THE ALBERT MEMORIAL.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 603, 25 May 1876, Page 4

THE ALBERT MEMORIAL.

; (Times, March 12.) The wooden house' that has so long stood beneath the canopy of the Albert Memorial at South Kensington was finally removed on Thursday, and the colossal ctatue of the Prince Consort was disclosed to view. The Prince is represented seated, dressed in tbe robes of the Order of the Garter, and bareheaded. His right hand grasps a book, on the cover of which is inscribed, " Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations," and his left hand rests on his left thigh. The face is turned towards the Albert Hall, and the body is slightly stooping forwards, in an attitude of attention, such as that of the president of an assembly when listening to a speaker. The whole of the figure is gilded. So, 100, are the chair and plinth on which it is placed, and they rest upon a stone sarcophagus, the sides of which are divided into panels, and enriched with armorial bearings and the insignia of knightly orders. At present, while the brightness and glitter of the gilding are fresh from the hands of the workmen, the features of the statue are to a great extent concealed by the light which is reflected from them; but this effect will probably be only temporary, or will at leaßt be much diminished as the surface becomes mellowed by time and atmospheric action, and is thus brought into more complete harmony with its surrouudings. Of the canopy itself, supported by clustered columns of polished granite decorated with gilding and mosaics, surmounted by gilded angels and rich pinnacles, and surrounded by groupß of statuary, it is now superfluous to speak. It has long taken its place among the sights of London. Taken as a whole, the memorial iB a magnificent tribute from " Queen Victoria and her People" to the memory of the husband whom she has so deeply mourntd ; and although there may be differences of opinion with regard to the congruity of its component parts, there can be none, generally speaking, with regard to their individual excellence The poets, painters, architects, and sculptors, whose life-size effigies adorn the base on which the sarcophagus rests, comprise within their goodly company the greatest names of all nations and of all periods of time ; and they are so represented as to bring home their personality in the most striking and effective manner. The corner groups, whether the larger ones emblematic of tbe great divisions of the globe, or the smaller ones emblematic of arts and sciences, are all of a bigh order of merit; and thay lead the eyes of the spectator easily to the central figure and the gorgeous covering of coloured stones and of gold by which it is surmounted. Perhaps the best view of the memorial is to be obtained from the terrace over the principal entrance to the Albert Hall, for it is more natural to look somewhat down towards a seated figure, even though it be colossal, than to gaze up at it from below, and the latter aspect brings the knees, and the lower limbs generally, into somewhat undue prominence, as compared with the torso and the head. The uncovering of the central figure was not attended by any public ceremonial ; but on Thursday afternoon her Majesty, as she drove past on her way to Paddington, stopped to see the final result of the work, and even yesterday, notwithstanding the thick falling snow and rain, there were numerous spectators within the railings, or seeking at greater distances to obtain the most advantageous points of view. When the first gloss of newness has somewhat departed from the principal figure, and especially when si.mmer brings a background of fol : age, and sunshine to develope and exhibit colour, the Albert Memorial will for the first time be seen under conditions whioh will display its manifold splendours to full advantage.

The testimonial to the famous Channel swimmer, Captain Webb, amounts to £3OOO, but in addition several separate sums were presented to him personally. At a society (?) party in Bernville, Pa., a few nights ago, a young lady present, glancing at a looking-glass, discovered that somebody had marked her face with lampblack. This so enraged her that she planted her fist on the mouth of an innocent young man who happened to stand near her, and he returned the compliment. In her wild rage and weeping condition, and with her blackened face, she looked horrible in the extreme. She soon laid the young man out "pretty Hat," and then seizing the poker, she went at the i est of the company. In less than two minutes she had everybody (t\v enty in all) piled up in a corner. Then she quietly put on her hat and shawl, and walked off home.