The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-10-27 00:00:00

THE NEW CROWN PIECES.

MR. Eorroß,-1 cannot, as an Englishman, feel
satisfied with the audacity of the F.reign Artist, or
with the Anti-English spirit of the Master of the
Mint, in suffering the name of a foreigner to thus
,publicly accompany oor most noble piece of coin, the
Crown Piece; and thus perpetuating one of two
thing;, either that there was not an English Artist to
be found equal to the task, or that the predilection
in the Government of the country, fur every thing

foreign, so far prevailed, as to keep natise genius
in the back grow), whilst it blazoned forth its
foreign predilectious.. Sir, I am the last in the
world to decry merit; let it he found in a fo-
reigner or an Englishman. 1 glory in the spirit of
this ceuntry, which holds out the fostering haiid to
genius even in foreigners; may such a spirit siever
he *sitting in this country ! but is there an English.
man in esisteoce, passessieg a spark of British
fire, but burns with indignation, flirt a Fttreiglier
(however high his merits) should hate his 'tante
handed down to posterity on the coin of these
realms ? As 1 hate before observed, the measures
of the Government, in the main, I most cordially
approve; but, Sir, 1 do hope, such a spirit of
indignation will be called forth throughout the
country, at this slizht which is cast on British genius,
as to oblige at least, the name of the artist II) he
taken from our Princely Coin. It, Sir, we have no
Englishman whose genius is equal to it, let it not be
proclaimed to the latest posterity—let us not he dis-
graced thus by our own coiu—hut, Sir, we have ar-
tists equal to it. Let, Sir. the .Siiver Medal Which
was struck at the Soho, Birmingat:oi, for the Jubi
lee, speak. Let our Copper Coinage speak. 1 pre-
sume these were done by native artists; and, Str,if
they were nov—if we have not an artist, capable of
executing the Coin of the country, 1 protest, as no
1 would rather see my country's naked.
ness proclaimed by its own acts, than it should be in
the way it wig now be done, if our new Crown
Pieces are to remain as they Ito—whit Possible
excuse will be found for this, 1 really ant et a
loss to guess. 1 have heard it said, our coin
should correspeud in the brilliatice of its exert,-
lion, with our other brilliant conduct at this!
*pitch. I adebit it should do so:- hot are we in.
delved 10 fotergoors fir the other parts cf our Nil-
Haney ? It we are, let us give over talking of ie.
and will it add to our fame. that we are indebted toll
foreitto artist, forttis esc.llence of our cola 2.-
any-credit to us? It it is. I must cooffu...l tuotwasaral
in what. I maintain, Sir, it is our diveruce, and *hall
is st OW, we consent to !writhe the perpouvor4 of it!
It is no indelible stigma upon evert Etiglan artist,suit
the English Government, to cetivait to he the propa-
gators of it. In passing Toner hill, I look at the
!Shot with pleasure, that the country a buildiug
for such a purpose, corresponding with her gloat.
ness ; but, oh, how is my ride (and is it not a com-
mendable pride ?) mortified at the reflection, that it
contains not an Englishman (patine,' to undertake
its principal operation know not, Sit, how your
Readers feel, but 1 feel my blood flu* ten times
mote rapidly through my veins than ever, at such a
reflection. I will not enter into the merits of the
execution, fur I am no judo of it ; but this 1 think,
according to my coarse way of looking at it, eacopt
the edge, it is mean, compared with our old crowns;
there may be some titre touches of art, which mine
but .4 cninicisseut could find out, anti that with a
ma4nifying-glass ; hut really, Sir, for boldness of
design, and for ti commanding appearance, fur some-
thing grand, which at once delights and astonishes
my dull eye., and want of tote, 1 would prefer the
old ones. I•:etiaint OW the horse, flying liver the
Dragon, might have something to an Italian in the
idea, very sublime; but 1 must be allowed to say,
the licitannia on a Penny. Piece, with our sea.girt
shore, and the British [(earl of Otk in the dist:tote,
has charms for au Englishman of the present tley, far
surtrissisig,any that the confused and sen%eless tradi-
tion, and in my opinion. no less confused execution
of George and the Dragon can call forth. Sir,
should like to he informed by some of those who are
able, wherein it is that our l'ent,y-Piece does slot far
'zeel this highly extolled New Crown, except Cie
edge; and to an Ettgtishmato, the one proclaims
his
glory, the other his oisgrace.-1 hope, Sir, you will
admit these few loose hints from one Who cot t linty.
MLANSIVLLL.

NIAGARA FALL4.—Judge Voavra bits las • a
contract, says an American Paper, to ereet spe a-
nent bridge from the American shore to Goat is 'ld,
to enable travellers to view the Falls, without doss-
ing over to the Cans& 'shore; and that Colonel
P. WHITNEY is Conitrocting a flight of stairs, per-
fectly safe and commodious, so thefts fatuity Lollies
can descend 200 feet from the precipice, and reach
the foot of the Falls with Palle and safety, where a
boat is kept to cross the Niagara.
MACREADY, the father of the performer of that
,dame at. Covent•garden, took his farewel benefit.
last week, at the Newcastle Theatre, the receipts of
which, on that evening, exceeded one hundred and
twen►y pounds.
The Comedy of the Green Man has been success-
fully got up at the Liverpool Theatre, under the di-
rection of Dowrou, who plays the Green Man
himself.
A Gentleman named Mearde, who had been spend-
ing the evening with a party of friends in Great
Marlborough.street, on Sunday evening, was return-
ing home through Portman-square, when he was as-
sailed by three ruffians, who knocked him down and
robbed him of his watchi three pouuds, sad some
silver.