The first Equestrian statue ever erected in Calcutta is that
of Lord liardinge which is now on its pedestal, and is much admired by both native and English inhabitants of the town.
The monument to Sir Robert Peel by the subscribers at Glasgow, is to be in bronze, and will be erected at the North-west angle of George Square, corresponding with the statue of James Watt.
The third Exhibition of the French Photographic Society takes place on the 1st of April in the palace of Industry in Paris, ending on the 13th June. Pictures should be sent to MIK. Laulerie, Rue Drouot 11, between 1st and 15th March, with name and address, and a note of their objects in frames. Coloured and touched proofs will be excluded ; the negative process em- ployed must be mentioned, and the secretary may receive the price of each work, though it is not to be publicly affixed. A jury decides on the ad- missibility of the pictures, which are to be removed within a week after the close of the Exhibition.
M. Alexandre Rida's Crayon drawings, which we specially commended laid week, are to be despatched forthwith to Paris for the annual Exhi- bition. TWO of those masterly chalk pictures, for such is their fittest title, have been purchased at above 400/. a piece, almost immediately on their being brought over here by Messrs. Gambart.
The French Government has just purchased, for the Antiquarian Mu- seum at the Hotel Cluny, eight royal crowns of pure gold, dating from the seventh century, and found in Spain at a place called La f'aente de Guarrazar, not far from Toledo, the ancient capital of the Goth Kings. These crowns are richly ornamented with sapphires and pearls, set with great art, and are otherwise very beautifully made. The largest of them, the diadem of which is not less than four inches high, has inscribed on it the name of King Reccesvinthus, a monarch who reigned from 649 to 672; and the next in size, and which it is believed belonged to the consort of this prince, bears a striking resemblance to the crown of Queen Theodelinda, now preserved at Monza. The other six crowns, of varied forms and smaller dimensions, seem to have belonged to the children of the Goth King. All the crowns are suspended from beautiful gold chains ; and a smaller chain passing in turn through the centre of each, unites with them a large jewelled cross. From an inscription on the latter, we get an explanation of this, namely, that cross and crowns were dedicated to the Virgin of Sorbaces. The whole of the regalia are very much like those of the Merovingian Kings.
A "Cape Town" Fine Arts Association is proposed : painting, sculpture, architecture, engraving, photography, either by local or amateur artists, or in objects lent for the purpose, are to be represented at an annual exhi- bition: a permanent gallery is to be formed, and the Society is to consist of a president and his customary officers, honorary and ordinary members. The subscription is to be 11. per annum for single membership, or 11. 10s. admitting a member and a lady ; the works of art acquired are to be recog- nised as inalienable public property, and will be vested in the public library of Cape Town, as trustees for the public.
The Duke of Northumberland has had plans of the surveys, the eastra upon the line of the old Roman wall, and of the Watling Street, north of Pierce bridge, Yorkshire, put into the hands of an engraver of the first rank ; the investigation which his Grace once suggested of the whole course of the structure and its stations, may probably be resumed, though the Society of Antiquaries have stood strangely aloof from the participation in such a national task.
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