The times., 1898-12-12
THE PITT STATUE.
Prof. Dfcey's Plan to Place a Head
on the Enigy.

on the EfiEy.
New York. Dec. 11.-Over the shattered
and decapltated statue of William Pitt.
now In New York museum Prof Djcev
Of Oxford University. proposes that the
ties between this country and England be
more closely bound. The eminent pro-
fessor of English law often spoken of as
the successor of Blackstone made the sua-
gestion last Wednesday night in the
course of lecture delivered before the
students of Columbia University. He was
speaking upon English Law and Public
Opinion
In the course of his address he paid a
tribute to William Pitt. afterward the
Earl of Chatham He eulogis.sd MIN as
Engands greatest prime minister. and
then reminded his audience of he debt
which the United States owed TO the great
premier. William Pitt vigorously cham
pioned the cause of the colonists III their
| contention that taxation without reprs-
| sentation was unjust. and practically
caused the repeal of the stamp act. which
was especially obnoxious to our fore
bears.
History tells that upon this action. in
i'es. bells were rung and there was great
rejoicing. In the colonies of New York
ana South Carolina 1t WAS PROPOSED 10
erect statues TO the great premier Large
popular subscriptions were made and the
order for the statues was given to one
Wilton. British sculptor. The TWO
, statues. one replica of the other. were
brought to this country in 1863. The New
York statue was erected at the northeast
corner of William and Wall streets in
I77e
Then. six years later. came the AmerI.
can Revolution The leaden statue OF
| George III, In Bowling Green, was coz
! verted into hostile pellets. The British
took charge of affairs here In MS and re-
mained until 17s3. when they p oviGei
New York with day for feasting AMI
celebration. which has always been Ie-
/ ligiously observed
While they were here soldiers remove
| the head of the statue of William Pitt
Prof Dicey says he Is certain that Hes
! slams did it. The head was seen several
years afterward in the Bue Bell Tavern,
1 up kingsbridge way, where 1t locke q
down serenely upon rosy faced persons
who drank ale from pewter mugs and
smoked long clay pipes.
Members of the New York Historical
! Society have been hunting for that head
| in the last Quarter of a century. fO- IL
disappeared from the Blue Bell Tavern
Prof. Dicey proposes that the American
peo'1ls get another head for their status.
OF William Pitt. and also give HIM arms
for his sides. The New York Histori al
Society proposed that the restoration be
made many years ago. but no one eve
offered to furnish the money.
Prof Dicey. however. thinks that the
restoration would be a graceful act on
I the part of the American people, and
would tend to cement the bond of union
! between Great Britain and America
Ii would be comparatively easy to fol-
low out the professors suggestion. All
that is needed is money and no very
large amount. The old statue is in the
basement OF the building of the New
York Historical Society, in Second Ave
nue.. near Eighth Street
1t is of marble and of heroic size. The
head and neck are entirely missing The
figure is draped, leaning against part OF
I a tree trunk Chances of war~caused
the earl to lay down his arms. so that
the statue has the look of a Winged Vic
( tory without the wings.
To effect the restoration il would b.
necessary to send the artist to Charles
ton, $. C., where the duplicate is intact
with the exception of the left arm The
English besieged Charleston in 1TS0. and
William Pitts statue had a narrow es-
cape. Ii may have been result of the
antipathy of British cannon balls toward
the friend of the colonies. The head of
the old statue in the South Is perfect
There are old prints in existence which
show the trend of that missing arm.
Charleston removed her Pitt statue 70
one of her parks few years ago There
might be room in one of the parks of
this city for the restored statue of him
who died as the Earl of Chatham
Prof. Dicey said that he had long had
the plan for the restoration in mind. He
sailed yesterday for England.