Star.
London, England, 1828-03-31 00:00:00

MONUMENT TO MR. CANNING.

Satarday a meeting of the Subscribers to this under-
taking tnet at the Thatched House Tavern, in St.
James's-street; the Earl of HARROWBY took the Chair.
The Secretary read to the Meeting the Report of the
Committee. It stated that Mr. WISTUACOTT was pro-
visionally engaged to make the designs for a colossal
statue of Mr. CANNING, twelve feet in height, with a
suitable granite pedestal, and which was to be placed
in some public situation in the metropolis. With respect
to the,lnarble statue, for which an eligible site in West-
minstir Abbey bad been pro:ured, nothing definitive
had been arranged; and before it could be finally settled,
it was necessary that all the subscriptions should be paid
in, which was not the case at present.
The Noblc CHAIRMAN then said, that the Committee
would be happy to answer any questions, if any of the
Subscribers wished.ro propose any.
Mr. STAPLETON (late private Secretary to Mr. Can-
ning) wished to ask why Mr. Westmacott bad been
appointed to execute the bronze colossal figure, and not
Mr. Chantrey ?
The Earl of. HARROWBY, in reply, stated, that there
were two reasons why Mr. Westmacott had been ap-
plied to for that purpose. The first was, that that
Gentleman was the only artist in this country who had
ritr completed any work of magnitude in that branch
of the art ; and the other, and perhaps the tenon which
operated more on the Committee was, that this colossal
statue was erected principally with the idea of perpe.
towing the nameof the great Statesman in whose honour,
it was to be erected; •while the marble figure, which
had been offered to Mr. Chantrey, was not only to con-
tinue the name of Mr. Canning as a public man, bat
likewise to give such a resemblance of his person and
features, as to bear the image and porttaiture of him to
posterity; and it was therefore most particularly the
desire of the Committee, that this figure should be un-
dertaken by Mr. Chantrey, as, not only from the bust
which he had already made of Mr. Canning, but from
his great personal knowledge of that Statesman, there
was every reason to presume that the sculptor would be
fully able to meet the wishes of the subscribers, and of
the country at large—(Applause).
Mr. STAPLETON.—May I ask you, my Lord, whether
Mr. Chantrey has not refused to execute the statue?
Such is the impression out of doors, if it is not here.
The Earl of HARROWBY said, that the question was
not yet settled. There bad certainly been some diffi
culty on the subject; but as the matter was not decided,
the Committee had avoided mentioning it in their Re-
port : and he therefore hoped, as it was likely to come
before the subscribers on a future occasion, that no
further discussion might be entered into at present, as
it might be the means of raising additional difficulties
in the way of the Committee--(Hear, bear).
Mr. STAPLETON said, that there was no desire on his
pan to prolong the discussion; but if there was any in-
tention to make an attack upon Mr. Clammy, be was
ready to defend him.
A Resolution was then unanimously carried, expres-
sive of the approbation of the Meeting in the Report of
the Committee; and thanks being voted to the Chair-
man, the assembly broke up.
Amor): those who were present we noticed—the Duke of Nor.
folk, Lord Goderich, Lord Mountcharles, the Hon. Apr Ellis,
M.P. Sir J. Mackintosh, M.P. Mr. Spring Rice, 111. P. Mr. W.
Croker, lsl. P. Stu &c.