MEMOIR OF CHANTREY, THE SCULPTOR.

287

bours; and the contemplation of the divine productions of antiquity, instead of inspiring him with the conception of something truly great and English, such as Phidias would have imagined and executed had he been of London and not of Athens, might only have impressed him with the wish to steal with discernment, and have taught him to look at nature through the eyes of other men. Wishing Chantrey, therefore, to be no other than what he is, I am glad that in early life he was allowed to think for himself - draw his forms from objects in real life and his sentiment from the human heart.

In this hasty and imperfect notice, I have only glanced at some of the earlier productions of Chantrey; and it is not my intention to give a catalogue of his works, or to enter into a critical analysis of their merits; but the high character which he has imparted to some of his busts and statues, render them worthy of being particularly mentioned. The monumental groups and figures, which he has already executed, are numerous, and distinguished by fine taste and elevated feeling: they are beautiful specimens of domestic sculpture; in design, they are simple and full of pathos, and several of them may be classed amongst the most dignified works of art. His statues will secure him an abiding fame: I have, therefore, added a list of what may be considered his finest productions.

King George the Third, placed in the Common Council Room, London.

Lord President Blair, placed in the Court of Session, Edinburgh. Lord Viscount Melville, placed in the old Parliament House, Edinburgh.

Spencer Perceval, placed in Northampton Church.

Dr. James Anderson, placed at Madras.

Lady Louisa Russell, placed at Woburn Abbey.

Robert Dundas, Lord Chief Baron for Scotland.
Francis Horner, for Westminster Abbey.

James Watt, Civil Engineer.

Cyril Jackson, Dean of Christ Church, for Oxford.

Sir Joseph Banks, for the Royal Society-to be placed in the

British Museum.

Lady Liverpool.

Dr. Hey, of Leeds.

Amongst the numerous Busts executed by this distinguished sculptor, the following may be regarded as his best.

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MEMOIR OF CHANTREY, THE SCULPTOR. ·

J. Raphael Smith. John Horne Tooke. Professor Playfair. Professor Porson.-Sir Joseph Banks.- John Rennie. - James Watt.- Sir Walter Scott.- William Wordsworth. - Earl St. Vincent. Benjamin West, P. R. A. - Sir Henry Englefield. - Right Hon. George Canning. Marquis of Londonderry. His present Majesty. Duke of Wellington. Earl Spencer. Sir Charles Long. Bishop of London. Bishop of Rochester.-Bishop of Durham. Samuel Shore, Esq.

That this eminent artist should have devoted so much of his time to the execution of busts, may perhaps be regretted. There is a higher walk in sculpture, in which all the excellencies of his profession are required, and all the energies of the mightiest talent may be displayed. Here the genius of Chantrey may move amid beings of his own creation, and establish for himself a name and character not less elevated in art than Canova's. He has attained much, but more remains to be accomplished: in his busts he has given hearing and thinking, beauty and intellect, to marble; and in his statues he has clothed the human figure with grace and dignity. Let him persevere ! - our own history and native poetry abound with subjects both moving and heroic, presenting images of perpetual interest, interwoven deeply with our national pride, and inseparable from the mass of the people. These subjects are worthy of his chisel, his ambition, and his fame. Let him leave to others the gods of the heathen, and the cold mystical allegory that has too long degraded his profession, and from which, to his honour, he has been the first to depart, and create a series of poetical groups and figures, deeply imbued with sentiment and feeling, and hand down to posterity the national character of his countrymen. I am glad to be enabled to add, that such is the purpose of this celebrated sculptor.

SECTION III.

Whittington Revolution House. - Centenary Commemoration of the Revolution of 1688. The Procession Ball and Concert. -Walk from Whittington to Chesterfield. Smelting Furnaces.Local History of Chesterfield. The Church Spire. -Walk to Ashover.- Scene from Stone Edge. - Approach to Ashover. Ashover Church.- Eastwood Hall, &c.

FRO

ROM Norton we had a pleasant walk over some fields to Apperknowe Common, and from thence to Whittington. There was no passing this village without loitering a short time within it. We recognised the humble dwelling called the Revolution House, and recollected the part which the Earls of Devonshire and Danby, Sir John D'Arcy, eldest son of the Earl of Holderness, and others, are represented to have had in promoting the revolution of 1688, when the second James, by a series of years of misrule, had become obnoxious to the nation. These noble families, solicitous to put an end to his government, and establish the Prince of Orange on the throne, are reported to have held secret meetings for the purpose. Whittington, and a moor near it, were the places selected, and the Cock and Pynot, a small public-house in the village, sometimes sheltered these patriotic men on these

occasions.

On the 5th of November 1788, the centenary commemoration of the revolution was celebrated with great magnificence at Whittington, and the neighbouring town of Chesterfield. The ceremonies of the day commenced with divine service at the village church. The Rev. S. Pegge, the learned antiquary, who had that morning entered into the eighty-fifth year of his age, delivered a sermon upon the occasion, from the 118th Psalm, verse xxiv. : "This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." After service, the company paid a visit to the Revolution Parlour, and there par

290

JUBILEE AT CHESTERFIELD.

took of a cold collation which had been prepared for them in some new rooms that had just been added to the cottage. A little after mid-day the procession began to form, and move in regular order to Chesterfield. The carriages were preceded by bands of music; then followed the members of various clubs, with their wands adorned with ribbons, and their flags and different appropriate devices borne before them. The Duke of Devonshire's coach, drawn by six horses richly caparisoned, and decorated with orange trappings, accompanied by a train of attendants on horseback, was the first carriage in the procession. The carriages of the Earl of Stamford, Lord George and Lord John Cavendish, the Earl of Danby, Lord Francis Osborne, and Sir Harry Hunloke, all similarly attended, succeeded: then followed a numerous train of coaches, chaises, and gentlemen on horseback. Not fewer than five hundred persons of distinction made a part of this splendid cavalcade, which extended upwards of a mile from Whittington Bridge to the Stone Gravels, which may be said to be the entrance into Chesterfield. Upwards of forty thousand people were assembled on this occasion, and a cheerful and joyous expression sat on every face. Although November, it was a fine bright day; the banners and flags along the whole line of the procession were touched with sunbeams as they [waved and fluttered to the breeze. Costly carriages, rich liveries, and gaily caparisoned horses, gave a brilliant effect to the moving mass, which altogether presented a grand and animatedspectacle.

When the procession had arrived at Chesterfield, the company separated into parties, and dined at the principal inns. The Duke of Devonshire presided at one house, Lord George Cavendish at another, and his brother, Lord John, filled the president's chair at a third. In the evening, fire-works and transparent paintings were exhibited in the streets, and the festivities of the day closed with a ball, at which upwards of three hundred ladies and gentlemen were present; - among whom were the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Lady Elizabeth Foster, the Earl of Stamford, Lords George and John Cavendish, the Earl of Danby, and his brother, Lord Francis Osborne, Sir H. Hunloke and his Lady, Sir Francis Molineux, and many other persons of rank and distinction. The following day a public concert was given, which was splendidly and numerously attended. It consisted of appropriate selections from the works of the best masters, interspersed with

PROPOSED MEMORIAL IN HONOUR OF THE REVOLUTION. 291

songs and glees suited to the occasion; amongst which the following original ode, written by the Rev. P. Cunningham of Eyam, and set to music by Mr. Bower, then organist and musical professor at Chesterfield, was performed with distinguished and deserved applause :

ODE.

When lawless Power his iron hand,
When blinded Zeal her flaming brand,
O'er Albion's island wav'd;
Indignant Freedom wail'd the sight,
Eclips'd her sun of glory's light,
Her favourite realm enslav'd.

Distress'd she wander'd, when afar
She saw her Nassau's friendly star
Stream through the stormy air;
She call'd aloud a patriot band,
She bade them save a sinking land,
And deathless glory share.

Her cause their dauntless hearts inspir'd; ́
With ancient Roman virtue fir'd,

They plough'd the surging main;

With favouring gales from Belgia's shore,
Her heaven-directed hero bore,

And freedom crown'd his reign.

With equal warmth her spirit glows,
Though hoary Time's centennial snows
Now silver o'er her frame:

For, hark! what songs of triumph tell,
Still grateful Britons love to dwell
On William's glorious name.

During this centenary jubilee it was proposed to erect a monumental column at or near to Whittington, as a lasting memorial of those proceedings which prepared the way for the revolution of 1688. A liberal sum of money was subscribed, and a committee appointed to carry the scheme into effect, but the breaking out of the French revolution in less than twelve months afterwards, and the rapid succession of a series of appalling events, giving to the word a terrible and alarming signification, the design was abandoned, and will probably never be revived again.

On our way through Whittington we stopped at the Cock and Pynot, saw the Plotting Parlour, as it was once deno