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NOTES AND QUERIES.

[12 8. IV. DEC, 1918,

of Carrara marble, the former being cut out of a block weighing 12 tons. The base is of Aberdeen granite, the total height of the structure being about 17 ft.

Sir James- Shaw was born at Mosshead, near Kilmarnock, in 1764, and died Oct. 22, 1843. I am informed by a correspondent that he signalized his mayoralty " by successfully vindicating the right of the Lord Mayor of London, in virtue of his office, to take precedence in the City of all save the Sovereign at all public processions. He estab- lished this claim, and made use of this privilege, at the funeral of Lord Nelson in January, 1806. At that funeral procession he took precedence of the Prince of Wales and his brothers, but cour- teously gave way to His Royal Highness on entering St. Paul's."

DR. JOHN SINCUVIK.

Dumfries. In the vestibule of the Ob- servatory are placed two realistic pieces of sculpture one representing Scott's " Old Mortality " (Robert Paterson) with mallet and chisel engaged in his beneficent work of restoring the inscription of a Cove- nanter's tombstone ; the other being his ancient pony both faithfully depicted in accordance with the minute description given in the " Preliminary " chapter to the novel.

On the wall close by are two tablets bearing the following inscriptions :

(1) In Memory of John Sinclair, M.D.,

Assistant Surgeon, R.N., Born at Dumfries 6th April,

MDCCCXIV.

Died at Titchfield,

Hampshire, 26th October,

MDCCCXL.

(2) The Sculptures here deposited

were conceived and executed by our Native Artist,

Mr. John Currie, disposed of by Lottery 25th October, 1840, and

the prize drawn

in the name of Dr. John Sinclair, a youth beloved by all, of high promise and

superior talents.

By a mournful accident he died the following day and the figures of Old Mortality and his Pony were presented to the Dumfries and Maxwfilltown

Observatory

in fulfilment of his intentions. They are here finally placed a memorial to departed worth, a present to the

public, and a token of attachment to the place of hi* birth.

THOMAS FORD.

Tiverton. On May 16, 1908, Mr Thomas Ford publicly presented to the town a clock-tower he had erected on Lowman Green at a cost of over 1,OOOZ. At the

inauguration he was presented with a silver key by the Corporation, inscribed " Ford Clock Tower, May 16th, 1908." The site on which the tower stands was also presented by Mr. Ford, who is a native of the town.

The tower is 50 ft. high, triangular in plan, and built of Bath stone relieved with blue limestone. The three sides are flanked with buttresses, terminating in life-size figures of Faith, Hope, and Charity. These figures were modelled in the studios of Messrs. Harry Hems & Sons, Exeter, under Mr. Ford's personal supervision. The central shaft is pierced with double lancet windows, over which are the illuminated clock-faces, surmounted by an open lantern- gallery terminating in a ball and weather- vane. The tower is entered by a pointed doorway, and in its lower stage are traceried windows containing coloured glass. The- base consists of circular steps protected by ornamental iron pillars connected by chains..

JOSEPH BROTHERTON.

Salford. -Mr. Brotherton was the first representative of Salford in Parliament,, and died suddenly on Jan. 7, 1857. On. Aug. 5, 1858, a bronze statue to his memory was inaugurated in Peel Park. It is the work of Matthew Noble, and stands in a prominent position near the entrance to> the park. The pedestal bears the following inscriptions :

(Front) Joseph Brotherton, the first and for upwards of twenty-four successive years (from 1832 to 1857) the faithful representative of the Borough of Salford in the House of Commons. Born May 22nd, 1783 : Died January 7th, 1867^

(West side) My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.

(East side) Erected by Public Subscription,. A.D. 1858.

About the same time a richly canopied tomb, in Mansfield limestone, was erected over his grave in the cemetery, Regent Road. It was designed by Messrs. Holme & Walker of Manchester. A life-size marble bust was also placed in Manchester Town Hall.

LIEUT. DOLBEN.

Finedon, Northamptonshire. A pictu- resque and ornate building known as the Volta Tower was erected on the Finedon Hall estate in the early sixties. Mr. "Wm. Harcourt Isham Mackworth Dolben, an architect of repute, designed it as a memorial of his eldest son Lieut. Mackworth Dolben who was drowned. in crossing the bar at Lagos, West Africa, in 1863. It was named the Volta Tower because the young"