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Rh and London Poor," was by the side of Cruikshank. The Hon. Mrs. Milnes sat near Eliza Cook. As the ceremony was about to commence, a short, stout man, with dark complexion, and black hair, took his stand on a tomb near by; this was R. Monckton Milnes, Esq., author of "Poetry for the People," and M.P. for Pontefract. He was the orator of the occasion.

The monument, which has been ably executed by Mr. Matthew Noble, consists of a bronze bust of the poet elevated on a pedestal of highly-polished red granite, the whole being twelve feet high. In front of the bust are placed wreaths in bronze, formed of the laurel, the myrtle, and the immortelle; and on a slab beneath the bust appears that well-known line of the poet, which he desired should be used as his epitaph:

Upon the front of the pedestal is carved this inscription:

"In memory of Thomas Hood, born 23d May, 1798; died 3d May, 1845. Erected by public subscription, 1854."

At the base of the pedestal a lyre and comic mask in bronze are thrown together, suggesting the mingled character of Hood's writings; whilst on the sides of the pedestal are bronze medallions illustrating the poems of "The Bridge of Sighs" and "The Dream of Eugene Aram." The whole design is worthy of the poet and the sculptor, and it is much to the honor of the latter 24