The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-09 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF TFIE SUN.

Sir,—May I not be allowed, as Chaucer's trans-
lator and admirer, to protest againt the Vandalism
that would destroy so valuable a relict of the great
poet's century as the time-honoured Tabard, whence
his pilgrims started for Canterbury, to make way
for a railway station, where few will know even the
name of Chaucer, and few still care for him or his
works ? Must modern progress be converted into
a Juggernaut's car, always busy eradicating the
traces of the past ? Is its motto to be delenda est
Carthago? While Paris is being shorn of all its
picturesque features and the traditions of its medim-
val times, I hitherto always admired the pious care
with which the tangible relics of a bygone era were
cherished in your provincial towns and out-of-the-
way nooks. I have seenShakspere's dwelling honoured
as a shrine, and the memory of even inferior geniuses
lovingly fostered in the places they inhabited, and
where they exercised their influence ; and shall the
father of English poetry not excite sufficient reve-
rence to prevent this contemplated desecration ?
That is the question which I should like to see you
ask of your numerous readers, who, on your appeal,
might perhaps bestir themselves in time to avert an
irreparable loss to the lovers of antiquarian lore.—
I remain, sir, yours respectfully,

LE CHEVALIER DE CIIATELAIN.

Jan. 3,186 G.

Memorial Tomb to Leigh Hunt.

- - _
AS PROPOSED BY MR. S. C. HALL, THE EDITOR OF

THE " AP,T JOURNAL."

At the close of a singularly charming and appre-
ciative " Memory of the late Leigh Hunt," which
appeared recently in the pages of the Art Journal,
the accomplished Editor of that publication, himself
the writer of the " Memory," added the following
footnote, or as it might be called postscript :
" He was buried at Kensall Green, but unhappily
there is, as yet, no monument to record his name
and preserve his memory ; that is a reproach to all
who knew him, and to all who have read, admired,
and loved his many works—a generation that reaps
the harvest of his labours. His works will, indeed,
do both—they will be his monument—more enduring
than of piled up stones'—and they will preserve
his name for ever among the foremost men of his
age and country. But it is not right that the
crowded graveyard ' which contains sculp-
tured tablets of so many illustrious authors,
artists, and men of science, should be without one
to this great writer, and I appeal to the thousands
by whom he is estimated to remove from England
the reproach. It will gratify me much if I can
obtain contributions for that purpose, in additim
to my own. A large sum is by no means requisite.
Such a monument as Leigh Hunt would have de-
siredand unpretending as
should be unassuming
was his career in letters ; and if I am so happy as
to receive responses to this invitation, I will set
about the work."

Since then, Mr. Hall has energetically set on foot
a movement calculated very speedily, we believe, to
lead to the realisation of his kindly-hearted design.
Quoting his own footnote (as here already given),
at the head of a Circular Letter, addressed espe-
cially to men of letters and admirers of the genius of
Leigh Hunt, Mr. Hall writes :

" I have added the above to a Memory of Leigh
Hunt,' published in the Art Journal. May I respect-
fully ask your aid in this matter, to the extent of a
guinea or half-a-guinea.—Yours truly,

"8, Essex-villas, Argyll-road, Camp den-hill, W."
And already we believe the response has been
such that the chief part of the BUM required for the
erection of the proposed monument over the hon-
oured but as yet unmarked grave of Leigh Hunt in
Kensall-green Cemetery, has been secured : as will
be understood indeed uppn a glance down the pre-
sent list of subscribers :-
1. B. W. Procter, Esq. 21. Mrs. Milner Gibson.
2. John Forster, LL.D. 22. C. R. Roynell, Esq.
3. W. C. Macready, Esq. 23. John Dillon, Esq.
4. Charles Dickens, Esq. 24. W. J. Allen, Esq.
5. Theodore Martin, Esq. 25. J. Ridley, Esq.
6. Edmund 011ie; Esq. 26. F. W. Fairholt, Esq.,
7. Sir F. G. Moon' Bart. F.S.A.
7. Wilkie Collins, Esq. 27. E. M. Ward, Esq., R.A.
9. Charles Kent, Esq. 28. Edmund Yates, Esq.
10. G. Cotterell, Esq. 29. G. J. De Wilde, Esq.
11. C. Ratcliff, Esq., F.S.A. 30. John Bright, Esq., M.P.
12. Sir John Bowring. 31. Martin Tupper, Esq.
13. Sir Rowland Hill. 32. - Payne, Esq. (Moxon's)
14. Sir E. L. Bulwer Lytton, 33. Blanchard Jerrold, Esq.
Bart. 34. Colonel Cunningham.
15. W. Smith Williams, Esq. 35. W. H. Russell, Esq.,
16. J. Durham, Esq., F.S.A. LL.D.
17. Chas. Hill, Esq., F.S.A. 36. Edwin Arnold, Esq.
18. G. Godwin, Esq., F.R.S. 37. John Ruskin, Esq.
19. F. Bennoch, Esq., F.S.A. 38. John Hunter, Esq.
20. James S. Virtue, Esq. 39. S. C. Hall, Esq., F.S.A.

• - _
*** Those others who would enjoy the privilege
of participating in the grateful labour of raising this
memorial stone over the remains of Leigh Hunt
would do well, therefore, at once to forward to Mr.
S. C. Hall their intended guinea or half guinea
subscription.