390 REFORM MONUMENT. 



The statement of the President of the Royal Society, 

 that the power of the Watt engine had been trebled by 

 Trevithick, brought him no gain. 



He never troubled himself with politics, but the 

 passing of the Reform Bill caused him to suggest 

 that it should be commemorated by a pillar higher than 

 had ever before been erected. The following memo- 

 randum is in his own writing : 



'"'Morning Herald,' July llth, 1832. 



"National Monument in honour of Reform. The great mea- 

 sure of Reform having become the law of the land, it is proposed 

 to commemorate the event by the erection of a stupendous 

 column, exceeding in dimensions Cleopatra's Needle, or Pornpey's 

 Pillar, and symbolical of the beauty, strength, and unaffected 

 grandeur of the British Constitution. 



" In furtherance of this great object, a public meeting is 

 proposed to be held, of which due notice will bo given, to set 

 on foot a subscription throughout the United Kingdoms, limiting 

 individual contributions to two guineas, but receiving the 

 smallest sums in aid of the design. 



" The following noblemen and gentlemen have signified their 

 approbation of the measure: His Grace the Duke of Norfolk, 

 of Somerset, of Bedford ; the Eight Honourable Earl of Morley, 

 of Shrewsbury, of Darlington ; Lord Stafford ; Sir Francis 

 Burdett, M.P. ; Joseph Hume, M.P ; R. H. Howard, M.P. : 

 Win. Brougham, M.P. ; J. E. Denison, M.P ; A. W. Eobarts, M.P. ; 

 J. Easthope, M.P. ; General Palmer, M.P." 



" Design and specification for erecting a gilded conical cast- 

 iron monument. Scale, 40 feet to the inch of 1000 feet in 

 height, 100 feet diameter at the base, and 12 feet diameter at 

 the top; 2 inches thick, in 1500 pieces of 10 feet square, with 

 an opening in the centre of each piece 6 feet diameter, also in 

 each corner of 18 inches diameter, for the purpose of lessening 

 the resistance of the wind, and lightening the structure ; with 

 flanges on every edge on their inside to screw them together ; 



