The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-03 00:00:00

THE PRINCE CONSORT IfIEMORIAL A.

EDINBURGH.
(From the Scotsman.)
The public will learn with satisfaction that this great '
monumental work, so far at least as the sculptor is con-
cerned, is now approaching completion. It can hardly be
necessary to remind our readers that the design selected
for the memorial was one of three submitted in public
competition by Mr. John Steell, R.S.A. It consists of
what may be generally described as a great pedestal, sup-
porting a colossal equestrian statue of the prince, and itself
enriched with bas-reliefs and subsidiary groups of
statuary. The structure, oblong in ground plan, is
formed in three stages. The first of these, which Pre"
sents faces of plain masonry about four feet in height,
has at each angle a square projection, designed_ to sup-
port a group of figures. Over this rises the second
stage, which is to have its sides covered with quotations
from Prince Albert's published speeches. The third stage,
or pedestal proper, is richly moulded, and exhibits en
each side a bas-relief in bronze, illustrative of the prince's
tastes, or of leading events in his life. One represents
the auspicious marriage by which his royal highness be-
came connected with the British Crown. In another he
appears in the act of opening the International Exhibi-
tion of 1851. These will occupy the two sides of the ob-
long, while at the ends there will be respectively a re-
presentation of the prince in the act of distributing
rewards of merit, and a subject chewing his royal highness
in his domestic relations. Under the centre of each
bas-relief a group of emblematic objects, sug-
gestive of the prince's honours and pursuits, will rest
on the ledge formed by the projection of the second stage
beyond the base of the third. The groups of statuary for
which places are provided on the first stage are designed
to represent people of all classes in the act of approaching
the prince with looks and gestures of reverence and affec-
tion. In accordance with Mr. Steell's expressed wish,
the execution of the subsidiary groups was entrusted to
other Edinburgh sculptors. That representing the aria"
tocracy wasundertaken by Mr. Brodie. The figures stand- g
ing for the army and navy were assigned to Mr. Clark
Stanton. The late Mr. McCallum took the group repre-
sentinglabour ; but after accomplishing the greater part of
his task, left it to be finished by Mr. Stevenson, who had
also clotted to him the figures intended to denote science
and literature. Of the four groups, only the one last men'
tion now remains to be completed, and that, we believe,
is nearly ready for casting. The other three stand coin-
plete in the bronze in Mr. Steell's foundry, where also
may be seen the emblematic groups to be placed below the
bas-reliefs. Of the bas-reliefs themselves, all designed W.
Mr. Steell, three are finished, and lie in the sculptors
studio. The fourth, representing the prince's domestic
life, has been somewhat delayed by certain alterations of
detail, but will go to the foundry at no distant date. -
With regard to the equestrian status, which will of
course form the leading feature of the monument,
matters are so far advanced that, were the erection of the
pedestal fairly commenced, Mr. Steell could easily finial'
his work within the time required tl complete it. Mean-
while some delay has taken place in respect to the pedes-
tal, in consequence of the resolution adopted about a year
ago to substitute Peterhead granite for freestone. Since
this decision was come to, Mr. McDonald, of the granite-
working firm of McDonald and Leslie, Aberdeen, has mani-
fested a great interest in the undertaking, and has been
systematically setting aside the largest and finest blocks,
so that the monument may shew the produce of the
Peterhead quarries to the best advantage. It will,
however, require nearly 12 months to execute the
commission for granite-work, after the order
shall have been given ; and, having this margin
to come and go upon, Mr. Steell, with the hearty
concurrence of the committee, is, if we may so say, linger-
ing fondly over his work, touching and retouching, with
the determination on such an occasion to produce hi°
very best. It will thus be seen that any delay this
has taken place is not chargeable upon the sculptor
and that the date at which the monument shall be
finished depends on the time when the pedestal can be
definitively ordered. That, again, depends on the raising
of the £l,OOO or so which is still wanting to make up the
extra cost of red granite, the committee being' naturally
averse to proceed until.they see themselves at. least in t'
fair way of realising the necessary funds.

A FIRSE-GLASS MISSION GOING BEGGING
The muddle which has been made over the recall Of
Mr. Motley would be absurd if there were not 31e°
something thoroughly deplorable about it, Mr. Motley
can scarcely be fulfilling his duties at present with
very cheerful mind. It is impossible to recall a man,
he was recalled, without subjecting him to some degree of
humiliation. The least that can be done afterward is t°
allow the person thus treated ta quit his post as soon 8.9
possible. At present, Mr. Motley occupies a most dis-
agreeable position. The Cabinet to which he is accredited
knows that he has no longer the confidence of his own
Government, and, consequently, it would be very flak-
ward to hold any serious c mmunication with him, 11°
matter what crisis might arise—and we live in times when
startling events may happen at any moment. Cora-
plications may occur which would render it extremely
desirable that we should have at the Court of St'
James a Minister in every way qualified to represent the
views of the Government andi the people. Yet, at 5°
critical a period, the Mission is practically vacant, and the
President seems to be at a loss to know how to fill it oIN
There is an originality, we will not say, eccentricitil
about the way in which General Grant makes and revokes
appointments which it would sometimes puzzle all the
wise heads in the nation to explain. Amid much that je
unintelligible, the only certain thing is that when the,
President has made up his mind there is no possibility e!
changing it. Instances of this characteristic will at ono;
occur to every reader, but we think that it will be admittl;
that in regard to a post so important as the Englie
Mission a little more care than usual should have heel)
exercised in providing for the future. Bober:
Kr"
recalling Mr. Motley his successor should
been found. The position was offered to DJ'
Frelinghuysen, and everybody has been Nv°ll;
dering why he has been so many weeks hesitating whether
he should accept it or not. The World takes him totasfd
with some severity for his indecision. But it apPeel
from a letter written to the President, on the 27th
July, by the gentleman himself, that he lost no time
positively declining the post. When his nomination
only a rumour—namely, on the 14th of July— he
" I
Frelinghuysen telegraphed word to the President that b
could not go to England. He repeated that telegram Orci
the 15th. But the President had decided for him
the nomination went to the Senate. Then Mr. Frail/3:
huysen reconsidered the question, as it was very proPei,s
he should do, and the result was that he adhered t"„
his original resolution to decline diplomatic honour'
—such as they are. Once more he made kn°W!
his views to the President, and after all this 111
will perhaps strike him as rather hard that 16L
should be ordered up for punishment by the Wori
Well, then, what is to be done ? No doubt the PresidenD
could easily pick out some one from among his f?
ie
who would not throw away this opportunity of gaioill6
distinction. Perhaps it would be well to select a cerl;
petent man for the post ; but we make that suggestio
with becoming deference. It is quite certain that thet
Mission should not be left much longer in its preset.
state. Mr. Motley must be anxious to be relieved fow
a post which he has not filled to the President's satisK.
tion. Mr. Moran is an experienced and safe man, but Po
is not
will take wellthis English Miss to leave everythi on ?ng to
It is being hawked b
at present in a manner which does not add much to 1110
dignity. We trust the President has some one in his al;
an it would be well to take care that this " some oneio
will be ready to turn himself into a diplomatist .if he
asked. —New York Times.

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BIRTHS.
On the 29th ult., at Culdees Castle, Perthshire, the 14°T1.
Mrs. S peir, of a daughter.
On the 31st ult. at Bayswater, the wife of H. Wile
Clarke, Esq„ a daughter.

MARRIAGES.
On the 26th ult., at Inverary Castle, the Right lion. 6,.,51.
John.McNeill, G.C.8., to Lady Emma Augusta 03111,5-
bell, daughter of the late and sister to the pos-
-

Dulie of Argyll. es
On the 30th ult., at St. Luke's, Kentish Town, to
Gibson, eldest son of Mark Hornsey Deed, E5C1.4.):0-
Anne, daughter of Richard Green, Esq., of Bar"
lomew Road, Kentish Town.
DEATHS,
On the 30th ult., at Lewisham, Mr. John A. Corti
°°'
aged 46.
On the 30th ult. at St. Helier's, Jersey, Major John
14.
Gosset, late Rifle Brigade, aged 77.
On the 30th ult., at Sidmouth Villa, Lower
W. H. Webb, Esq., in his 45th year.

Hof
London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND BOYC:-/ at
No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Published by hint he
THE SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of
Savoy, in the County of Middlesex.
Saturday, September 3, 1870.