The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-01 00:00:00

:onument to the Memory of the Late
Duke of Wellington.

Some seven or eight miles from Reading, a few
feet inside the high road which leads from that town
to Basingstoke, and just at the point where it skirts
the London gate of the park of Strathfieldsaye, a
monument to the memory of the late Duke of Wel-
lington has within the last few weeks been erected.
The monument is a national one, but not in the
sense that it has been raised at the cost of the public.
Every passer-by may learn from itself whose the
pious zeal which has placed it where it stands. Not
long after the death of the great Duke a general de-
sire was expressed by his tenantry to testify their
high appreciation of his character, particularly in
his relations with them, and their deep regret for
his loss, by means of some enduring memorial. They
valued him for his considerate kindness, not less than
he was admired by the world at large for his genius
and success, and they were anxious to proclaim
with what feelings he was regarded in a sphere into
which the world did not penetrate. The wish
gathered strength from day to day, and aided by j
the affectionate approval and assistance of the pre-
sent Duke it has at length been splendidly realised.
The monument at its base consists of three courses
of steps, each 18 inches high, the bottom course be- '
ing 30 feet square. Next comes a plinth of dresged
granite, also formed of three courses, 12ft. square
and Eft. high. Upon this plinth rests a moulded
base, from which rises a square block of granite 9ft.
6in. high, and 7ft. square, weighing 40 tons. On
each of the four sides of this massive stone is a
sunken panel. That in the front has inscribed upon
it the word " Wellington." On the obverse are the
words " Erected by Arthur Richard, second Duke
of Wellington, and the tenants, servants, and
labourers on the estates of his father, as a token of
affection and respect." One of the remaining two
panels bears the inscription "He was honoured
abroad, for in all the might of conquesChe was ever
just, considerate, and humane ;" the other, " He was
beloved at hoMe, for he had great power and ever used
it well. He was firm in friendship, and his hand was
open towards the poor." The solid stone bearing
these inscriptions is surmounted by a moulded cor-
nice, from which springs a monolith column 30ft.
high and 3ft. 6in. in diameter, having a bronze base,
and weighing 21 tons. Resting on this column, a
composite capital of bronze, topped by four polished
pieces of granite, forms the pedestal of the statue,
which is Bft. 9in. in height. The late Duke is re-
presented as wearing the uniform of a Field-Mar-
shal, holding in his left hand the hat belonging to
that rank, while his right rests easily on his hip.
The monument, which is altogether 82ft. high, has
been erected by the Messrs. Freeman, proprietors
of extensive granite quarries in Cornwall, in accord-
ance with the designs of Baron Marochetti, under
whose immediate supervision all the bronze work
has been cast. Its general appearance is one of se-
vere simplicity, combined, notwithstanding the soli-
dity of the materials, with lightness and elegance.
The face of the statue looks from the park of
Strathfieldsaye, across Heckfield-common, towards
the Wellington College.
The Duke of Wellington entertained yesterday
afternoon his tenantry at dinner in honour of the
successful completion of a work which he has lone,
had very much at heart. The dinner took place in
the tennis-court at Strathfieldsaye, and was nume-
• rously attended.

At its close the noble Duke, who was accompanied
by Earl Stanhope, the Dean of Windsor, Sir R.
Peel, Count Strzelecki, Sir R Murchison, Colonel
M'Murdo, and several other gentlemen, gave the
health of " The Queen," observing that there was
no quality for which the illustrions individual
whom they had met to honour was more remark-
able than for loyalty to the Throne.
The toast was drunk wits enthusiasm.
• The Duke of WELLINGTON then gave " The
Church;" which was responded to by the Dean of
WINDSOR ; and in the next " The Army," for
which Colonel M‘Mtmoo returned thanks, remark-
ing that the toast acquired more than usual inte-
rest and significance when taken in connection with
the object for which those whom he addressed had
assembled on that occasion. That object must re-
call to their minds the actions of that glorious old
army which in the days of their fathers was led to
victory by the splendid genius of him who directed
its movements. (Cheers.) The efficiency of the
army at the present day was no doubt, so far as the
material of which it was composed went, all that
could be desired ; but, be that efficiency what it may,
they might depend upon it that it would be but of
small avail in the hour of need unless it pleased
God to confer genius on its commander. Such
genius pre-eminently distinguished the great sol-
dier who led the British troops at Assaye and in the
Peninsula, and he was proud to have the privilege
that day of paying a tribute to his memory.
(Cheers.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON then proposed " The
Health of Baron Marochetti," to whom, he said,
was due whatever enjoyment those who looked upon
the monument might derive from the contempla-
tion of the beauty of its design. (Cheers.)
The toast was very cordially drunk, and was fol-
lowed by that of " The Messrs. Freeman," in giving
which the noble Duke, referring to the great diffi-
culty of raising such immense blocks of stone as
some of those of which the monument was con-
structed, said he did not know which to admire
most, the exquisite polish of the material, or the
mechanical genius which must have been applied in
order to place it in its present position on Heck-
field-common.

Mr. FREEMAN, sen., in returning thanks on his

own behalf and for his son, stated that the difficul-
ties with which he had to contend in prosecuting
the work were very great, but that he had been
encouraged throughout by the undeviating courtesy
of the noble duke, as well as by the idea that the
monument was meant to do honour to the memory
of that grand man, of whom not only England but
Europe was proud. (Cheers.)
Earl STANHOPE then rose and proposed " The
health of the Duke of Wellington." (Cheers.) It
, to dilate would be easy for him, he said, on the many
grounds upon which that toast should be received
by those whom he saw around, as it had already
been received, with warmth. He need not remind
them of the manner in which his grace had carried out
their wishes in reference to the completion of the
monument to his illustrious father, nor of the judg-
ment which he had displayed in selecting Baron
Marochetti to set before them once more the familiar
form of a hero now departed. Neither did he say a
word as to the incessant attention which he had be-
stowed on all the details of the work, or the com-
plete success with which his efforts had been crowned.
Those topics he would leave to the thoughts of those
whom he saw around him, believing he would best
be consulting the wishes of the noble duke by taking
that course. But he must be allowed to say a word
with respect to that great man whose memory they
had met to honour, and whom the great majority of
those present knew so well as tenants on his estates.
He also knew him well. He had served under him
as Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs when he was
at the head of that department, and he had fre-
quently visited that
very
spot, where he had held
with him the most friendly intercourse. 'With that
intimate knowledge ofthe great duke, he could
was safely say that if there
asone principle on which
public rather than another his m
careercircuNsvtaasn basedcesto d
ito
did
was the determination under
all
his duty. (Cheers.) Nor it matter whether that
duty related to great affairs or to small, to the exi-
gencies of a kingdom or the wants of a 'parish. His
was a mind which could grasp the greatest objects,
and yet without effort or the slightest feeling of de-
gradation deal with the most trivial. He recollected
that an American statesman of great note—mr.
Webster—once told him that he himself had seen a
small pocket-book in which Washington, when Pre-
sident of the United States, had set down on One
page something having reference to transactions of
laigh public concern, while on the very next was an
entry relating to some small local matter, such as
the repair of a bridge or the construction of a road.
Between Washington and the late Duke of Welling-
ton, though their characters were not often com-
pared, P strong resemblance might, he thought, in
that respect be traced, as well as in all essential points
bearing upon duty and honour. The active public