HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



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cashmeres, muslin, and embroidery, all executed in tlie most 

 elaborate detail. The head-dress is of pearls and feathers. 

 America is resting her hand upon an axe, suggestive of clearing 

 forests and making way for civilisation, the other hand holds 

 the primitive bow and arrow of the Indian; her head is deco- 

 rated with stars and rice, in allusion to the United States, both 

 Southern and Northern ; and her mantle bears a clasp with a 

 lion's head (from a design l)y the Prince Consort), indicative of 

 the British possessions. Europe, with features of the Caucasian 

 type, is the more matronly figure ; she is clothed in ample 

 drapery, and bears a mural crown on her forehead ; the left 

 hand is outstretched, holding a wreath resting upon a nidder ; 

 on the right arm she bears a sheathed sword, bound with laurel, 

 indicating that Europe was at peace in 1851. 



The piUars and pilasters are all monoliths, and the grey 

 stones from the Cheosewring quarry, Cornwall, with polished 

 centres, which bear the inscriptions, are the finest which have 

 yet been produced ; the red granite pillars are from Aberdeen. 

 Nothing but granite and bronze has been used in the con- 

 struction of the Memorial. 



The second base commences the circular form of the central 

 shaft, against which are seated the four statues just described, 

 and from which spring the columns and pilasters. The centre 

 panelling of this base is polished all round, producing a second 

 colour in the grey granite. The central shaft is composed of 

 beautiful polished grey granite, the stones composing it being of 

 unusual size ; the four spaces between the pilasters and columns 

 contain the inscriptions, which are as follows, viz. : — on the 



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