The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-09 00:00:00

INAUGURATION OF THE ATTWOOD

STATUE AT BIRMINGHAM.

On Tuesday last the formal uncovering and dedi-
cation of a statue to the late Thomas Attwood took
place at Birmingham, in the presence of the Mayor,
Sir John Ratcliff, and a large number of persons.
The site selected for the statue is the most conspi-
cuous position in the town—in the centre of New-
street, and at the head of the outlet from the London
and North-Western Railway—Stephenson-place.
The ceremony of inauguration was very. imposing.
Mr. Alderman Hodgson, in a few appropriate words,
presented the statue to the Mayor on behalf of
the town. Mr. Hodgson then read an address
to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of
the borough, which mentioned the circumstances
under which the statue was erected, and proceeded
to say that to Thomas Attwood the country was
indebted for an agitation resulting in the bill
which on that day seven-and-twenty years ago
received the royal assent, and from which individual
and national blessings had flowed.
The Mayor, Sir JOHN RAICLIFF, who was re-
ceived in the most enthusiastic manner, in accept-
ing the statue on the part of the town, said-
-In the name and on behalf of the corporation of
Birmingham, I have much gratification in accept-
ing, as the property of the town, this statue of Mr.
Thomas Attwood, which has, by his friends and
fellow-townsmen, been raised in honour of his
memory, and to perpetuate the remembrance of his
public services. (Cheers.) For more than one
reason I rejoice that the corporation is called upon to
become the custodians of this statue. I look
upon the custom of erecting such monuments
as the most fitting mode in which a great com-
munity can commemorate those of its citizens
who have raised themselves to :national eminence,
and I consider such means of perpetuating the
memory of so great a citizen an honour to my
fellow-townsmen. (Cheers.) As years pass on
this statue will be marked by future generations as
an honet tribute to the founder of the great poli-
tical nnion. By placing in our streets, in constant
sight of our population, memorials of those who
have conferred honour on the town, or who have
rendered important services to their country, we
excite a proper emulation, and cultivate a kindred
spirit. In honourinc, those who have departed
from amongst us we honour6 ourselves, and do much
to promote our noblest, highest, and most cherished
interests. (Loud applause.) In such a commemo-
ration as this, political differences should have no
place, and therefore I accept this statue of Mr.
Attwood as a memorial of one whose life was
devoted to the advancement of what he felt to be
important principles, and who always zealously
laboured for the benefit of this town. His memory
will be long cherished—his deeds were not for the
gratification of ambition. He laboured for the coun-
try at large ; and you, my fellow-citizens, acknow-
ledge his disinterestedness by the erection of this
statue. On another ground lam glad to have this duty
imposed upon me. Until within these last few
years no large town in the kingdom was more
destitute of public ornaments than Birmingham,
but we have now to some extent rid ourselves of
this reproach, and I trust it will not be long hence
before one or other of my successors will be called
upon to take part in proceedings of a similar nature
to those on which we are engaged to-day. As to
the admirable work of art which you have
now entrusted to me, as the representative of
the burgesses, I can promise that it shall be scrupu-
lously cared for and protected as a public trust,
and I hope that every inhabitant will feel that it is
his individual duty to preserve both this and every
other national monument from injury or defacement.
Thanking the subscribers for their public spirit,
and the committee for their zealous labour, I accept,
in the name of the borough of Birmingham, this
statue of one amongst the many eminent and
patriotic of her sons. (Cheers.)
Mr. EDMONDS bore his testimony to the fidelity
with which the sculptor, Mr. Thomas, had executed
his task, and proposed a round of three times three
to his honour.
The multitude cheered most lustily, Mr. Thomas,
who stood at the base of the statue, bowing his
acknowledgments.
Several other speeches followed, at the termina-
tion of which a hearty vote of thanks was given to
Sir John Ratcliff for his kindness in presiding, and
the admirable manner in which he had conducted
the proceedings.
On the invitation of Messrs. Branson and Gwy-
ther, who had had charge of the erection of the
statue, the Mayor and some thirty or forty other
gentlemen afterwards partook of an elegant lun-
cheon at the Queen's Hotel.

THE REGENERATION OF ITALY.

ITALIA.-0, Si to fosse men' bells,
0, pin forte.—Filaraja.

I had a Vision I Italy
Rose, like a spectre, on my eye !
No more the form, whose accents fell
On nations, like a sudden spell:
With witching glance, and lip of smiles,
And heart of more than human wiles,
And jewelled brow, and airy robe,
The soft enchantress of the Globe
There stood a form, with anguish bowed,
A captive, all her robe a shroud.
And yet the glance of shame and ire
Showed in her soul its ancient fire ;
And stern the voice, though sad and slow,
That told her tale of more than woe
" Why was I cursed (the Phantom cried),
To be the toy of homicide!
To be the prize and prey of things,
In God and Nature's wrath, made kings
Why, framed with thoughts not born to die,
The trembler at a tyrant's eye ;
With pantings for immortal fame,
Yet still the sword's ignoble game;
With hand to do, and heart to feel,
Still crushed beneath a robber's heel;
Still bearing on my burning brain
Earth's deepest brand, a stranger's chain:
Alternate serf of Gaul and Hun,
Of both the scorn—by both undone

" Was it, my soul to tantalise,
That Tnunr first woke my slumbering eyes,
When, pilgrim-like, from climes afar,
Glowed on my night the Gospel star I
And shouts of joy, from hill and dale,
Bade the new-risen Glory hail.
And never purer prayer was given,
Than from my Alpine roofs to Heaven.
Till swept the storm of fire and gore,
And Night and Slumber fell once more.
" Why, Nature I has thy pencil dyed
In purple pomp my mountain's side,
Gilded my Alp, and Apennine,
With the strong splendours of the mine ;
Embathed in light the marble bay,
The forest dell, the castle gray :
O'er all, the spell of beauty cast,
To be a dungeon at the last H
Man, from the cradle to the grave,
The worst of slaves, a willing slave !

" Yet, brighter than my Morn and Eve n,
Inlay of all the hues of Heaven ;
And lovelier than my waters blue,
And fresher than my vales of dew,
And softer than the airs that rise,
Earth's evening incense to the skies
And holier than the moonlight's sleek/
On sainted pile, or haunted steep; •
Heaven's first, best gift, its last resigned,
I mourn my POETRY of mind
No Dante pours the burning tear;
No Tasso summons Earth to hear;
No Ariosto strikes the string,
By forest shade or fairy spring ;
No Petrarch sees the visions gleam,
By Arno's laurel-bowered stream ;
Or bids again the roses bloom,
In homage o'er my "Virgil's tomb ;
No Bard of fire to burst the chain !
The pangs of ages, all in vain,
My long and lingering Destiny,
In shame to live, in shame to die I
All silent, sunk in woe, or fear,
My very soul—a sepulchre I
" But, is there not a ' Coming Time 1'
Nobler than Nature in its prime,
When man shall trample man no more,
No diadem be dipt in gore ;
When all shall see the Promised Sign,'
The Idol shattered, with his shrine ?
Vanished from Earth War's Demon-horde,
Undone the Kingdom of the Sword;'
Sorrow, and Sin, and Shame'unknown,
One Gou, one KING, one FAITH, one THRONE I"
June 6, 1859. G. CROLY, LL.D.

AccOrding to the Post-office notice issued yester-
day ship mails will be made up in the General Post-office
for Cape Palmas, Bonny, Old Calabar, and Cameroons, to
be sent by the steamer Hope, which leaves Liverpool, on
the 11th inst. ; for Gibraltar. Genoa, and Leghorn, to be
sent by the steamer Corinthian, which leaves on the 15th
inst. ; and for :Jporto, to be sent by the steamer Minho,
which also leaves on the 15th inst.
It appears that the Austrian Government, by way
of consoling itself for the feilure of its last London loan,
has taken from the National Bank a large advance in specie,
"on account of that part of the loan which was not taken."
If this information is to be understood literally, the
" advance must be to rather a large amount.
Though the Prince of Wales has left Italy, there
is no expectation of his immediate return ; indeed it is more
than likely that the young Prince will remain abroad until
the full extent of the time originally appointed for his tra-
vels, though, of course, the direction has been considerably
altered.--Court Journal.

LATEST NEWS.

THE WAR IN ITALY.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office:—
TURIN, JUNE 8, 10 10 r.m.
OFFICIAL BULLETIN.

King Victor Emmanuel and the Emperor of the
French entered Milan at 8 o'clock this morning
amid the warm and enthusiastic greetings of the
populace.

BERNE, JUNE 9.

Private letters assert that the French suffered
serious loss at Magenta, especially among the
superior officers.

The same source says that the Austrians made
many prisoners.

VIENNA, JUNE 9.

The official Austrian Correspondance states that,
according to reliable information, Field-Marshal
Urban has successfully effected a retreat with his
troops by Cassano.

PARIS, JUNE 8.
The following official message has been posted
up in the Bourse :--
MILAN, WEDNESDAY, 8 A.M.

The Emperor and the King have just entered
Milan. Their reception was magnificent and full
of enthusiasm.

TURIN, JUNE 8.

OFFICIAL BULLETIN.

The Sardinian headquarters were removed yes-
terday to Cainate. The King was to enter Milan
to-day.
At six o'clock yesterday evening the enemy
evacuated Pavia, after having spiked their guns
and thrown their ammunition into the water.

The corps d'arnzee under Gen. Schwarzenberg
has left Pavia, and taken the direction of Belgiojoso.
The Te Deunz has been sung in the churches of
Turin to-day, and the town has been illuminated.
TURIN, JUNE 8.