The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-13 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY

GIZEA

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MR. ELLIS AND MR.
WALLIS.

13, CurzDn. street, July 28, 1851.
Sir,—A book has been exhibited in my name in
Class 17, called the " Rhyme-book," andl described
as a volume containing 230 original poems compris-
ing romances descriptive of British and Irish battles,
legends, and deeds of heroism, together with ballads,
Idyls, songs, &c.
This volume is intended as the first of a series, in
which it is proposed to relate in verse the most inte-
resting British legends in a manner similar to that
adopted with such success in Germany.
As the description of this article has been omitted
accidentally in the catalogue, I take the liberty of
bringing it under the notice of the juries, and of
claiming their verdict, not only on account of the
printing of the volume, but also on account of the
poetry contained in it.
I respectfully ground this claim upon an analogy
with other similar cases.

The noble picture of the Queen in Sevres china
cannot be judged of merely on account of the hard-
ness of the porcelain, or the brightness of the colour ' •
the correctness of the drawing and the truth and
beauty of the expression must be also taken into con-
sideration—that is, the article must be treated as a
specimen of the fine arts, and valued according to its
merits as a painting.
A similar rule prevails as to statuary, and I respect-
fully urge that when painting and sculpture are thus
considered by the juries, poetry, the noblest of the fine
arts, ought not to be excluded altogether from their
consideration.

If the absence of competitors be considered an ob-
jection, I shall be quite content to lose the medal if
any similar work of superior merit has been hitherto
published.
The continuation of the work must mainly depend
on the success of its first volume, and as that success
will be insured by the approval of the jury, I feel, of
course, anxious that the accidental omission in the ca-
talogue shall not prejudice the consideration of this
case with the jury.—Your obedient servant,
HERCULES ELLIS.
George Wallis, Esq.

Exhibition Building, July 29, 1851.
Sir,—Yours of the 28th July was duly laid before
the jury for Class 17 yesterday, and I am directed to
inform you that the jury cannot take cognizance of
literary merit, under which head they consider your
claim to be placed ; but they had examined the typo-
graphy and binding of the volume, which are the only
points on which, in the performance of their duties,
they are called upon to adjudicate.
I have the honour to be, Sir, yours, &c.,

GEORGE WALLIS.
Hercules Ellis, Esq., 13, Curzon-street.

13, Curzon-street, 7th August, 1851.
Sir,—Although no one can question the fairness
of the jury's intention, yet I trust that I may, with-
offence, dispute the correctness of the rule which
they have made in the case of the " Rhyme-book,"
and argue that it ought to be rescinded.
The jury has decided that this volume is to be
considered only in regard to its typrography and bind-
ing, and that the poetry contained in it is not to enter
into their consideration.

Now, with great respect, I take leave to say that
this rule presses with undue harshness upon me, and
is not analogous to the rules made in similar cases by
the juries.
Reverting again, for an example, to the portrait of
the Queen on Sevres china, I may be permitted to
state that the manner in which that fine portrait is
painted upon the porcelain must form an element in
the verdict of the jury in that case—that a prize will
not be given merely on account of the quality of the
porcelain, but because a beautiful picture has been
impressed upon it.
For a similar reason, I respectfully insist that the
jury ought, in the case of the " Rhyme-book," to
consider not merely the quality of the paper, but also
the poetic pictures impressed upon it.
I submit that the portraits of our ancestors on the
fields of Cressy, Poitiers, and Agincourt contained
in the several romances in this volume, and the nume-
rous and:beautiful British legends now for the first time
depicted in poetic colours on its pages, ought by strict
analogy to form elements for the verdict of the jury
in this case.

In the first case, the images produced by painting
are considered and allowed to enhance the value of the
porcelain ; in the second case, I urge that the images
produced by poetry ought in a similar manner to en-
hance the value of this volume, and cannot be alto-
gether excluded without extreme harshness and mani-
fest injustice.
I may be allowed to add, in conclusion, that the
person who deposited the "Rhyme-book" at the Crystal
Palace expressly stated to the proper officer, that
the volume was exhibited as a specimen of original
poetry, and not as a specimen of typography or bind-
ing, and that no objection was made to its reception on
account of this declaration.

For these reasons I take leave respectfully to urge
a reconsideration of this case, and if the jury should
not think fit to alter their views, I trust that I shall
be permitted to appeal to the Royal Commissioners
against this decision.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
HERCULES ELLIS.
George Wallis, Esq.

COURT CIRCULAR.
OSBORNE, Aua. 12.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert and the Prince of
Wales embarked yesterday afternoon, at half-past one
o'clock, in the Royal yacht Fairy, for Southampton,
where a special train was in waiting to convey them to
Salisbury. Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon was
in attendance on Prince Albert, and Mr. Birch attended
the Prince of Wales. Their Royal Highnesses pro-
ceeded in a carriage from Salisbury to Stonehenge, and
after inspecting the remains, returned again to South-
ampton, and reached Osborne at a quarter before eight
o'clock.

Hcr Majesty and the Princess Royal, attended by the
Countess of Desart, th© Hon. Caroline Cavendish, and
Lord Alfred Paget, and accompanied by the Earl and
Countess of Clarendon, who have arrived on a visit,
drove out in the neighbourhood of Osborne.
Colonel Wylde also arrived on a visit.
The Royal dinner party yesterday included the Earl
and Countess of Clarendon, the Ron. Colonel and Mrs.
Phipps, and Colonel Wylde.

The Oxford University Commission had a meeting
yesterday at the official residence of the First Lord of
the Treasury, in Downing-street. Present: the Bishop
of Norwich, the Dean of Carlisle, the Master of Pem-
broke, the Rev. H. G. Liddell, the Rev. Professor Powell,
and the Rev. A. P. Stanley (secretary).
The Eight Hon. Henry Labouchere loft town yester-
day for Stoke Park, near Windsor.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope.
Dispatches were also received from the Governors of
Sierra Leone and South Australia.

We regret to learn that Sir George Grey is still
suffering from the effects of his recent severe attack. The
Right Hon. Baronet was sufficiently convalescent to take a
carriage airing on Monday, but still remains very weak.
MEDICAL REFORM.—Yesterday evening a nume-
rously-attended meeting of the friends of this movement was
held at Exeter-hall, for the purpose of bringing the subject
of medical botany before the public. The Rev. Jas. Nunn
took the chair, and opened the proceedings by calling the
attention of the Meeting to the fact, that when any radical
reform, on any point, was brought forward, the promoters of
it had invariably to contend with much opposition, and
many difficulties. They had been subjected to this opposi-
tion, but they had continued in their path of duty, feeling
that their sole object was the benefit of their fellow-crea-
tures, by the cure of those diseases which, under the present
system of treatment, he contended were materially aggra-
vated. He then proceeded to bring before the notice of the
meeting many cases which, having been declared incurable
by the allopathic treatment, had by the use of herbs been
radically cured. Several gentlemen addressed the meeting
in favour of the system, and resolutions to the following
effect were carried :—" That the principles of medical botany
being in accordance with the laws of health, were fully
adapted to the cure of all diseases; and that the meeting
pledges itself not to rest satisfied until they had established a
hospital on the botanical principles." A vote of thanks to
the chairman concluded the proceedings.:

BURGH OF KIRKALDIC.—ADAM ,SMITH.--A special
meeting of the town council of the burgh of Kirkaldy was
held last Wednesday, for the purpose of receiving, as a pre-
sent to the town, from the county Member, John Fergus,
Esq.. a marble bust of their illustrious townsman, Adam
Smith, life size, on a highly polished pedestal of Peterhead
granite. The bust is from the chisel of Marochetti. The
gift was accepted by the council with lively expressions of
gratitude, and it was agreed that the provost, magistrates,
and council should wait upon Mr. Fergus, to thank him, in
the name of the town, for his handsome present.—Scottish
Guardian,

STOCK IN TRADE EXEMPTION ACT.—This Act,
Which led to some discussion in Parliament, continues the 3d
and 4th of Victoria, chap. 89, for the exemption of inhabi-
tants from liability to be rated in respect of stock in trade
or other property to the relief of the poor, to the Ist of Octo-
ber next year, and to the end of the then next session of
Parliament.

ibc
9s
visit
rne one
Gracen
uTe loevfeo,
"Royalcai .washai
who has
asopTrwblaiiieaneer;neldsl
htbt y
Lady
e Gneagoni
dpydrfs
oyojrTfousKholEmina
King
egGst
ctiomoiPmft
oSteynlaEtenihstndi,
titled-13tohiltaobirilDdmehsrotTa.eiiKtNvhEi
with great affability, it not with state ceremonies. He after-
wards accompanied them on a stroll through his regal domi-
nions, and it is said he appeared quite a " gallant" with the
ladies, though now fading in the " sere and yellow leaf."
The King accepted an invitation to join the ducal party,
with a chosen baud of his retainers, on an otter hunting
expedition in the neighbourhood of his royal residence ; it
being reported by some of his sporting adherents that game
had been seen in the neighbourhood. Charlie is now an
octogenarian and a widower; but he holds his head erect
yet, as becometh a prince, and his step is still light as a deer
on the heather. His great luxury is a quid of tobacco, but
his exchequer resources being sometimes narrow, a piece
of tow is made to suffice when the genuine weed is not
available. He is said to have an excellent memory, and is
a great reader of whatever comes in his way, especially
; and having seen many queer pranks in his day, like
garulous Nestor of old, he is fond of rsciting his adventures
to his visitors. —North British Mail.

RAILWA Y INTELLIGENCE.
EAST LANCASHIRE.

The half-yearly report of the directors of this com-
pany states, that they have given their attention to
the importance of closing the capital account with as
little delay as possible, and considerable progress has
been made in the adjustment of several matters on
which the closing of that account depends. The di-
rectors have been able to discharge all claims on
capital for the past half-year, without making any
further calls or issuing any additional amount of pre-
ference stock. The general traffic of the railway has
met the expectations of the board, showing, as com-
pared with the traffic of the corresponding half-year
of 1850, an increase of nearly 33 per cent., viz.,
1850, 77,167/. ; 1851, 102,564/. ; increase, 25,3961.
This increase in the receipts of the railway is princi-
pally attributable to a gradual extension of the busi-
ness of the company, to better arrangements for con-
ducting merchandise traffic, the punctuality and
convenience of passenger trains, and a general im-
provement in the management and working of the
undertaking, and not from the opening of new lines
or other extraneous circumstances. The working
expenses, on a comparison of the same periods, show
also a favourable result, viz., 60 per cent. for June,
1850, against 44 per cent. for June, 1851. The di-
rectors recommend a dividend, at the rate of 2 per
cent. per annum on the ordinary share capital of the
company; after the payment of which, and of all the
interest on loans and preference charges, there will
remain a balance of 1,5571. to the credit of the re-
served fund. It is right, however, to mention that
the amount charged for the tolls of the Liverpool,
Crosby, and Southport Company passing over the
joint line into Liverpool, is disputed by the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Company, who at present work that
traffic. The toll credited in the revenue account is
the amount payable under the Act of Parliament, and
it is the intention of the board to insist upon the pay-
ment of the Parliamentary toll. Nothing has occurred
to interfere with the traffic arrangements existing be-
tween the London and North-Western, the Lanca-
shire and Yorkshire, and this company, for dividing
the traffic at several competing points in Lancashire
and Yorkshire. After a careful consideration of this
subject, it has been determined to renew the negotia-
tions with the Blackburn Company, on the basis of
the former proposition, and these negotiations are
still pending. The directors are assured by the com-
pany's officers that the permanent way and rolling stock
have been kept in efficient repair during the half-year,
and that the expenses have all been duly charged to reve-
nue. The works for the completion of theßacup branch
have been commenced. The directors regret the re-
jection by Parliament of that part of the Bill of last
session by which the company sought to charge a
toll on all traffic using the joiat line into Liverpool
(towards the cost of which the company have sub-
scribed one-half), which should in future be so used
and managed as to afford equal benefit to this and the
Lancashire and Yorkshire Company. The adverse
decision of Parliament with respect to this matter will
render further efforts necessary, with a view' to
remedy the evil connected with their position at Li-
verpool. In other respects the application to Parlia-
ment has been successful. The Act, which received
the Royal assent on the 3d of July last, authorizes
the increase of tolls on passenger traffic (except by
Parliamentary trains) 25 per cent., and on merchan-
dise (except coal and corn) 20 per cent. It provides
for the consolidation of the shares into stock when-
ever that measure may be deemed desirable; the
raising of the necessary capital to redeem the prefer-
ence fifth shares in the month of June, 1855 ; and
authorizes the company to borrow a sufficient sum of
money to complete the railway. The Act also con-
firms the preference shares already issued, and em-
powers the shareholders to reduce the present number
of directors, and again to increase or reduce them
when and as often as it may he deemed expedient.
The general statement of capital account shows
that the company is authorised to raise 3,865,8331.,
viz., 2,899,3751. on shares, and 966,4581. on loans.
The sum raised on shares to the 30th of June last
amounted to 2,715,2731., and on loans to 726,3821.,
leaving a balance of 424,1781., being the nominal
available capital, including 6,7951. arrears on calls.
The capital account showed that 3,458,759 i. had been
received to the 30th of June, including 51,0681.
during the half-year, and 3,556,1791. extended., in-
cluding 61,6071. expended during the half-year,
leaving a balance due to bankers and others of 97,4191.
According to the estimates of December, )849, of the
cost of completing the railway, there appeared to be
58,2081. expended during the half-year on lines
opened and under contract, leaving 224,1351. to be
expended on them. The expenditure during the half-
year on lines not commenced had
-been :43681., leav-
ing 115,9531. unexpended.
From the statement of the working stock, it; ap-
pears there are 54 engines, 27 first-class carriages,
42 second class, 61 third-class, 9 composite, and 6
coupe carriages, 1 mail tender, 18 trucks and vans,
13 break-vans, 6 horse-boxes, 841 goods waggons, 96
coal, 55 cattle, and 20 ballast waggons. The revenue
account for the half-year ending June OD states, that
102,5641. had been received and 48,413/. expended,
including 1,9431. rates and taxes and 1,293/. passen-
ger duty. The total disbursements amount to 47.20
per cent. of the receipts, leaving a profit of 54,151/.
The general revenue account shows that the interest
on loans, dividends on shares and rents, absorb
31,6711., and the proposed dividend of ss. per share
and ls. 3d. per quarter-share, 22,2701., paving 1,5571.
to be carried to the reserve fund, which now amounts
to 67,0561. The number of passeniers conveyed
during the half-year was 938,901, aid the average
distance travelled by each of them was 11 miles.
The auditors, Messrs. W. Bates and J. Adams, state
in their report that the accounts are correct, and they
recommend the reserved fund to be kept up, in order
to meet extraordinary expenditure during an unfavour-
able half-year; but the amount withdrawn to be re-
placed at more favourable periods, so as to maintain
the fund in its integrity.

CORK AND BANDON.---It appears that the opening
of this line throughout has been delayed in conse-
quence of a dispute between the directors and Messrs.
Fox and Henderson, the contractors. It was intended
by the directors to open the Cork section of the line
in the early part of the present month, but the con-
tractors refused to allow them to pass unless they
asked permission in writing to do so ; this the direc-
tors declined, alleging that they themselves were in
possession of the line. The contractors' men then
proceeded from the Cork terminus to obstruct the
line with ballast waggons. They did not proceed far
before they were met by a party belonging to the
company on an engine,
when a scuffle ensued which
resulted in the contractors' party being forced back
by the engine to the Cork station. This fracas
having terminated without serious personal injury,
the manager for the contractors sent out a large
number of " navvies" in the course of the night,
who removed portions of the rails and com-
pletely blocked up the line in several places. The
matter is now in course of judicial investigation. It
is stated that the contractors claim 30,0001. as due to
them, which is disputed by the directors, who state
that the amount cannot exceed 15,0001., and that
they are ready to settle any claim made for works
executed, when certiffed by the engineer.
CORK AND WATERFORD.—It is stated that arrange-
ments are being made with certain persons for the
construction of a portion of this line extending from
Cork to Youghal, with a branch to Queenstown.
ABERDEEN AND DUNDEE.—These companies, i . n
conjunction with others in their immediate district,
have entered into arrangements to enable them to
compete with the Aberdeen and Dundee steamers in
the conveyance of goods, which they now carry be-
tween those points and London at 255. and 303.
per ton.
SOUT II•E ASTERN.—The number of passengers con-
veyed on this line to and from the London-bridge
terminus on Monday wa5:21,932, namely, 11,010 to
London, and 10,922 from London.
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.--It is
understood that the London and North-Western are
in treaty for the Nottingham and Grantham line at 31
per cent. on the paid-up capital,
.and taking all the
liabilities. The possession of this lino would give
them, with the Midland, a monopoly of that district.
MIDLAND AND GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.—
There has been a meeting between the authorities of
the respective lines, but no terms were ultimately
come to for arranging the rivalry that exists between
them, with a view to a return to what are called
" paying" fares.
EFFECTS OF LOW RAILWAY FARES.—The low fares
at which the Midland and Great Northern Railways
are conveying passengers to London have stimulated
the curiosity of the humbler classes to visit the Exhi-
bition in a very extraordinary degree. A trip to
London and back for ss. is what no one had dreamed
of seeing. Tens of thousands have gone from the
West Riding within the last two or three weeks ; and
not only have persons gone who possessed the pecu-
niary means, but great numbers have raised the
means by pawning watches, blankets, and other arti-
cles. We hear that the pawnbrokers of York, and
many other towns in the country, are full of pledged
articles.—Leeds Mercury.
PROJECTED RAILWAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
PORTSMOUTH AND LONDON.--A project is being pre-
pared for giving to Portsmouth additional means of
railway communication with the metropolis. It
already possesses two lines—the London, Brighton,
and South Coast Railway, and the London and
South-Western; but both of these are circuitous routes,
being about 22 miles further than a direct line,wouht
be, or the old coach road. It is now proposed to
construct a line of about 24 miles long to connect the
South Coast and South-Western Junction line at
Cosharn, five miles out of Portsmouth, with the branch
of the last-named company at Alton. This would,
besides reducing the distance between London and
Portsmouth about 22 miles, also give railway coin-
( munication to the thriving market town of Petersfield,

EVENING, AUGUST l3, 1851.

and a largo and populous district now deprived
of that advantage. It is, indeed, from the land-
owners of this district that the project has ema-
nated, but it is also likely to meet with much sup-
port from the inhabitants of Portsmouth. A large
amount of railway accommodation is, however, now
given to Portsmouth by the above-named companies.
There are now, by the two lines, fifteen trains to
London daily, and an equal number vice versa. The
necessary preliminary measures for getting the pro-
posed new railway on foot will be taken on Wed-
nesday next, when a public meeting of persons inte-
rested in it will be held at Petersfield.
RAILWAY COMMUNICATION WITH MONMOUTII.—•
We understand that a professional gentleman of Mon-
mouth, at the request of parties interested in the
very important consideration of railway communica-
tion with that town, has been in correspondence with
Mr. Brunel on the subject. and that eminent engi-
neer, in his reply, says, " Individually, and without
reference to the views of the South "Wales or Great
Western Railways, I shall be very happy to forward
the completion of the line from Ross via Monmouth
to Newport, and my impression is that neither of
those companies would object to any such plan ; and
if the gentlemen of the county would come forward
with the same spirit as the Herefordshire inhabitants
did on a late occasion, I have no doubt that arrange-
ments could be made for the completion of the line
from Monmouth to Newport in connexion with the line
from Monmouth to Ross ; but I could not move in
the matter, except in conjunction with the strongly
expressed feeling of the great majority of the inhabi-
tants."—Hereford Journal.
SCOTCH RAILWAYS.—The Edinburgh, Perth, and
Dundee is to work the St. Andrew's line (capital
25,0001., which the inhabitants have subscribed
among themselves) by providing the rolling stock
and locomotive power. The receipts are first to be
applied to the cost and maintenance of the line, pay-
ing the salaries of the officers; secondly, to pay iti-
terest on debenture loans ; and then 4} per cent. on
the share capital expended. An allowance follows
to the Edinburgh, Pertb, and Dundee for supplying
the rolling stock and locomotive power; after which,
if any balance remains, it is to be equally divided.—
Railway Times.
RAILWAY TO YOUGHAL AND QUEBNSTOWN..—An
Act of Parliament received the Royal assent within
the last few days for the making of a line of railway
of which the public had got no intimation. During
the railway mania, an lAct was granted by the Le-
gislature, giving powers to make a line between
Cork and Waterford, but which was never put in
operation, except to hold half-yearly meet-
ings in London and collect money from the
shareholders. The Act was about expiring
when a Bill was brought into Parliament to
continue certain powers in it, and to amend its
provisions. The passing of this Bill through the
Commons and Lords did not require the service of
notice upon any of the parties through whose
property the line was intended to be run, and
therefore none of those interested in this respect had
intimation of the purposes of the measure. It is now,
however, the law of the land, and it is understood
it gives power to construct a line of railway from
King-street, in this city, to the town of Youghal,
passing through Middleton, with a branch line to
Queenstown. It is said that an English company
have made arrangements to carry out the work, and
that they are now entering into a contract with a
celebrated firm in London for its execution and com-
pletion within a brief period.—Cork Constitution.
DUBLIN AND WICKLOW RAILWAY.—The ordinary
half-yearly meeting of the Dublin and Wicklow Rail-
way Company will be held on Thursday, the 20th of
August, at the Northumberland Hotel, Dublin.

THE BRAZILIAN MAIL.
RIVER PLATE.

The political aspect of affairs was anything but
peaceful. The Brazilian Admiral Grenfell had pene-
trated the waters of the Uruguay, to confer with
General Urquiza, and had stationed his forces at the
commanding points along the north bank of the river.
In_ addition to the disaffection of the province of
hntre Rios, that of Corrientes had already followed.
The Government of the former had dispatched a
charge d'affairs to the Monte Videan Government to
offer their co-operation against General Rosas and
Oribe, and to secure the independence of the state,
which was cordially accepted. The Minister for
Foreign Affairs immediately afterwards repaired to
Entre Rios, to confer with General Urquizs, who re-
ceived him with great demonstrations. Should the
arms of the Confederation fail to put down the rebel-
lion in these two provinces, the result may be their
total separation from the Argentine Confederation.
Public opinion, however, in Buenos Ayres was much
in favour of a reconciliation being practicable between
Rosas and Urquiza ; still Rosas was making active
preparations, and left not a stone unturned to
strengthen his position. The Monte Videan party
appear to think that inevitably this spring would open
up a ruinous campaign. At all events the storm that
is brewing must soon declare the intentions of the
belligerents.
The commercial state of the river is as bad as it
possibly can be, and holders of stock are not inclined
to sell, nor do purchasers come to market, both fear-
ing the issue of events, and the fluctuations of the
paper currency. The exchange on the 27th of June,
stood at 70s. to 71s. per doubloon. Exports were
expected to fall off, notwithstanding that in May
about 270,000 ox and cow hides were shipped. Pro-
duce was scarce. Freights for the United Kingdom
were very low : heavy weights 405., bales 255., and
dry hides 755. The commercial state of Monte
Video showed not the least sign of improvement.

The branch packet Esk, belonging to the Royal
Mail Company, from Buenos Ayres to Monte Video,
conveyed the Pope's nuncio, M. L. de Besi, to Rio,
where he remains for the present. Ile has not ob-
tained from General Rosas the object of his mission,
and appears to be much dissatisfied with the state of
the Church, which is anything but in a flourishing
condition. The Pope's spiritual assistance has been
politely declined.
All the Brazilian and other ports touched by the
Severn were entirely free from sickness of every de-
scription.

. -
Teneriffe was perfectly healthy ; and it is gratify-
ing to be able to announce that in the Grand Canaries
the cholera had been gradually subsiding since the
last advices. During the prevalence, however,
upwards of• 8,000 people had fallen victims to the
pestilence.

RIO DE JANEIRO.
The business transacted during the month of June
was to a very considerable extent. The receipt of
almost every description of imports was excessive.
The recent sales of piece goods were at a gradual re-
duction in price in consequence of ample supplies.
Extensive sales of coffee had been made. Stock in
the market about 70,000 bags. In consequence of
unfavourable advices lately received from England,
prices had declined a little. The present crop pro-
mises to be an average one. _ The little hitherto
brought to market was of fine quality.

" CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE."

The great interest excited with respect to this me-
morial of the British occupation of Egypt, occasioned
by the inquiries on the subject made in both Houses
of Parliament, will doubtless render the following
particulars respecting it acceptable to the public :
" Travellers who visit Alexandria cannot fail to ob-
serve, on the south side of the great harbour, now called
the New Port, a beautiful obelisk of red Thebaic gra-
nite, or Syenite, covered with hieroglyphics, standing
erect where was once the Cmsariura, or Temple of Caesar,
' while near it another similar monument lies prostrate,
and partly covered by the sand. To these relics of a
remote antiquity the Arabs give the name of Mesellet
yartiun, or • Pharoah's Packing Needle,' a term which
is, indeed, applied by them to all obelisks. The tradi-
tions of the later periods of the Roman Empire, and of a
subsequent time, seem to have attributed many objects at
Alexandria to Cleopatra, the world•renow ned Queen of
Egypt, and the obelisks in question are accordingly Cest
known to Europeans as ` Cleopatra's Needles,' a trivial
designation, possessing as little historical value as that
of Queen Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol,' which is given to
the great gun at Dover. The classical term obelisk' is,
in its origin, not lees trivial, if it be true that it is de-
rived from the Latin obel6cus, a diminutive el the Greek
word gslos, which means, literally, a spit,' as indica-
tive of the peculiar form of this species of monument.
" As far as the true history of these obelisks in con-
cerned, which is principally to be deduced from the
monarchs' names sculptured on
.them, they appear to
have been originally cut at the granite quarries of Syene,
at the first cataract in Upper Egypt, 750 miles from their
present site, by Thothmosis 111. This monarch was one
of the most celebrated rulers of that remarkable country,
We find remains of him in Nubia, at Samneb, at Prem.
mis, and at Amada, proving that his sway extended
even beyond the third cataract. He added also largely
to the great temple of Karnak; and in the sculptures in
one of its rooms he is represented as presenting offerings
to his ancestors or predecessors of eight several dynas-
ties—namely, the Kings of Thebes, of Abydos, of Mem-
phis, of Ethiopia, and of four other divisions of Egypt.
In one of the tombs near Thebes is a painting of a grand
procession of men of the several nations bordering on
the Nile, who are bringing their costly gifts in token of
homage to this king.
" Under Thothmosis 111., who held Upper and Lower
Egypt and Ethiopia, the kingdom of Thebes had
reached its full size. Several later kings may have been
more wealthy and more powerful, and their conquests
may have extended further, but those conquests were
only temporary; and the glories of those later kings
never threw the reign of Thothmosis 111. into the shade.
" The central inscriptions on the four faces of these
obelisks were sculptured by the monarch whom we have
just described. The lateral inscriptions were added by
a King who was, if possible, even more celebrated,
namely, Annanmai Rameses IL, commonly known by
the name of Sesostris, the monarch under whom Upper
Egypt rose to its greatest height in arms, in art, and
in wealth.

" It is unnecessary to do more than allude to the
fabled history of this monarch; but, confining ourselves
to the particulars recorded on imperishable monu-
ments of atone, we find that he finished the palace
of the Memnonium, or Mamunei at Abydos, and also
the temple of Osiris, in the same city; and on one of
the walls of the latter he carved that list of his fore-
fathers now in the British Museum, which is known by
the name of the Tablet of Abydos. At Thebes, besides
adding to the buildings of his predecessors, he erected
a new palace, which, like that at Abydos, was by the
Greeks called the Memnonium.

"In the first court-yard was a colossal statue of him-
self, larger, than any other in Egypt, and in the second
yard were two smaller ones, from one of which was
taken the colossal head now in the British Museum.
" The two obelisks of Alexandria likewise have the
names and titles of some Pharoah of later times, by
whom they may probably have been removed to Mem-
phis; but subsequently the Ptolemies, to embellish their
Greco-Egyptian capital, transferred them to Alexandria.
" In the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, when the
Alexandrians completed the beautiful temple to his
honour named the Sebaste, or Ceasar's Temple, which
stood by the side of the harbour, and was surrounded by
a sacred grove, ornamented with porticoes, and fitted up
with libraries, paintings, and statues,—it being the most
lofty building in the city,—they set up in front of this
temple the two obelisks of Thothmosis and Rameses,
which, like the other monuments of the Theban kings,
have outlived all the temples and palaces of their Greek
and Roman successors.

" These beautiful memorials of two of the most power-
ful and celebrated rulers of Egypt appear not to have
suffered any material injury from the vicissitudes to
which the dominion of those kings have during so many
ages been subjected.*
" From a very early period one of them has been
thrown down from the pedestal on which it stood; but
this seeming calamity has probably preserved its sculp-
tures better than if it had remained on its pedestal, for
its still erect companion, though well preserved on the
sides exposed to the sea, has suffered a good deal from
the beating against it of the land-wind, which blows with
violence and is charged with sand.
" With the exception of the four corners of the base,
where, like the obelisk in the Hippodrome at Constanti-
nople, it would seem to have formerly been held to its
pedestal by four curbes of bronze, the fallen obelisk is
perfect, and its sculptures are in comparatively good
preservation. _ _ _

" Its length is 64 feet, and at its base it is about 8
feet square; its weight being estimated at about 240
tons.t The obelisk is of great value from its antiquity,
its proportions, and, moreover, as an imperishable me-
morial of British valour.

" After the English were in possession of Alexandria
(as we find it recorded by Dr. Clarke in his ' Travels')
a subscription was opened among the officers of the
army and navy for the purpose of removing the prostrate
obelisk to Great Britain. With the money thus raised
they purchased one of the vessels that Menou had sunk
in the old port of Alexandria. This they raised, and
prepared for its reception. The work went on rapidly,
the obelisk was turned, and its lower surface was found
to be in a high state of preservation. It was then moved,
by means of machinery constructed for the purpose, to-
wards the vessel prepared to receive it. Lord Cavan
presided at this undertaking. A naval officer, who was
present upon the occasion, brought over to England the
plans projected for conveying this splendid trophy of the
success of our arms to the metropolis of this country;
and there is every reason to believe the design would
have been accomplished. Its interruption took place in
consequence of an order preventing the sailors from as-
sisting at the work.
" An eye•witness, who is still living, states that about
5,0001. were subscribed by the army, that 300 Sepoys
worked for three or four months in constructing a jetty,
whence the obelisk was to have been embarked ; but
that the General who then commanded at Malta wrote
to the military authorities in Egypt, objecting to the
employment of the troops in such a work, and order-
ing them to suspend their operations. This was accord-
ingly done, and the money unexpended was returned to
the subscribers.

" Though the obelisk was thus left behind when the
British forces quitted Egypt, the idea of bringing it to
England was never abandoned • and whatever doubts
might have existed as to our right to the possession of a
trophy which had been taken, but afterwards (as it were)
abandoned on the field of battle, were set at rest by the
gift of it made in the year 1800 by the late Mehemet Ali
Pasha to King George IV.
" Notwithstanding this gift, the obelisk still remained
without any definitive steps being taken for its removal
to England.t In 1830, when the French sent a vessel
to Alexandria to transport to Franco the obelisk of
Luxor, which is now standing in the Place de Is Con-
corde at Paris, and also, as it was talked of at the time,
the one of ' Cleopatra's needles,' which is yet standing,
the French Consul in Egypt is said to have made the
modest suggestion that, as the English had so long ne-
glected the Pasha's present, they might be considered to
have relinquished it, and therefors it might as NI eil be
taken away in the French vessel which had come for the
other obelisk.'

" This, however, was not allowed to take place.
Neither have the English taken any steps to acquire
possession of a monument which is the indisputable
property of the British nation, and which, if not re-
moved,li will doubtless ere long become utterly ruined
and worthless. The stones of the pedestal on which it
stood have
.been carried away for building purposes;
the obelisk itself has been exposed to many marks in-
flicted by the curious and idlers of Alexandria, and as a
last indignity one end of it has actually been built into
the wall surrounding the port, forming part of the new
fortifications of the city.
" The subject of the removal of this obelisk has often
been before Parliament. On the 2d of Juno last, in the
House of Peers, the Marquis of Westmeath, at the re-
quest of several military and naval officers, inquired
what steps had been taken for obtaining possession of or
for removing it. His Lordship stated that the opinion
of the late Sir R. Peel, expressed to himself, was, that it
was a monument which ought to be brought to London
and erected as a memorial of Sir Ralph Abercromby
and others who had fought and died in Egypt. The
late Sir George Murray had also stated that h
ejoined
with all his military and naval friends, who desired that
the obelisk should be brought to this country.
!` in reply to Lord Westmeath's inquiry the Earl of
Carlisle admitted the importance which attached to the
obelisk, not merely as a memorial of the ancient art of
Egypt, but also as a monument of British heroism; but
said that he apprehended there were some mechanical
difficulties.
" This, however, can hardly be the ease, inasmuch as
the obelisk would unquestionably have been removeel In
1801, bad it not been for the reasons already stated.
As a relic of ancient art, as a memorial of two of the
most renowned monarchs of Egypt, and as a_ trophy
_
of British valour, this obelisk is without price.
.11
allowed to remain in its present state, it will in-
evitably be destroyed, and there cannot exist the
slightest doubt that it is the bounden
which duty of the
British nation to see to its preservation,earl
only be secured by carrying out the intention of our
valiant troops half-a-century ago--11817i YI•bY trans..
planting it to England.
The appropriate site for it

y from
* Mr. Gould, in the Builder of August 2, 2,—,,
were stand-
certain authorities, it
,wouldh appear that both Nv
ing at the close of the 12t . century,
proposition
i. On the 15th of April, 1832, when a
for its removal was made in the Ho of Commons, it
was stated that it weighed 284 tons. Captain Smyth,
R.N., supposes it to be 230 tons.
I In 1822 Captain Smyth, R.N., Was prepared, with
the consent of Mehemet Ali, to attempt its removal, but
could not procure the authority of our Government.
The Pasha offered to build a pier for the embarkation of
the obelisk, and to render Captain Smyth every assist-
ance for its removal,

W On the 15th
of April, 1832, a proposition for its re-
moval was made in the House of Commons. It was then
stated that its removal would cost 15,0004