Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 5.djvu/83

 us. V.JAN. 27, 1912.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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poet bareheaded, with a plaid thrown over his shoulder. His right hand grasps a Scotch bonnet, and he carries a wee mountain daisy in his left. The figure is about 11 ft. high, and with the pedestal rises to a height of 23 ft,

Kilrnarnoek. The Burns monument in Kay Park consists of a temple surmounted by a tower rising to a height of 80 ft. It was erected from designs by Railton in 1879. Within the arched entrance stands a white marble statue of Burns by Stevenson. The interior is fitted up as a museum, and contains, inter alia, a complete set of editions of Burns' s works.

Dundee. In front of the Albert Institute is a statue of Burns by Sir John Steell. It is a replica of that at New York.

Particulars are desired of Burns statues at Glasgow, Perth, Alloway, and elsewhere.

Edinburgh. The magnificent Scott me- morial is erected in East Prince's Street Gardens. It was designed by the ill-fated George Mickle Kemp, a young, self-taught artist, who was accidentally drowned before its completion. It cost 15,650Z., and consists of a cruciform Gothic spire, rising to a height of 200 ft. from four basement arches supported by clustered columns. In the centre space stands the grey Carrara - marble statue of Scott, represented seated, clad in a shep- herd's plaid, with his favourite hound Maida lying at his feet. It is the work of Sir John Steell, and cost an additional 2,000/. The design is further enriched with statu- ettes of the principal characters in Scott's works. The foundation stone was laid on 15 Aug., 1840, and the memorial was publicly inavigurated on its completion in August, 1846. In the foundation, on a brass plate, was deposited the following inscrip- tion, composed by Lord Jeffrey :

" This Graven Plate deposited in the base of a votive building on the fifteenth day of August in the year of Christ 1840, and never likely to see the light again till all the surrounding structures are crumbled to dust by the decay of time, or by human or elemental violence, may then testify to a distant posterity, that his country- men began on that day to raise an effigy and architectural monument to the memory of Sir Walter Scott, Bart., whose admirable writings were then allowed to have given more delight and suggested better feeling to a larger class of readers in every rank of society than those of any other author, with the exception of Shakespeare alone, and which were therefore thought likely to be remembered long after this act of gratitude on the part of the first generation of his admirers should be forgotten. He was born at Edin- burgh 15th August, 1771, and died at Abbots- ford 21st September, 1832."

A medallion marks the site of the house in College Wynd where Scott was born.

Selkirk. A statue of Sir Walter Scott was erected in the Market Square in 1839, being placed in position on his birthday (15 Aug.). It is the work of Alexander H. Ritchie of Musselburgh, and represents Sir Walter in the costume of Sheriff of the county, with a roll of papers in his left hand, and his right hand resting on his staff. The pedestal is enriched with his arms and the arms of the burgh, and there are also emble- matic allusions to the characteristics of the poet and novelist a Scotch thistle, and a winged harp with the word " Waverley " below it. In front, beneath the statue, is the following inscription :

" Erected in August, 1839, in proud and affectionate remembrance of Sir Walter Scott> Bart., Sheriff of this County from 1800 to 1832. By Yarrow's stream still let me stray, Though none should guide my weary way ; Still feel the breeze down Ettrick break, Though it should chill my withered cheek.'*

Horsmonden, Kent. Here was erected in 1856 by the then rector of Horsmonden, the Rev. Sir W. M. Smith-Marriott, Bart., a memorial to Sir Walter Scott. It consists of two circular towers conjoined, and standing within a grove of stately pines on the highest ground in the parish. One of the towers contains two rooms, in which are arranged a collection of Scott's works and many relics, while the walls are covered with sketches of heroes and heroines immor- talized in his writings. There is also a bust of Sir Walter, and beneath it is inscribed the following poetic tribute :

Humble Bard, this proves at least my claims To linger raptured o'er thy thrilling strains. To thee he builds this tower, though thy name Will long survive the builder and the fane.

As the visitor enters the tower, the follow- ing lines arrest the eye :

Turn from this tower if you come to scoff it, Or deem him fool who does not build for profit.

The other tower is fitted with a circular staircase leading to the summit, from which a fine view may be obtained.

Glasgow. In the centre of George Square stands a fluted Doric column to the memory of Scott. It is 80 ft. high, and at the summit is placed his statue by Ritchie. It was the first memorial erected to him in Scotland.

I shall be pleased to obtain particulars of Scott's monuments at Perth and elsewhere.

JOHN T. PAGE.

Long Itchington, Warwickshire.

( To be continued. )