THE GREY STATUE JOB.
A PROSPECTUS, accompanied by a very enticing little lithograph, has been circulated extensively about the north-west end of the town, of a statue in bronze, proposed to be erected to Earl Grey, in honour of his Lordship's exertions in the cause of Reform. The project, viewed abstractedly, is a good one ; and the site proposed for the statue—the centre of the roadway between the two gates leading into the Regent's Park from Baker Street—is exceedingly well adapted for the pur- pose. ose The figure, facing Baker Street, will be distinctly seen against an open background, terminating that long vista most beautifully. Of the design of the statue we say nothing ; as the sketch is slight and small, and cannot, we suppose, be a copy of the one intended,—for Lord Grey holds up the Bill in the manner of a fugleman, as if he were teach- ing the electors of Marylebone the use of the Bill by going through a Reform exercise. This project has, we believe, received the counte- nance and support of many influential names, upon the grounds of its expediency but we dare say that the respectable individuals who have subscribed thereto are not aware, that they have been furthering a job, devised for the benefit of one individual, the young and unknown sculptor whom it is proposed shall execute it. A son of Mr. HAKE- WILL, the architect—who is a pupil at the Royal Academy, and who gained a prize the year before last for the best model copied from the antique—is the tyro whose first essay as a sculptor is to be made upon a national tribute to Earl Grey, and a public memorial of the triumph of Reform. This youth, not yet out of his pupilage, and who has never perhaps wielded a mallet and chisel, is to step over the heads of all the best sculptors of the day, on the stilts of paternal vanity and in- terest; and quietly steal from the highest shelf the honourable commission which ought to reward the ablest competitor. Unless this young tyro (who is perhaps blushing at the presumptuous altitude of the pretensions set up for him) be a heaven-born genius, his production will either be an abortion, or he must avail himself of the skill, talent, and more mature judgment of a practised sculptor, to model for him a figure ; and then he must engage some bronze caster to work the metal for him, and, pocketing the profits and the reputation, lay the foundation-stone of his fame upon the genius of others. We know nothing of the merits of the youth ; but the amount of his talents does not affect the ques- tion. If they are transcendent, he would of course earn their reward in a free and open competition : if not, he is unworthy to receive a com- mission for a national work paid for by the public.
. We have done our duty by exposing the intended job ; and we hope the subscribers will do theirs in preventing it. With regard to the pro- ject itself, when it shall be publicly announced that it is open to compe- tition under the direction of a committee properly appointed, it will meet with our cordial support.
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