The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-08 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION OF THE PORT-
LAND VASE.

114
1,718

312

THE ROYAL VISIT to BRIG'H`TON.

BRIGHTON, FRIDAY EVENING, HALP.PAST Six.--Th„l 1114d4)
train, conveying her Majesty and Prince Albert, and the 11070,
suite, was signalled as being in sight, on emerging :Joins
Patcham.tunnel, at fourteen minutes to five o'clock. At this dna'
a large number of Persons, who had been admitted by tickets, wetel
assembled at the terminus, and great anxiety was displayed te.
catch the first glimpse of the royal carriage. A splendid and
spacious pavilion had been fitted up on the arrivalplatform, for her
Majestyi reception, by Mr. Bridges, carriage-maker to the London
and Brighton Railway Company, under the supeiintendened of Mr.
Statham, the resident engineer. The building was solidly con-
structed ; the temporary walls were lined in a tasteful manner witb
crimson drapery, fringed with yellow. It was lighted by an elegant
bronze chandelier with three branches ; there were two splendid
glasses on the walls, and on a table were same groups of
flowers, executed in wax by the Misses Packliam, of East-street.
An escort of the Enniskillene was in waiting at the station. The
afternoon being delightfully clear and fine, the scene at the ter-
minus was most animated. Precisely at ten minutes to five the
train stopped opposite the Pavilion, over which the royal stan.
datd now waved; and her Majesty was received by Captain Kelly,
R.N., and Mr. E. Crowley (two of the Directors), and by Mr.
Statham (the engineer), and Mr. Pountain (the superintendent of
traffic). The engine was driven by Mr. Benjamin Cubitt (eagi.
neer to the Dover, Brighton. and Croydon Companies). The ar.
rival of her Majesty was greeted by several hearty rounds of
applause. Her Majesty in a few minutes left the station, and
the royal cortege, escorted by the Enniskillens, proceeded
at a foot pace down Trafalgar-street, and along St. George's-
place, Gloucester-place, Marlborough.place, to the northern
entrance to the Palace. Crowds of the inhabitants and
visitors lined the route, and bursts of loyal applause greeted her
Majesty during the whole of her progress to the Palace. Carriages
lined the road for above half a mile northward of the Palace-gate,
at which place her Ma'esty was received by Mr. G. Chittenden,
high-constable of the hundred of Whalesbone, and his head-
boroughs. The Scots Fusileers formed a guard of honour at the
Palace-gates. The moment her Majesty alighted at the station was
Indicated by, the hoisting of the royal standard at the terminus,
from which place the signal was conveyed telegraphically to the
various public buildings of thetown. A merry peal at once struck
up at the church of St, Nicholas. In the evening, her Majesty's
tradesmen and many of the inhabitants illuminated their houses.
Some of the devices were very brilliant.

THE LATE MR. STURGES BOURNE.—The deceased
was son of the Rev. John Sturges, Chancellor of Winchester.
He was born iu 1769, and married, 1808, Miss Bowles,
daughter of Mr. Oldfield Bowles, of North Ashton, Oxon:
On the death of his maternal uncle, he assumed the name of
"Bourne," in addition to his patronymic. In early life ha
was educated at Winchester College, and then graduated at
Christ Church, Oxford. lie was brought up to the bar, but
retired from the profession on the death of his uncle above
alluded to. In 1798 he was elected representative lot
Hastings. He was Joint. Secretary to the Treasury froth
1804 to 1806, under Mr. Pitt.; but, on Lord Grenville coming
to the Treasury, he went out of office. From 1807 to 1809 he
was a Lord of the Treasury in the Duke of Portland's Admi-
nistration. In August, 1814, he was appointed one of the Corn-
, mksioners for the Affairs of India, without salary, and was
I then appointed of the Privy Council. He became two years
aftirwards one of the three salaried Commissioners, and con-
tinned at the Board of Control till 1821. In 1827 he was for
a short time Secretary of State for the Home Department..
and in July, when Mr. Canning resigned, he succeeded thS.
Earl of Carlisle as Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests.
' which office he continued to hold until January, 1828. He
sat. for a period of above 30 years in the House of Commons,
having represented Hastings, Christchurch, Bandon, A5ll-
- burton, and Milbourne I'ort. On the passing of the Reform
Bill, he retired altogether from political affairs. The de-
ceased was the author of the vestry statute which bears hiss
name. " Sturges Bourne's Act." lle was Lord Warden of
the New Forest, a sort of honorary situation, which he had
held ever since 1827. Ile was also one of the principal mem-
bers of the Commission of Poor-law Inquiry, along with the
Bishops of London and Chester, and Messrs. Senior and
Chadwick. Of the merits of those Commissioners we shall
say nothing in this place.
BATHS AND WASHHOUSES TOR THE LABOURING
f
CLASSES.--Yesterday a numerous and importanto Smt.e;'tiannfraos
the clergy and influential gentry of the pariah of
for the
took place at the Vestry-rooms, Gordon-square,
,lao f
populous
sad
pose of carrying into effect the establishment
washhouses for the labouring classes p°
of
the
extensive district of the metropolis. Mr. J. Hares,
gentlemen present we observed Hampstead-road, occupiedsercedatehecßhaievr., DodsantrOurtgsth, the
e
presented, from which it ap-
iNllferv..
J.
Stebbing,Gibbons BE! Wilson, Ir.
W.
epoßueglv.a.D.tLiatirje.
pears that the least 130,000
St. was
i'a Pe
H. Smith, &c.
parish
Arisrliepoofrst
and that in consequence of a communi-
;ouls, the far greater proportion of which consists of the
calarounrihnagveitliagen
ssebesl received from the Central Society for the
Establishment of Baths and Washhouses for the Labouring
(committeehat theliadesbtaebenlishamppeonitntoedf
Classes, recommending the formation of a branch association
u at
i n
coin
nit atto paarresis 1,1)1,
baths who
hadan
d
washhouses was highly desirable for the comfort and cl •
liness as well as for the health of the labouring classes, and
they therefore cordially approve the formation of a branch
society in the parish of St. Pancras to carry out that ob-
ject." Baths and washhouses for the labouring classes had
been already established in Liverpool
and other populons
towns with most beneficial results, and there was but little
doubt they would prove equally successful in London. The
Central Society had met with very liberal support, but.
when the extent of the metropolis was considered, it was
manifest that in order to obtain for any particular district.
the advantages of such establishments, local exertions must
be made. 'Abe Committee, therefore, felt it their duty to
make an earnest appeal to the inhabitants to furnish them
with funds necessary for the erection of public baths and
washhouses on a suitable scale in one or more districts of
the parish. The report having been adopted, it was resolved
that deputations should wait on his Grace the Duke of Bed-
ford, the Marquis of Camden, Lord Southampton, Lord
Somers, and other great landed proprietors of the district, to
solicit their aid and cooperation. Committees having been
also appointed to canvass for subscriptions in the respective
districts, thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the meet-
ing separated.
THE GAME-PRESERVING MANIA.— Farmers an
at last beginning to speak out respecting the destruction
t
ru
committed upon their crops by "t and theeurplus"gdlFacera
gameLc.:
them go on in right good earrast
ed By speaking out,
preserving propensity
will
be
a —even grasping and selfish ,
they need not fear discharges
landlords will not like to have farms upon their Own . •
hands. Farmers base only
/ to act independently to riro-
tect their own
interests, not only as regards the injury
by game, but in other respects. Depend upon it they
way Wake Off their bcrudage if they wills • ,
-

Shortly before the closing of Bow-street office, a tall young
man, abiut twenty years of age, and of delicate appearance,'
was brought before Mr. Jardine, in the custody of 149 A di-
vision, and placed at the bar, charged with wilfully and ma-
licicionsly breaking the celebrated Portland Vase in the Bri-
tish Museum.
Sir. Henry Ellis, the resident librarian of the establishment,
was on the bench.
The prisoner, being placed at the bar, appeared very sullen
and reserved, and seemed regardless of! the charge preferred
against him.
Mr. Burnaby said—What is your name ? The Prisons
(in a sullen tone)—l decline to give any name or adclzess. .
Mr. Edward Hawkins, being then sworn, said,. baring
heard that the Portland Vase had been broken, and that it
visitor had come down stairs since the 'crash was heard; be
went up, and finding four or five persons in the apartment ,
he asked them what account they could give of the circum-
stance. They replied, they knew nothing of it, and comizt
to the prisoner, to whom he put the same question, he es--
plied, in the most deliberate manner, " I did it," without
giving any reason for such extraordinary conduct. Wit-
ness saw all the fragments scattered about the room, and
on looking about he found a- large sculptured stone on.,
the floor, with which the destruction appeared to have been
committed.
Mr. Jardine—Was any attendant in the room at the time!'
Mr. Hawkins—The attendants were then in a small room ad-;
joiniog the Portland-room, in which the vase was situate.
Mk. Jardine (to the prisoner)—Do you wish to say any-
thing at this stage of the inquiry respecting the charge Again a
you? The prisoner (in a faint voice)—No. , .
Mr. Jardine inquired if it was'not possible that such an lc-
currence could take place accidentally. ? Mr. Hawkins re-
plied it was quite impossible. -
Bir Henry Ellis said the blow was so severe, that the glass- -
shade by which it was covered Was totally demolished, and
thi Vase, which seemed' to have been 'stuck at the bottom..
was dashed to pieces.
Mr. Jardine, addressing the Prisoner, said—Have you any
friends in London, for it is probable I shall require you to fuid
heavy bail for the offence of which you stand charged ? The
Prisoner (in a faltering manner)—None.
Mr. Jardine—None at all? Prisoner—None
Mr. Jardine said it would be necessary to bring forward at
a future day the persons who were in the room when the oc-
currence took place.
Mr. Hawkins said he would use every exertion to bring
forward any person who could give evidence upon the
subject.
Mr. Jardine told the prisoner he need not make any state-
ment unless he wished, and as he thought proper to refuse
his name and address, or to give any account of himssif, the
inquiry should be adjourned for a few days.
The prisoner was then removed from the bar.
In the course of a few minutes the landlady of the Euro-
pean coffee-shop, in Long-acre, entered the Court, and in--
formed the magistrate that the prisoner, -whose name was
William Lloyd, came to lodge at her house about two months
back, representing he was a scene painter, connected with
Covent-garden and other theatres, and came from Dublin,
where his mother and sister resided, his father being dead.
He kept late hours, and. she had no reason to doubt his state-
ment was correct.
Mr. Jardine desired she would enter the cell and satisfy
herself she was not mistaken, and on her return she said she
had no doubt as to the prisoner's identity.
Mr. Jardine directed constable Neal, who apprehended tlfe
prisoner, to proceed to his lodgings, and bring any papers he
could find belonging to him, but nothing was found to lead to
the prisoner's name or profession.
Before the prisoner was removed in the van to Clerken-
well, his landlady had a conversation with him, and he told
her that he did not commit the offence of his own accord, but
was persuaded by two others whom he would not name, as he
did not wish to bring them into trouble.
(FROM A CORRESFONnENT.)
Just as this national institution was about closing yester-
day afternoon, a miscreant seized a piece of granite from
one of the shelves, and dashed it against the case containing
the Barberini Vase, better known as the Portland, from
its having been purchased by the Duke of Portland for the
sum of 2,000 guineas. It was deposited by his Grace in the
British Museum for security, as well as to gratify the public
with a splendid example of ancient art. The vase has been
dashed into a thousand atoms, almost defying the possibility
of restoration.
The Portland Vase was discovered about the middle of the
sixteenth century, enclosed in a sarcophagus, within the
monument of the Emperor Alexander Severus and his Mother,
Julia Mamma, commonly called the Monte del Grano,
about two miles and a half from Rome, on the Frascati road.
The sarcophagus itself still remains in Rome, and the vase
also remained for more than two centuries in the Palace of
the Barberini family, in the same city, of which it was the
chief ornament. It was ultimately possessed by Sir William.'
Hamilton, who about fifty years since sold it to the Dnke of
Portland. It is undoubtedly the work of Grecian genius,
and was, up to its destruction, as perfect as when it left the
hands of its fabricator. Its dimensions were small, being;
only ten inches high; its diameter, at the broadest part, only
six inches. The shape was elegant. The material is a dark
but transparent blue substance, undoubtedly a vitrified paste
or glass. Upon this the figures, formed of a delicate opaque
white substance, are laid in bas-relief, and so firmly united
to the groundwork, that they seem rather to be part of itself
than to be fastened on by art.
Of the scene represented, no satisfactory explanation has
yet been given ; but we may say, in general, that the figures
are fashioned with admirable grace and animation, and are
full of expression in every look and attitude. Every lover of
ancient and classic art must regret the destruction of this
splendid example.