient of itself to justify the sugges'ol9o
had ventured to make, and he hoped the meeting 0, 01
find no difficulty in adopting it. In conclusiaretP
would take leave to observe, that he thought the f .
of this movement said something for the feeling !), 1+1);
public in England, and clearly evinced thelpeit'i
preciation of true merit and talent. (1111.411, re
One would have supposed that the memory eiftto ~e
would have become dim by this time ; but no ! ttel
lapse of seven or eight years, it was still. greenbso!rib
hearts of his countrymen, and they readily V.. eci'l„
the funds to erect a monument in honour of ;Atte;
and worth. (Cheers.) All this, he thought, sv n n°'
for congratulation, and should not be fore'el tlO
that they had almost arrived at the final stage °
proceedings. (Hear, hear.) ra the
The resolution, as amended, watt then put 61:6--
chair, and carried by acclamation. Ws° Mr. WATKINS said it would afford him great P.,0;00
to communicate to Miss Eliza Cook the kind eg3 ,7,
of thanks which the meeting had been pleased ,`ri
to her. (Hear, hear.) For himself, all he CO'w oer
was, that he felt more than compensated for tilL3 cco;
tions he had made in the cause by seeing the ""
which had attended their efforts. (Cheers.)
t
Mr. YAPP suggested that when the monuraens,
ready the subscribers and the public should be.a.ool:
aware of it, in order that they might attend atP'
green Cemetery and see it uncovered. This;1101/1-
mode adopted abroad, and he thought if it werel tooopir
here it would be tantamount to erecting another, to the(
ment to Hood, because it would draw the work, or
sacred spot to pay the homage due to the we°
the poet. (Hear, hear.) trIS
Mr. WATKINS said he would take care that
gestion should be duly attended to. 131`.
Mr. R. MARTIN said there was one other duty t E 4,1
they had to perform before they separated, and °Or
to pass a cordial vote of thanks to their excellent ,c 101
man for the kind and liberal manner in which ii-roer
acted in taking the chair at this and the ° Ikif•
public meeting of the subscribers. (Hear, hear.) 0 tll6
Wyld had taken a deep interest in this matter &a do„'
beginning, and he thought they ought not to B„ajosi;:j
without offering him in return their hearty ,
(Hear.) He therefore begged to move that the es,
thanks of the meeting are due, and are hereby' )
the chairman for his conduct in the chair. (Chee"6,004,11
Mr. MITRDO YOUNG had very great pleasure Ins
ing the motion. He had known Mr. Wyld for mania
bunt
and the longer he knew him the more he respeofflote°,
(Hear, bear.) He deserved great praise for the 1-er
he had taken in this cause, and the admirable sO3-tiee".
which he had conducted the proceedings of their
ings. (Hear, hear.)
The motion having been carried by acclamaticsvagli4e,
Mr. WYLD said it was customary amongst, 5
men either to sing " God Save the Queen '
meetings, or pass votes of thanks to the chairra. of ;;
laugh)--and he was at a loss to discover the 00,7trgdl
unless it was for the sake of keeping up the 'I"For
tions that prevailed amongst us. (Hear, hear.) ow• /
own part he thought a man ought to feel hiinse_nsiti:ofi
ciently honoured by being allowed to occupy the
which he had been placed in that night, for-Tonle p_lbr
was the man who, to give the true direction tot ior,
lanthropy of the age, and therefore to be asotos''
in any way with his name must indeed be an the firr.
(Hear, hear.) Tom Hood, he repeated, vraa,:",:i
man to point the finger of charity in the right al en`"
he did so too long before your Lord Ashleys had 05
the field, and they should be looked upon °Tt i"
followers. (Hear, hear.) Tom Hood cast the ....
'genius in the proper place, since it touched not t-ie,",i
own hearts, but the hearts of the whole British eOP2
and to be engaged in any way in an lulaebola;
to pay a tribute to his memory was °ll 17_4.1
which he might well feel proud of. (Hear, hearn"ties?
in fact, were handing down to posterity a for
which, while it showed the respect of Engla„a t
ct
worth and genius of the dead, would also reneathatt j.dy
upon themselves ; and, therefore, he thought 1,
stead of looking for this vote, he ought to thahlie vierver
for allowing him to take part in such a ii,°"„ecl e,„B,
(Hear, hear.) England was now, and he nit enti
Would' be, the gem of the seas; but the day ul,joi
when bereft of her colonies, she would stand lea
her glory, and then the descendants of those 12°t-thesed,
her shores would return •as pilgrims to - 11°
s,
To toes
where rest the ashes of such glorious men as - el
(Cheers.) Then would this, and all similar 113°0011,
be pointed at as the mile stones which their 1° 00,0
had erected to mark the progress of civilisatiothoto
recal the efforts which had been made to promhappiness of the whole human race.
The meeting then separated.

'Oll,
RAILWAY ACTS.—Yesterday a return iv.-5 ve.s
specting railway acts passed in 1852. In the joioo
acts were passed. The increase of mileage °
iziC r
by the same was 36 miles and
em 79 chains. d the e
of capital occasioned by th 835,664/. ;
crease of loan, 143,0151. The total actual
,LigSTIY
occasioned by the 51 acts was 692,649/.
FAMILY ROMANCE ; OR o. , EPISODES IN Tit P".1
ANNALS OF THE ARISTOCRACY. By J. B. Bur 'ill e e
author 'of "The Peerage," &c. 2 vols.—lt sv—nt, Oro
sible to praise too highly, as a work of ainusettieto
two most interesting volumes, whether we °lout es,,(l
regard to its excellent plan, or its not less ovate fot_l4
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fifty captivating romances, with the pith 01 3d any
terest preserved in undiminished poignancy, ant -
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o
the public familiar ; while they afford eviderihistol
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the author of the " The Peerage and 13arcl,n" 0
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published. The aristocracy and gent r_. "lufie• t°l4lsl3‘'
great debt to Mr. Burke as their tagwY
Slay

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