The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-23 00:00:00

UST.

CASTING OF TDB COLOSSAL STATUE

OF XENDELSSOIIN:

The colossal statue of M. Bartholdy Mendels-
sohn, modelled by Mr. Bacon, was yesterday cast
. in bronze, at the works of Messrs. Robinson and
Cottam, Lower Belgrave-place, Pimlico, in the
presence of many of the late composer's most
eminent admirers, and a large body of ladies,
amongst whom was the relict of the revered and
lamented Sir John Franklin.
[ The erection of a statue to the memory of Men-
! delssohn, a name associated with the most charm-
! ing of musical compositions, originated with the
Sacred Harmonic :-:.)ciety about seve=n years ago,
the council of the society commencing the list by a
donation of 50 guineas; but the idea had no sooner
been promulgated than her most gracious Majesty
transmitted a similar amount in furtherance of the
object of the society. Amongst the contributors
also are to be found the names of Lady Caroline
Cavendish, Sir George Smart, Mr. Costa, Miss
Alexander, Mr. Buxton, and others, who were all
most anxious to perpetuate the "man as he lived."
and to pay their heartfelt tribute to his transcen-
dent genius. Upwards of 400 guineas having
been subscribed, the task of carrying the work
into effect was entrusted to Mr. Bacon, an
artist whose ability has long been acknowledged;
and he immediately applied himself to what he
considered to be a high privilege, to produce
an exact likeness of the great original, calling
to his aid portraits in the possession of Mr.
Buxton and Miss Alexander, and assisted by the
vivid recollections of Mendelssohn's most intimate
friends. The fidelity of the likeness, as well
as a close resemblance of the costume worn by the
composer, were the theme of universal approbation,
and while the model was in progress it was in-
spected ,by the Prince Consort, who was pleased
to express the great satisfaction he had experienced
in viewing. so faithful a counterpart of the illus-
trious original. The attitude chosen by Mr. Bacon
is one indicative of deep thought and attention, said
to have been taken at the particular moment when
Mendelssohn was listening to Miss Dolby's render.
ing of his beautiful air, " Oh, rest in the Lord,"
during the-performance of his oratorio of " Elijah"
at Exeter-hall. Any deficiency which may occur
in carrying out this work will be defrayed by the
Sacred Harmonic Society.
The method of casting the statue, which is up-
wards of eight feet in height, is peculiar to the
establishment of Messrs. Robinson and Cottam ;
for while it used to be the practice to cast large
statues piecemeal, by an improved plan they are
now moulded entire. The preparations consisted of
a large iron case, bound and riveted together, and
built on the floor, of such dimensions as to allow'
the reception of the full-length figure in a horizon-
tal position. Immense furnaces charged with metal
were heated to a degree which it would be difficult
to define, and at a given signal an opening was
made, and truly and literally the liquid fire poured
in one vast stream into a large iron cauldron placed
for its reception, into which the contents of two
other cauldrons froth other furnaces were poured
to form the required composition of metal. This

immense cauldron of mixed metal, containing nearly
two tons, was then raised by machinery, and
when immediately over the mould it was tilted
into a large receiver communicating with the mould
beneath. A wheel was then turned, and imme-
diately there was a gurgling and gushing of the
flaming liquid through 5 channels, conveying it
simultaneously to every part of the horizontal
figure beneath. It was somewhat curious to watch
the skimming process, which wint on while the
metal was in a state of fusion, :AD that no unsightly
excrescences might appear on the surface of the
casting. After the lapse of a few minutes the work-
men commenced knocking away the framework
and block mould, but it will be a day or two before
the statue is completely cleared; however, it is
believed the work was most successfully performed.
The quantity of metal used in the statute is about
a ton and a-half. It will stand eight feet high, and
will be elevated on a granite pedestal. With re-
spect to the site on which the statue will be placed,
application has been made to her Majesty's Govern-
ment to allow it to be placed in the Mall in St.
James's-park, but an answer has not been received.

THE FRENCH EXPEDITION TO CHINA.

The following are some details concerning the
principal officers who are to hold commands in the
French expedition to China :
" General Montauban, the Commander-in-Chief,
is an officer of the Army of Africa, who, before
his appointment to the head of the second military
division at Rouen, governed the province of Oran,
for several years, with great ability. M. de Mon-
tauban was madeC general of division in 1855.
General Jamin, who is to command the Ist brigade,
was promoted to the rank of general on 3d January,
1852. He is an officer of great scientific acquire-
ments. In 1847 the Duke-d'..A...umale made him his
aide-de-camp. Latterly he commanded the Ist sub-
division at Chalons-sur-Marne. General Collineau,
of the promotion of August, 1857, also comes from
the African .army, in which he won every grade at
the sword's point. He made the whole campaign in
the Crimea, and commanded the Ist Zouaves on Bth
September, 1855, at the assault of the Malakoff fort,
which he was one of the first to enter.' On that
day, in spite of a rather serious wound, from which
the blood poured over his face, Col. Collineau kept
min the foremost rank, stimulating his men by words
and gestures to the end of the fight. Col. Schmitz,
acting as Major-General of the army to China, is a
promising young officer of the staff. He is the son
of Gen. Schmitz of the first Empire, and served his
apprenticeship in Africa. During the unfortunate
expedition which was overtaken by the snow, he,
when acting as aide-de-camp to Gen. Levasseur,
displayed extraordinary energy and resource.
Afterwards he went through the Crimean cam-
paign, first attached to Gen. Forey, and then to the
commander-in•chief. General Montauban will be in-
vested with most extensive powers, being authorised
to appoint to all vacancies up to the rank of colonel,
with the sole restriction that the nomination to the
rank of colonel and sub-lieutenant will require the
Emperors's sanction. By the Emperor's orders all the
expeditionary army will bepaid in Mexican piastres,
which alone are not liable to, loss on exchange in
China. The troops arc to be provided with all the
clothes necessary for the different climates, which
in some places are nearly the same as the French
soldiers have been used to in Africa. It was at first
thought of sending horses from Africa for the artil-
lery, but the ultimate decision is that the 1,200
horses necessary for the five batteries shall be col-
lected at Shanghai from India and Manilla. The
troops will leave Brest and Toulon about the 15th
December. The transports are already prepared,
and only await the orders for embarkation. The
officers of the staff will not leave till 15th January,
as they go by the overland route, and yet will
arrive a month before the troops, during which
interval they will have time to concert measures
with the English staff and naval commanders. It
is expected that the expedition will arrive at its
destination in April, and begin the campaign at
once. The Emperor has ordered that a half-inont ley
mail shall be established between Canton and
Toulon via Suez. If, as is expected, the English
Government does the same, intelligence will arrive
from the seat of war four times a month."'