1839.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



207 



g.allant conduct wliicli ever marked the daring career of the illustrious hero. 

 On the four projecting blocl^s of tiic J)asemcut are represented emblematical 

 figures of those virtues which Nelson is acknowledged to have possessed in 

 an iniineut degree, — Courage and Mercy, Fortitude and Justice. The whole 

 of this design, carefully executed in red aiul white gianite, can he erected for 

 the sum proposed hy the honourable conuuittee. 



Design No. 110, ff. E. Gaveij. — A partially enclose<l column, siu-mounted 

 by a statue, with a mausoleum interior; altogether forming a sculptural 

 architectivc monumental pile, commemorative of the hero. Height 170 feet. 



BencHlh the azure vault of nature's v.TSt archilrative dome, of coUossean 

 form, (visilile to myriads of lesser breathing mortals, scatlered around o'er 

 hill and dale.) stands the sculptured representative to unborn ages of the 



iierson, — the most (glorious of the grealest maritime nation's naval heroes, 

 prison, 'riie statue. «itli naval trophies, surmounts a column, around Hhich 

 twirl antagonist dolphins, emlilemHtic of sea war. 



Beneath a gallery are embodied a series of four allegoric bas-relievoes. 

 hypothetical of the hero's attributes, enterprise, valour, victory, and im- 

 ninrtality. 



Knter[iri.se. a youth of tiery mien, with heart swollen with enthusiasm, 

 over-canopied by the perils of stormy danger; he sees, throuyli the vista of 

 breaking thunder -clouds, starry rays encircling the hero's wreath of laurell'd 

 glory ; emulations incentive : with eager haste to win the prize he throws od' 

 the habiliments of inglorious inactivity, and. with heroism armed, dashes to 

 llie immortal goal, in vain withheld by the syrens, Luxury, Effeminacy, and 

 l''ear. 



Valour, with destructive weapon, rushes to the pinnacle of danger's rock, 

 followed by his brave compeers with victory's pennon streaming ; there, with 

 energy heroic, they engage with invasion's monster and its usurping legion, 

 — scattering with ifestruction the foe to oblivious death and darkness. 



Victory. — The conquering victor, lion-skin habilimented sits on the throne 

 of conquest, crowned with laurel by radiant glory and the sire renown, in 

 whose historic tome the hero's achievenient stands recorded : amid captured 

 |irizes. that lay scattered at the hero's feet, the captive leaders of the foe 

 U|ion bended knee, deliver to the conqueror their inglorious arms; whilst, 

 with so;iring lliglit aloft, on wings of swiftness, Fame with trimipet blast to 

 till' World the victor's triumph proclaims. 



Immortahty. — The hero's bust, laurel wreathed, rests on fame's pedestal in 

 glory's altar, en.shrined : lighted by the censor light of imperishable immor- 

 tality ; thus, through the darkness ot obscurity, and through all time, his 

 resplendent fame is rendered manifest to man, woman, anrl infancy; who 

 approach the altar with their choicest gifts as otierings, dedicative to the 

 hero's memcu-y ; the man with iniiilements laborial ; the woman «ith sweet 

 fruits; and infancy with lovely flowers and gentle innocence; whilst, witli 

 united voice, Europe, Asia, Africa and America, acknowledge the hero's 

 greainess. 



Descending from the allegorically idenl to the typically real, is presented 

 a second series of bas-relievoes. illustrative of the memorable events tliat 

 occurred during the hero's victorious achievements ; the battles of St. Vin- 

 cent, the Nile, Copenhagen, and Trafalgar. 



^ietv^•eell the lower bas-relievoes are placet! personifications of Genius, 

 Fame, Victory, nd the Sea. 



The structure at various parts is graced with n.aval trophies and emblema- 

 tic devices of the sea and war. 



I'roni four double (lights of steps a circular collonade is ajiproached. in 

 which arc arches; thus, tlirough Ihcir gates is viewed the interior, a mauso- 

 leum. 



Beneath fame's monumental pile, as by a nation's joint acclaim enshrined, 

 on pedestal the sculptured sea hero lies in sepulchral rest ; though mantled in 

 death's pall, he is w reathed with fame's laurel glory ; laved in the gorgeous 

 golden rays of day's eflulgent orb. or bathed in the silvery gleam of the gen- 

 tle, calm, sepulchral beams of the silent queen of night. 



Over the front .trch is placed the Nelson heraldic arms. 



.Surmounting pedestals (at the summit of four semi-flights of steps) are 

 [ilaced sculptural groups of na\al characters, engage<l in the various occupa- 

 tions on board a British ship of war ; thus, steering the ship, taking the ob- 

 servation, weighing the alienor, and firing the gun. 



Ardimd the structure are placed 8 British hons on pedestals. — The object 

 ot the erection of the galleries is to affonl a ne.ir inspection of the .sculptures. 

 — The entrance to the galleries staircase is by a door in the side of one of the 

 archways. — The monument to be encircled by an ornamental slone pronie- 

 iiacle ; and the whole enclosed willi an iron palisade and gas lamps of a naval 

 design. 



Design* No. 117, Jamps Thriipp. — Britannia's great naval hero, and the 

 upholder of her maritime supremacy, receiving from his country the laurel 

 crown, and from the nations, whose fleets were subdued by his genius and 

 daring, tokens of then' submission, is the idea intended to be e.xpresscd in 

 this design. 



A few words in explanation, and more particidarly of the emblematical 

 representations of I''raiice, Spain and Denmark, may not perhaps be deemed 

 irrelevant. 



The subject seems to require that they sKould be represented as warriors. 

 The act of lowering their banners has been chosen, as being the actual mode 

 of expressing sulmiissioii adojited in na\al warfare; and also because it 

 neither implies arrogance ou the one part, nor abjectiiess ou the other ; for 

 it might be that of the bravest warrior when unable longer to contend against 

 bib foe. 



The eagle Fi-ance has long appropriated to herself as an emblem, as may 

 be seen ou the monumental records of her own victories. Ancient coins have 

 been the authority for that iiuUcative of Spain ; and to Denmark has been 



givcu tli« i'av«u 9t' tlis ttvitli. litis kssu' kiPg4otti to al^g k«u Ji'ci,>i:s^«ut«d 



under a more youthful form than the others. The medallions of the rcsiiective 

 reigning sovereigns on the sliields mark the era. 



In pourtraying the Iiero it has been the aim to avoid ;uiy expression of 

 ostentation ; for Nelson s illustrious deeds were ever accompanied by a simple 

 dignity of character. The principal basso relievo lells his fate : the colours 

 ot the hostile fleets are struck— the hour-glass is broken— Nel.son has fallen— 

 and the flag of his country enshrouds him. The rays of a setting sun betoken 

 that he terminated his career in glory. The other b.assi rehevi are to repre- 

 sent some ot the noble trails of the hero's character ; such, for example, as 

 th.it which he exhibited when wounded at the battle of the Nile. 



M'hile desirous to retain the proportions and the general features of those 

 examples in art tli t have been sanctioned bv ages, the architect 'has at- 

 tempted to engraft upon them the characteristics of a triumphal pill.ar. The 

 shaft is enriched with laurel leaves, and the names of the principal battles ; 

 and the capital is formed of four figures of victories, bearing wreaths entwined 

 Willi Nelson's herahlic motto :—Palmam— Qui— Meruit — Feral : — words w hicli 

 seem alike appropriate to the act of llritannia and to the hero himself 



The letters it is proposed to cut through the stone :— thus formed, they 

 will not readily be obliterated, nor aflect the outline of the shaft, whilst they 

 will serve to light the staircase within. 



The inner side of the abacus may be sunk sufficiently low to render a gal- 

 lery-railing unnecessary as a protection. 



Nelson's last immortal signal encircles the pedestal. 



The wliole height of the design, with tlie crowning figm-e, is 168 feet ; and 

 its cost, provided the figures of Nelson and Britannia only are e.Kecuted in 

 bronze, will nut exceed 30,000^. The present inequality of surface in the in- 

 tended site it is proposed to alter by lowering the upper portion. 



De.sign No. 128, An Architect o/ilZ/rfrf/Mcf.- A monument to the honour 

 of the greatest hero that cveradorued the annals of a maratime nation, worthy 

 of the genius, valour, and ambition of his country, is an undertaking very 

 dilficult to effect successfully. Nevertheless the author flatters himself that 

 he has solved this important problem in a fitting, clear, and distuict manner. 

 The author's first point is to represent the Iristory of the hero in a language 

 at once technical, expressive, and comjirehensive, to all classes of the nation. 

 — His second point is, to express this technical language in a dear and ele- 

 gant style, united to historical truth.— His third point (which, until now, 

 has been neglected by every one,) is to build the inoiuiment to b.annonizc 

 with the buildings which surround it, especially St. Martm's Church, and the 

 National Gallery. — The author has endeavoured to effect tlus object as com- 

 pletely as possible, and thinks the monument, when finished, wUI gi\c the 

 National Gallery a more elegant, imposing, and materially improved ajipear- 

 ance, as a public edifice. — This epico-technico poem is to be thus realized : 



•• AftiT the victory of Trafalgar, sanctified bv the hero's own blood, the 

 spoils and trophies are brought on the Admiral's ship to the capital of the 

 British empire, to be exposed to the admiration of the nation.'' 



Trafalgar-square having been selected for such an exhibition, will be made 

 to represent a port at the entrance of a canal in the metropolis. This port is 

 protected by four moles. The two moles towards the south will be surrauunted 

 hy two rostral towers, on which are represented the capture of the enemy's 

 vessels: the other two moles towards the north, will be surmounted by tro- 

 phies gained in his varimis battles. 



The four principal victories of the hero, viz. St. Vincent, the Nile, Copen- 

 liagen, and Trafalgar, will be represented by four great bas-reliefs jdaccd 

 round the moles, and explained by inscription in Mosaic asphalle on the 

 pavement. Above the towers and trophies are pkiccd four great globes, indi- 

 cating the tropical parts of the world over which K.nglaml iviuns, viz. A.sia, 

 Africa. America, and Australia; and over each globe is set the British crown! 

 In the midst of the port is seen the ship Victory, that has brought home the 

 spoils and trophies gained by Nelson, lu the centre of the deck, on a pedes- 

 tal raised upon a large die, is placed a colossal statue of Nelson, in the dress 

 of an Admiral, leaning on his sword. On the four sides of the die are placed 

 an iuscriiition and 3 bas-reliefs, viz.. towards the south, or t;r,and entrance, is 

 inscribed a summary of the history of the hero, with the dedication. On the 

 east side is a bas-relief descriptive of his nativity. On the north, his inaugura- 

 tion ; and on the west, his apotheosis. Two lateral basins .supply the port 

 with water. The port is surrounded by a balustrade, and the four moles by 

 a railing. The die is protected by four huge, and eight .'-mall bar stones, 

 with chains hung in festoons. At each entrance are two pillars, on which 

 are placed two lions. The pavement and deck will be inlaid with in.scriptions 

 and ornaments of Mosaic asphalte. In the interior of thcshipare apartments 

 for one or two porters, who will have the care of the keys of the toners, arul 

 whose duty will he to keep the moniunent perfectly clean, and likewise to 

 preserve it from wanton injury. 



It is alinost impossible to give an exact cslimulc of the e.rpen.ies of a monu- 

 ment which may be constructed so d flcrcntly with regiird to the artists, and 

 materials employed, and of which the cost of the .statue and bas-reliefs may 

 ditler so considerably. Nevertheless, the .author believes that it would not 

 exceed the sum of 3U,000/. The expense would be easily diminished by build- 

 ing the two towers lower and without rost, rendering the south mob .s similar 

 to the north, viz. surmounted by trophies only, and sacrificing the two lateral 

 b;isins. 



The author hopes that the committee will condesceml to observe thai bis 

 plan can undergo such modifications as thev may deem lit. uuiiei any circuin- 

 staiiccs. If tlie original idea is preserved, t'lie author iloes not doubt bin that. 

 it might be made tlie most classical and important monuineut of the .age, and 

 worthy of tlie national honour. 



Design No. 132, Raphael Brmuton. — I h.avc adopted the form of a circular 

 t«niple to commemorate the deeds of the illustrious hero, as it at once olfcrs 

 a coniplele protection for his statue, however lK;aiitifully evecutcd, and forius 



