The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-19 00:00:00

MONTE VIDEO.

We have received the following from Monte Video,
dated 3d June :—As we are opposed to the introduc-
tion of politics into our general correspondence, we
consider we shall best fulfil our object in the present in-
stance by embodying some remarks on this subject in a sepa-
rate letter. From our own advices, and the information
which has reached you through other channels, you would
no doubt have been enabled to appreciate fully the extent
of the changes which have lately taken place here.
Under the protection of Brazil we are glad to inform you
*hat we see on all sides evidence of present and prospective
prosperity for this country. Should the Brazilian
occupation last uninterruptedly until its stipulated
and natural termination, we have no fears for the future.
We however regret to observe that the English and
French agents are hostilising the intervention, and
if they succeed in their attempts to embroil Brazil
and the Argentine provinces on this question (which
apparently is their aim) wu can only look forward
to a series of calamities, equal to, if not greater than,
those resulting from the last interference of England
and France in the politics of this river. So threatening
an attitude have the French and English representatives
assumed towards the Brazilian policy, that we think
the time has come when all British subjects interested
in the commerce of the River Plate ought to solicit from
their Government a frank declaration of its intended
policy, because it is impossible to estimate the prejudicial
effect which the hostility of our Government and that
of France will have on our interests, and the material
advancement of this Republic.

- -
At a public ball, given by the President on the night
of the 24th and 25th tilt., in honour of the allied army,
(viz, native and Brazilian) the French Admiral, although
invited, purposely absented himself, having first returned
his ticket of invitation, and we understand ordered all the
French officers on the station to follow his example.
Mr. Gore and the British Consul, Mr. Hunt, also ab-
sented themselves. Now the natural consequence of
this has been to induce the belief that the powers
they represent are not in accordance with the present
state of things. But this is not the only mischief. It
has held out hopes to the factions opposed to the Go-
vernment, and will no doubt stimulate to a fearful de-
gree the activity and intrigues in which unprincipled
military adventurers find a means of subsistence, and
under which they combine for systematic robbery. It
must not be imagined that European policy in the River
Plate affairs is to be conducted successfully, and in
accordance with the interests of commerce, on the
principles acted upon during the last years of Rosas.
Notwithstanding the barbarous system pursued by
that man (at first opposed, but finally approved of, by the
English Administration) these countries have advanced
since his downfall, and it is next to certain, that it
will be impossible for any chief to impose himself hence-
forward, for any length of time, on either the Argentine
or Oriental people, if he do not strictly fulfil the public
duties which the true interests of the country demand.
The importance of Brazil in South American politics
was never more apparent than in the conduct of the
campaign which ended in the overthrow of Oribe and
Rosas, and as the army, treasure, and influence of the
empire were manifestly used in the interest of both the
neighbouring republics, their inhabitants look with con-
fidence to a power which could insure such great results,
more especially after the complete failure of European
diplomacy. This feeling became more general, when it
was seen that the end aimed at by the alliance of 1851
was obtained, not only without the countenance of
European agents, but in spite of their undisguised
opposition and intrigues in favour of Oribe and Rosas,
both in Buenos Ayres, here, and in Rio Janeiro. We
feel assured that if the British Government refer to the
despatches of their late minister at Buenos Ayres, a dis-
crepancy not at all creditable to their ability and foresight
will be found between their prognostications and the event
which rapidly succeeded. When such can clearly be
proved to be the case, have we not a right to ask—Are
we to continue to be made sufferers, and the objects of a
policy based on information supplied by men utterly
unacquainted with, and apparently indifferent to, our
commercial interests, and who aro here looked upon with
distrust by both native and foreigner ? If so, and if
foreign interference in this river should again commence,
it cannot be a matter of surprise that the native popu-
lation should look upon us as the real fomenters of their
civil disturbances. We repeat, that if the object of
the British Government be at least not to prevent these
countries from obtaining some prosperity, if it desire the
happiness of their inhabitants and the extension of our
trade, nothing could have been devised of a more mis-
chievous tendency than the course we are afraid our
agents are determined to pursue. The distrust which the
possible future interference of England and France
creates prevents the employment of capital, contracts
operations, and invests everything with the conse-
quences of uncertainty. Hence, the necessity of an
immediate declaration on the part of the British Govern-
ment of its views on this question. Let us, at all events,
know what we have to look forward to.

Whatever may be said to the contrary, the Brazilian
intervention is looked tic on by the native population as
the best guarantee they can possess against the recur-
rence of civil wars. The foreigner, who is invariably the
greatest pecuniary sufferer from these contests, looks upon
it in the same light. All are satisfied that Brazil acts
in good faith ; and as her own manifesto invites
the powers guaranteeing the independence of this Re-
public in 1828 to co-operate with her, nothing can be
feared from the temporary military occupation which
the Government of this country itself has been compelled
to request. Brazil has a great and permanent interest
in the organisation of the Banda Oriental. During the
last ten years her frontier has been violated, and her
subjects plundered and assassinated by marauders pass-
ing from this republic. She has had, in consequence, to
maintain, at great expense, a standing army for her
own protection in Rio Grande, and, if means were not
taken to preserve order, a conflict must sooner or later
have taken place between the two countries, because this
Government has been unable either to repress inroads or
to indemnify the losses occasioned by them. Besides,
without a Brazilian subsidy, the Government could not
exist as such. The poverty and ruin caused by Rosa's
occupation has left the Government without resources
to pay any of the public servants. During Giro's ad-
ministration, the army and all other public functionaries
remained unpaid until at last matters arrived at such a
crisis that the Minister of Finance, Don Manuel Her-
rera y Obes was obliged to call a meeting of the mer-
chants to request a loan, and to inform them that unless
he succeeded in the object they were called together for
complete anarchy was inevitable. As this meant military
license in the worst sense of the term, money to the amount
required was collected in a few days. We believe that
commentary would. be lost on such a fact.
no interference on the
agents
with
the internal questions of the
Republic, or its relations with Brazil.
part
tlol
fw feoreiga require peat©, and
We do not bring these subjects under your notice from
1413 with the politics of these
n
study of them affords us any
pcaoldeuaesstuirrriee es,t'ob or
but because bibxeeccoaauuursssethe s
eelv oure own interests, and those of the
we depend, are so interwovenun-
yEnglandn
with the favourable or adversewhomimisrisieugnteadksoefainbtlhe present state of affairs, that to continue
silent any longer would be highly culpable. We,
therefore, trust that all the influence you possess may
be used to dissuade the British Government from
interfering withithe internal affairs of this country.

ARE WE TO "WAIT
FOR THE WINTER?"

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY NEWS.
SIR,—The following
extract from the life of a
gallant practical soldier and politician cannot but
be interesting, now that we are in want of every
guide which history can afford, judgment consider,
and chivalric sentiment act on—having narrowly
escaped from the trammels of diplomacy and en-
gaged in open warfare for the cause of Europe.
Your obedient servant,
BAYARD.
(Extract from the Life of Colonel Macaroni, Aide-de-Camp
'al
rthise to Rnutsowsit
to Murat. Ti
'e, during the French occupation of
Moscow )
On the sth of October, after this fresh discomfiture of
, Napoleon lecided on sending General Lan-
believe, as Russians,
s incii Emperor Alexander, who, he had been led to
ned to treat for peace. Hostilities were
suspended, but the colloquy requested by Lauriston only
took place between the French negotiator and Kutusoff,
and that after a delay which became fatal to the French.
King Joachim (Murat)
felt most keenly the difficulties of
his position : in the daily combats of the last five months
he had lost half his cavalry. The Russians were at home,
supplied with everything necessary, their reinforcements
constantly coming in, winter approaching. Murat urged
the Emperor to push the campaign to an issue while yet
the weather would permit. But Napoleon certainly was
deceived by the Rassians : he waited seventeen, days for
peace. He waited for the winter.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Col.
Seymour, honoured the Gallery of Modern German
Artists, at 163' New Bond-street, with a visit on Satur-
day last. His Royal Highness purchased three large
landscapes, Nos. 2.8 and 34, by Oswald Achenbach ; and
No. 16, by Becker.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge has
deferred her depLture from town until Saturday next,
when her Royal Highness removes to Kew for the sea-
son.

Sir James Graham has issued invitations to his col-
leagues in office to a Cabinet dinner on Wednesday next,
the 26th inst., at the Admiralty.
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and suite
arrived at Northumberland House yesterday, from Paris,
The Earl and Countess of Calcdon and family have
left Carlton terrace for Caledon Hall, Tyrone.
The Earl of Stradbroke left town yesterday, for
Burghley House, on a visit to the Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Exeter.
His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant is expected at
Armagh, as the guest of the Primate during the period
of the Royal Agricultural Society's show.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster will
not take their departure from town until the close of
the present month. On leaving Grosvenor House, the
family proceed to Motcombo Howe, Dorset,

MONEY MARKET

AND

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday
were estimated at from 6,000 to 7,000 bales, in-
cluding 1,500 American and 500 Surat taken for
export and on speculation. The market was
heavy, at previous rates. The sales comprised 300
Pernam and Maranham at 50. to 6:11, 200 Egyp-
tian at 6d. to 9d., 1,000 Surat at 21d. to 4d.,
and the remainder American. Railway Shares
were dull.

The indigo sales are still going off with compara-
tive briskness.

The amount of duty paid in the United King-
dom upon sugar of all descriptions, during the
fortnight ending the Bth of May last, was 152,0491.,
and in the fortnight to the 22d May, 159,6091.
These particulars are made up to meet an order of
the House of Commons, the intention of Mr. Ri-
cardo being, we presume, to show the movement
of the trade, especially with regard to foreign
sugar, about the time of the duties being altered.
In sugar from the British possessions there was,
during the last fortnight, a great increase, but in
foreign a decrease.

The following is a return of the passengers ar.
rived at the port of Quebec from the opening of
the navigation to June 24, and the same date lasi

year :

1853. 1854.
From England
„ Ireland 6,883 ... 7,451
~ Scotland
„ Germany 7ll ..• 2,170
„ Norway
„ Sweden
„ Lower Porte

15,565 23,225
15,565

Increase in 1854 7,660

The bill which has been introduced for guaran-
teeing the liquidation of the loan for the service
of the colony of Jamaica states, in general terms,
that it is to be secured on the revenues of the
island, and that the amount is not to exceed
500,0001. Any sum which England may be called
upon to advance will be charged afterwards to
Jamaica, with interest at the rate of 5 per cent.
per annum, and no act can be passed by the local
Legislature to alter the nature of the security
given for the loan, unless with the sanction of her
Majesty. The accounts are to be duly laid before
Parliament.

There was a slight improvement yesterday after-
noon in the rates at which bills of exchange were
negotiated upon the principal Continental cities.
Ninety days' paper was at 25 25 to 27,, for Paris,
11 161 to 17 for Amsterdam, 13 51 to 51 on Ham-
burgh, and 12 55 to 13 on Trieste.
The ship Samuel Boddington has arrived from
Melbourne with 24,266 ounces of gold. The Severn
brings 5,6001.

Gold is still in demand for remittance to the
Continent.

A very interesting statement has been compiled
by Messrs. Haggard and Pixley, of the export of
bullion from London during the six months to the
30th ult., and from this it appears the total stands
thus :

1854 1853
Gold 2,819,7001 8,614,0001.
Silver 3,313,350/ 2,186,5001.

The total, therefore, is 6,233,3501. against
10,800,5001. in the first half of 1853, but Messrs.
Haggard estimate that no less than 9,200,910/.
were sent by way of Folkestone and Dover to
France during the six months to June 30.
Accounts of the 6th instant Ifrom Smyrna state
that the Austrian Consul had summoned the Rus-
sian merchants, and informed them that he could
no longer be considered as having them under his
protection ; consequently, they would have to look
to some other power.

The Funds recovered upon the decline of yester-
day, and opened for Consols at 911 to 92, but they
have since been back to 91 and are now 91i,
strong buyers. The news of the extending rebel-
lion in Spain caused the market to give way, but
a failure, though not of magnitude, had also an
effect. The settlement of the account, considering
the extensive fluctuation lately, has been progressing
very satisfactorily. Bank Stock has been firm at 211.
India Stock has been quoted 227, and South Sea
Stock 1121. Exchequer Bills are par to 3s. prem.,
and the Bonds of 1859 are at premium.
The Foreign Stock Market has been dull upon
the whole, the only feature being a pressure of
sales in Russian 41- per Cents., which have declined
to 814. Sardinian Bonds have been at 85 to
Spanish 3 per Cents. have been done at 36, and the
Deferred at 18, being flat. Dutch 4 per Cents. are
91

The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 6 to 61; Mexi-
can, 241 to 24i ; Peruvian, 66 to 68 ; ditto Three
per Cents. 50 to 52 ; Portuguese Four per Cents.
39 to 41 ; Russian Five per Cents. 97 to 99 ;
ditto Four-and-a-Half per Cents. 82 to 84 ; Spanish
New Deferred, 171 to 18.1 ; ditto Three per Cents.
36 to 37; ditto Certificates, 31 to 4; ditto Passive,
3 to 4i.
In railway shares there is very little doing, but
more elasticity is observable in the quotations.
North-Western, Caledonian, and Midland have
been the principal lines in which business has been.
transacted. Foreign shares are very quiet. Zea-
land continued firm at the recent improvement.
The Mining Market is dull, and in the Banks
there is no animation. Crystal Palace are better.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
( From the °tidal List.)
Business done.
Sank Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 9li 2 11
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 914 2 li
31 par Cent. Annuities . 924 i
India Stock
India Bonds, £lOOO
Ditto, under £lOOO 5 p
South Sea Stock
Consols for Account 17th August
Exchequer Bills, 2id.
£IOOO
2500 Par 3 p
Small
- - - 51 p

Exchequer Bonds Scrip
Ditto Scrip, 1859
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cont. £ 5t...,.
Ditto 4} per Cent B2i i if
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent...
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 36 x d
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. lB
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 24 per Cent. 12 Guil
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certifieates ... ._
HALF-PAST TWO.
Consols 9lB i

Ditto August Accouut 9li I

NOUVEAU MONDB MINING COMPANY.—A meeting of
the shareholders of this company took place yesterday
afternoon, when a committee was appointed to wait
upon the London management, with the view of ascer-
taining the real position of the undertaking. Com.
plaints are made that no detailed report or accounts
have been furnished for nearly the last 18 months.
EXPORTS OF BULLION.—A statement of the exports
of bullion from London during the half-year ending the
30th ult., compiled by Messrs. Haggard and Pixley,
shows the total to have been 15,331,930/., of which
11,869,0001. was gold, and the remainder silver. Of
this aggregate of gold and silver the proportions were to
India, China, and Mauritius 2,073,130/. (the amount of
silver to China being 1,669,4701.) ; to Australia and
New Zealand, 29,4001. ; to the Continent, 12,187,820/. ;
to the Mediterranean, 778,6601. ; to the West Indies,
197,250/. ; to Brazil, 18,700/. ; and to Africa, 47,0001.
EAST INDIA RAILWAY COMPANY.—Advices from Cal-
cutta received by the overland mail regarding the pro-
gress of the East India Railway Company state that
contracts have been entered into for the completion of
the line up to Cawnpore by the 31st of December, 1856,
making an addition of about 700 miles to the 120 miles
already nearly completed. The company, it is said, in-
tend that their own staff should make the remainder of
the line to Allahabad.
PRICE OF GOLD. —The quotation of gold at Paris is
about 4 per mille discount (according to the last tariff),
which at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 101 d. per oz.
for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.07 ; and, the
exchange at Paris on London at short being 24.95, it
follows that gold is about 0.48 per cent. dearer in Paris
than in London. By advices from Hamburg the price
of gold is 4231 per mark, which at the English Mint
price of 31. 17s. 103/4d. per oz. for standard gold, gives an
exchange of 13.41 ; and, the exchange at Hamburg on
London at short being 13.33/4, it follows that gold is 0.03
per cent. dearer in Hamburg than in London. The
course of exchange at New York on London for bills at
60 days' sight is 1091 per cent., and, the par of exchange
between England and America being 109 23.40 per
cent., it follows that the exchange is nominally 0.17 per
cent. in favour of England; and, after making allowance
for charges of transport and difference of interest, the
present rate leaves a trifling profit on the importation
of gold from the United atatoo.

MONUMENT TO TUE LATE THOMAS
ROOD.

The inauguration of the monument erected by public
subscription, in Kensal-gzeen Cemetery, to the departed
poet and humourist, Thomas Hood, was celebrated
yesterday afternoon, before a very large concourse of
persons, chiefly consisting of the humble and middle
classes. The weather was exceedingly fine.
Among the ladies present we observed the Hon. Mrs.
Monckton Milnes, Miss Eliza Cook, &c. : Mr. Murdo
Young, one of the trustees of the fund ; Mr. Watkins,
the indefatigable honorary secretary ; Mr. Matthew
Noble, the sculptor; Mr. George Cruikshank, Mr. Horace
Mayhew, and other gentlemen connected with literature
and journalism were also present.
The movement for the erection of this monument was
set on foot some year and a half ago, on its transpiring
that the grave of the favourite littenacur was, up to then,
without an ordinary headstone to indicate where his mortal
remains lie. The initiative in the m atter was taken by Miss
Eliza Cook, Mr. Murdo Young, and Mr. John Watkins,
through whom, and other friends and admirers of the
deceased, a sum was realised to enable them to supply
the posthumous want, and at the same time render a
public mark of respect to the memory of one who, by his
writings, had contributed much healthy amusement and
edification to thousands, and whose deep sympathies
were ever with the poor and the oppressed.
The monument, which has been ably executed by Mr.
Matthew Noble, consists of a bronze bust of the poet
elevated on a pedestal of highly polished red granite, the
whole being twelve feet high. In front of the bust are
placed wreaths in bronze, formed of the laurel, the
myrtle, and the immortelle, and on a slab beneath the
bust appears that well-known line of the poet, which he
desired should be used as his epitaph—
"He sang the song of the shirt."
Upon the front of the pedestal is carved this inscrip-
tion :

" In memory of Thomas Hood, born 23d May, 1798 ;
died 3d May, 1815. Erected by public subscription, A.D,
1854."

At the base of the pedestal a lyre and comic mask in
bronze are thrown together, suggesting the mingled
character of Hood's writings ; whilst on the sides of the
pedestal are bronze medallions illustrating the poems of
"The Bridge of Sighs" and "The Dream of Eugene
Aram." The whole design is worthy of the poet and
the sculptor, and it is much to the honour of the latter
that his sympathy with the object has entirely destroyed
all hope of profit from the work.
Mr. MONCKTON MILNES, M.P., standing on a tomb-
stone near the monument, spoke to the following effect :
—Ladies and Gentlemen, friends and admirers of the
late Mr. Thomas Hood,—l have been asked to come
here to day to say a few words before we open to your
view the monument which has been erected to his
memory. It is now some years since we laid our friend
below us in this pleasant place, where he rests after a
long illness—after a life of noble struggle with much
adversity, and of nothing but good to his fellow-men.
It is now thought advisable that a few words should be
said before that ceremony takes place. It is rather a
habit of our neighbours the French than of ourselves, to
make eulogistic orations at the tombs of our friends. I
do not think the habit in general is pleasing to our tastes;
but there are reasons why, on the present occasion, it
may not be unbecoming. At the same time, it is very
difficult to perform this duty, because we must feel that,
if ever there was a character of simplicity and
humility, it was that of the late Mr. Thomas Hood ;
and it would not become us on the present occasion to
indulge in eulogies which if he were here himself would
be distasteful to him, for he was a man who ever
retired from the crowd, and who loved, as he has said in
his own classical and beautiful language—
"To kneel remote upon the simple sod,
And sue, in forma pauperis, to God."

Our German friends call a cemetery of this kind " God's
field," and we must not desecrate it by vain and
pompous eulogies over a fellow mortal. All we can
do is to commit him, with all his errors, to the mercy of
God, and at the same time to keep his memory dear and
his fame bright among us. This is the purpose of the
friends of Mr. Thomas Hood who have raised this
structure. Some of them were familiar with him from
his youth—the eyes of others never lit upon his person.
It would be invidious to single out any of these friends
of the poet ; but I may mention the name of one lady
who is well known to us all, Miss Eliza Cook, to who6e
exertions in all quarters of society the erection of this
monument is very much owing. Some, too, have con-
tributed to it who did not appreciate him during his
lifetime—to them may be applicable his beautiful lines :
" Farewell ; we did not know thy worth ;
But thou art gone, and now 'tis prized.
So angels walked unknown on earth,
But when they flew were recognised."

He was a poet—a poet in the true sense of the word ;
but at the same time, I by no means think that his
poetical powers were of so great and remarkable a cha -
racter that his reputation would have become such as it
Is if it had been confined to his poetical works alone.
By his poetical works, I mean those developments of
pure imagination, which are more interesting to literary
men than they can be to the world in general. In all these
works we recognise not only the lyrical facilities which
enable many a youth to throw out good poetry,
but the refined taste and cultivated mind of mature
years. But his fame—that fur which he is chiefly
known to us—belongs to him as an English hu-
mourist ; and in using that word, I use no word
inapplicable to the occasion, or unworthy of his fame.
It is the boast of our literature, as distinguished from
that of all other nations, that from the earliest
times of its history we find humouristic writers who
delighted the ago in which they lived and those which
succeeded them. In that category we may place Shak-
spere himself, and we may draw downwards a long
genealogical list of humourists, ending with the names
of Charles Lamb, Sydney Smith, and Thomas Hood. I
do not know whether my opinions in this matter may
be peculiar, but I have often thought that if I were to
pray to Heaven for a gift to be given to any person in
whose moral and intellectual welfare I was especially in-
terested, it would be that he might have the gift of
humour. The gift of humour is, as it were, the
balance of all the faculties. It enables a ma, n to
see the strong contrasts of life around him ; it
prevents him being too much devoted to his own know-
ledge and too proud of his own imagination, and it also
disposes him to submit with a wise and pious patience to
the vicissitudes of his daily existence. It is thus that
humourists such as Hood has been, and as Dickens is
now, are great benefactors of our species, not only
on account of the amusement which they give us, but
because they are great moral teachers. The humorous
writings of Mr. Thomas Hood have instructed you many
years, and will instruct your children after you. I
should mention, however, that this combination of
poetry and humour does not produce in all persons
the same blessed effects that it has produced
here. In some cases it has degenerated into impa-
tient satire and fierce revolt against the better feelings of
humanity. In such a mind as that of Swift it produced
these evileffects, but in such a mind as Hood's it produced
directly the contrary ; it generated a noble and generous
sympathy with the wants and desires of his fellow-
creatures ; and it is for this combination of poetical
genius, and humour, and earnest philanthrophy that his
name has grown up to become as it were a proverb for
great wits, united with deep and solemn sympathies.
We recognise, ladies and gentlemen, these rare merits
of Mr. Thomas Hood in the productions of his mature
life, such as "The Bridge of Sighs," and "The Song of
the Shirt "—verses which.appear occasionally, and only
occasionally, in literature, and which seem like pro-
ducts of the acme of the human mind—such products
as the prison-song of Lovelace, the elegy of Gray,
Campbell, the Burial of Sir John
the
Moore, se a snodn
tghse
ofM
ay Queen of Alfred Tennyson—poems
which though they cost their authors much less trouble
than many of their less successful works, are neverthe-
less the anchors, so to speak, of their world-wide fame.
These beautiful poems of Mr. Thomas Hood have had a
deep moral effect on different classes of society. If
there are among those poems and others of Mr. Thomas
Hood some expressions of stern indignation—if thereare
some passages which may seem almost exceptions to
the general amiability of his character, it is that he
wished to enforce the moral that

Evil is wrought by want of thought
As well as want of heart.
I do not think, therefore, that there was any levy in
his character because he was an humourist. Ido not
think because you find in his works that with his rich wit
and his great possession of language, he delighted to
play with words as if almost they were fireworks, there
was a want of gravity or seriousness in his composition.
In a poem of his, which is a perfect repertorium, of wit
and spirit, he seems conscious of this himself, for he
writes to the effect that—
" However critics may take offence,
A double meaning gives double sense ;

and there are, no doubt, certain subtle faculties about
us which enable us to find such great pleasure in the
combination of this agility of diction with serious-
ness of purpose. Ladies and gentlemen who have
raised this monument, I was informed by a friend of mine,

and_ a dear friend of his, who remained with him to the.
last—Mr. Ward—that Mr. Thomas Heod was in very
great disease and suffering —that he was labouring
under some pecuniary diffioulties7lliat his mind

1,

was nob easy on those points, and that it would
be a great relief to him to obtain some assistance, if he
could do so by any honourable means, for he was de•
termined to employ no other. I went on that occasion
to Sir Robert Peel, from whom I met with the
most perfect sympathy as regarded the object I had
in view ; and it was to me a most interesting fact
that that great man, governing the destinies of
this mighty nation, and engaged as he was in
the gravest pursuits, could nevertheless be drawn,
by the force of human sympathy, to take a deep in-
terest in this simple man of letters. What was done
on that occasion was sufficient for the purpose I
will ask you, therefore, in looking upon this bust, to
regard it as a memorial not only of the interest of his
friends, but as a memorial of national interest for a na-
tional name. It consists, as you psrceive, of a plain
bust upon a pedestal. I have always thought that
a man's bust is the best monument which could be
raised to him ; it is that which is most calculated
to show people who come after him what he really
was, and it is less dumb and less vacant than the
monuments which we see mostly around us. It
is perfectly true that, generally speaking, we find
that busts represent the dead when we could wish
they represented the living ; it is perfectly true also
that in our every-day walk among living busts, we
see men of genius whom we do not recognise and
whose services and virtues we do not honour, and after all
this may, perhaps, be but a poor acknowledgment of
the worth of the poet and humourist ; but still here it is
and we have raised it, and I trust all will feel that in so
doing we have not done honour to him, but to our-
selves. I remember that at the time of his fatal illness
I. was very much haunted with the recollection of some
lines of his, which, I dare say, some of you remem-
ber. They are contained in a little poem, called " The
Death Bed" :

" We watch'd her breathing thro' the night,
Her breathing soft and low,
As in her breast the wave of life
Kept heaving to and fro.
" So silently we seemed to speak,
So slowly moved about,
As we had lent her half our powers
To eke her living out.
" Our very hopes belied our fears,
Our fears our hopes belied—
We thought her dying when she slept,
And sleeping when she died.
" For when the morn came dim and sad,
And chill with early showers,
Her quiet eyelids closed—she had
Another morn than ours,"
Thomas Hood has now another morn than ours—may
that morn have brightened into perfect day : May
his spirit look down with gratification upon us who have
raised this modest homage to him—may he look down
with pleasure on those he has left behind him, and who
inherit his honour and his name—and may we all bear
home with us the consoling reflection, that the fame of
which a wise and honest man should be ambitious is not
that of acquiring wealth, power, or even earning clamor•
ous applause, but the attaining of such homage as we
are now paying to one who among us was a brother
and a friend—one who may make us at the
same time thankful to the age in which it has pleased
Providence to cast our lot, and grateful to the race
and country of which we are common citizens and men.
The address of the hon. gentleman seemed to make a
deep impression upon the large assembly of persons by
whom he was surrounded.

At its conclusion the monument was uncovered, and
the general feeling appeared to be one of admiration of
the simple yet elegant and artistic structure.
On the motion of Mr. MURDO YOUNG, a vote of
thanks was unanimously awarded to Mr. R. M. Milnes,
M.P., for the eloquent oration he had delivered.
Mr. MILNES, in returning thanks, said that in consent-
ing to take so prominent a part in the proceedings, he
was only actuated by the sincerest and warmest admi-
ration of the poet, and by the feeling that it would be
well for any of them to leave behind so good a name.
The ceremony then terminated, and all crowded round
the monument to take a closer glance of the bust, the
bas-reliefs, and the inscriptions.
The Cemetery Company deserve our best thanks for
the excellent accommodation afforded to the public, and
for the marked civility, And attention of their servants.
Everything was orderly and respectful.