The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-21 00:00:00

issue.

In less than three years there will have arrived
the Three hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of
our immortal SHAKSPERE. In anticipation of this
memorable epoch in the history of England's, of
the World's Literature—a subscription is already
being set on foot with a view to the inauguration
of a National Monument upon that day, namely,
upon the 23d of April, 1864, in honour of THE
IMMORTAL BARD ! What a designation for a
Poet to have won, but yet it is indubitably SHAK-
SPERE'S distinctive appellation—The Immortal
Bard ! A monument like this is not called for in
any way, of course, by his Fame, but simply by our
Gratitude. The imperishable glory of SHAKSPERE'S
genius is independent of all such efforts
in the way of its commemoration. And in effect,
if any visible monument were needed by him here
in England, it would be found already conspicuously
placed among the white-cliffs of his loved and
honoured Fatherland, For there, upon the very
threshold of England, as the European traveller
comes across the Channel to this famous island,
does he not note yonder, close to the seaport of
Dover, in attestation-of the Glory, and in reminder
of the Genius of WILLIAM SHAKSPERE, that a few
exquisite lines occurring incidentally in one of his
great dramas, has associated his name directly and
for ever with one of the most picturesque and
beautiful among the wave-washed cliffs of
Old England ? SHAKSPERE'S Cliff! That is
the noblest and grandest of all the material
monuments of his Fame and of his Genius.
And it is a monument of his Fame and Genius
carved out by his own potent hand—with a few
strokes from his wondrous pen. Yet viewing the
notion of another and, strictly speaking, National
Monument to SHAKSPERE, here in England, view-
ing that suggestion simply through the medium of
our general gratitude—it appears a happy thought,
and one in every way most reasonable, that a
Monument of that character should be inaugurated
upon the 300th anniversary of SHAKSPERE'S Birth.
So happy a thought is it, that we wish it heartily
success. And if we might give one suggestion to
the projectors of the scheme, we should be tempted
to propose that SHAKSPERE'S monument (of course
to be erected here in London) should, upon a yet
grander scale be raised somewhat upon the same
plan as that visible in Edinburgh, in the lofty and
ornate and exquisitely beautiful Scott Monument.
Here is the circular—a copy of which has just
been sent us—defining in a few words the scheme
of this alluring enterprise :

1, Bryanston•street, Portman-square, W.,
May 15th, 1861.
" SIIAKSPEEE MONUMENT."

Sir,—April 23d, 1864, will be the 300th anniversary of the
birth of the immortal Shakspere, and it has been deter-
mined to inaugurate, on that day, a National Monument to
him—one worthy his great fame and his country's appre-
ciation of his pre-eminent genius. I shall be happy to
know if I may have the honour of your name and influence
in support of this movement. The maximum subscription
proposed is fire guineas, the minimum one penny, so that
all classes may combine in erecting the nation's tribute to
our greatest poet—already too long neglected.—l am, Sir,
your obedient servant,

ADOLPHUS FRANCIS.

THE BRITISH FORCES ON 7HE NORTE-
AMERICA AND WEST INDIA STATION.

It may not be uninteresting to our readers, con-
sidering the present disturbed state ot affairs in the
United States, to glance over the following list of
her Majesty's ships on the American seaboard,
which has been carefully compiled from official
sources, and comprises the number of ships, guns,
men. horse-power, tonnage, and the commanding
officer on the North America:and West India Station :