mt 



aiif 



THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL 



m 



iPlI 



iiiniilli llliiiiiKuuiy 11 

 mim] inuiiuuiuMih 



Hyde Park for its erection ; but "would willingly decide on 

 any fresh design that might be submitted to Mm. Under 

 these circumstances the Committee looked about for some other 

 course, and, an impression prevailing that an obeliscal design 

 would be more favourably received, invited one of the com- 

 petitors who had submitted an obelisk, Mr. John Bell, to 

 co-operate with Mr. Durham, in order that a design including 

 that feature might be laid before the Chief Commissioner. 

 Each sculptor prepared a design. Mr. Durham's was chosen, 

 and submitted to the Chief Commissioner, who then was the 

 Honourable Mr. Fitzroy, since deceased ; and after various 

 interviews, letters, and long consideration, the Committee were 

 informed, on the part of the Chief Commissioner, that, inasmuch 

 as aU permanent structures within the limits of the Park were 

 in his o]3inion undesirable, he could not grant the permission 

 they sought. 



Wliilst these negotiations were going on, the determination 

 to form the Horticultural Garden at South Kensington, on part 

 of the land belonging to the Eoyal Commissioners, had been 

 arrived at. The connection of H.E.H. the Prince Consort with 

 the Horticultural Society, and the fact that the site of the 

 Garden belonged to the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 

 1851, suggested that Garden as a suitable site, and the CouncU 

 readUy agreed to receive it, as well as to provide a suitable 

 base or pedestal for it. The Garden was consequently laid 

 out with special reference to this object. Mr. Durham's design, 

 however, although the proposed alteration was abandoned, was 

 afterwards considerably modified. 



From the drawing above given it will be seen that in it 



Hi 



mi 

 II 



iihniiiiiiiiiiiiiuminiMnRlnMkiiinnnnniiiH^^ iiiniiiiiiDiiiiiillRiinNinrn 



