portant measures-namely, the issue of a uniform money for all the presidencies, the abolition of chowkies in Bengal-and, a still more important step, the liberation of the press from all restrictions. This last measure was the universal eulogy in India, and rendered him pre-eminently popular amongst the natives as well as Europeans. It however, gave great umbrage to the Court of Directors, and was the eventual cause of his resignation and return to Europe, though he had always declared his intention of spending his life in India. The post of Governor of Madras about this time became vacant, and the friends of Sir Charles concluded that it would be given to him; but the Court of Directors thought proper to mark their opinion of his conduct by bestowing it upon another. In the month of September, 1837, he signified his intention of withdrawing from the public service, and his retirement from Agra was marked by every token of the public sympathy and affection, including dinners, balls, addresses, and the presentation of a magnificent piece of plate. By public subscription a statue was erected to his honour, and an address presented by the community of Agra, which styled him the "brightest ornament of the civil service," which celebrated his magnificent benefactions and his private generosity. In reply to this address, Sir Charles, with his characteristic candour, avowed the cause of his resignation. He reminded his friends that reports had prevailed in the preceding year to the effect that he was in disgrace with the home authorities on account of the liberty of the press; and he added, that that was a position in which he "could not remain with comfort;" he therefore sought information on the subject at the fountain head; the reply which he received was by no means explicit, but its uncordial tone satisfied him that the reports which prevailed were not untrue; and, therefore, on the 21st of February, 1838, he withdrew from the service of the East India Company; but, as subsequent events very clearly showed, the responsible advisers of the Crown more justly appreciated his high talents than did the board of directors in Leadenhall-street.

Soon after his arrival in England he was selected by the ministry to succeed Sir Lionel Smith as Governor of Jamaica. The Negro Emancipation Act had recently been passed, and Sir C. Metcalfe encountered a difficult task in soothing the irritation and reconciling the differences of the classes affected by that measure. He proved eminently successful, and gave the greatest satisfaction both in Downingstreet and at Kingston. The climate of

Jamaica proved unfavourable to his health, and, after a residence in the island of two years, he was compelled to resign. The colonists were much attached to him, and, in 1844, his statue was erected in Spanish

town.

He returned from the West Indies in 1842, and was almost immediately selected by Sir R. Peel to undertake the government of Canada, which then gave considerable trouble to the Colonial-office. The task of governing the Canadas, of imparting to those provinces the blessings of order, peace, and rational freedom, together with their due position and rank as integral members of this vast empire, had been for many years a difficulty which to successive Governors-General proved nearly insuperable. The great administrative talents of Sir C. Metcalfe, his untiring industry, and his nerve, were again successful; and, having been entrusted with the supreme direction of affairs when their administration formed the most difficult problem in the government of our colonies, he handed over to his successor a united province, in which he had greatly mitigated political asperity, and in which he had broadly laid the foundations of good order and expanding civilization.

His labours here completed the ruin of a constitution that had been weakened on the banks of the Ganges, and further impaired by the unhealthy climate of the Western Indies. He returned home in 1845, after he had been raised to the dignity of the peerage by the title of Baron Metcalfe. He did not live long to wear the honours that poured in upon him-honours which the agony of disease forbad him to enjoy, and which he has left no legitimate child to inherit.

His lordship's next brother, now Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe, who is in India, inherits the Baronetcy.

On the 19th Sept. the body of the late Lord was removed to the church of Winkfield, where his country seat of Fern-hill has for many years past been held by successive tenants, the last of whom was Sir Felix Booth, and the present is the Dowager Lady Granville. On this account the mourners assembled at Hill-house, the residence of his lordship's nephew Sir Hesketh Fleetwood, Bart. also in the parish of Winkfield. Amongst the mourners were Lord Monson, Sir Alan M'Nab, Mr. James Metcalfe, Mr. Thomas Metcalfe, Mr. Brownrigg, M.P., Sir Hesketh Fleetwood, Bart., Messrs. Martin Brownrigg, jun., Smythe, Howell, &c. private carriages of several noblemen and gentlemen followed, and amongst them that of Lord Ashbrook, the brother-inlaw of the deceased.

The

statue having then been turned and drawn in near the left foot of the triumphal arch, the military were formed again, and marched off to their respective quarters.

The next day was commenced the labour of raising the statue to the summit of the arch. At a very early hour a body of riggers from Woolwich Dockyard, under the direction of Mr. M'Cullum, assisted by a number of labourers, were engaged in preparations. It was necessary to change the position of the statue, as deposited the day before, from south to east; and in order to accomplish this end the whole mass of statue and carriage, weighing altogether 60 tons, was lifted by the tackles and shifted into the desired spot. This feat fully proved the competency of the mechanical appliances provided to perform the allotted task, and, accordingly, at three o'clock, P.M. the signal was given to "hoist away." The statue was raised by means of strong six-inch cables fastened round each arm or thigh of the horse, which were then hooked on to the blocks used in the ascent. Through these blocks, four in number, triple-sheaved, and expressly made for this occasion, ran six ropes, also quite new and made of strongest yarn, each rope being calculated equal to 10 tons. Upon the traversing platform above, were four "crabs," or powerful windlasses, worked by eight men each. The scaffolding, erected for the purpose by Mr. W. Ellis, under the direction of Mr. Wyatt, was of itself a wonderful work, being 115 feet in height, and having taken upwards of 200 loads of timber in its construction, besides scaffold poles and planks. The height to which it was necessary to raise the statue was 74 feet; and then it had to traverse a distance of 60 feet to arrive at the pedestal prepared for its reception upon the crown of the arch. From three o'clock until nearly seven the ascent slowly continued without the slightest accident. It was then quite dark, but, the moon having risen about half past eight, the work was resumed, and completed before nine o'clock. Thursday the statue was again removed, and remained suspended in mid-air, pending the preparations for its final deposition on the pedestal, which being finished, about one o'clock it was once more brought back, and then fixed in what may possibly be its permanent position. The scaffolding immediately surrounding the statue has since been taken down, but the principal portion will remain in case of its becoming necessary, from an unfavourable verdict as to the eligibility of the site, to remove the statue.

On

Of the statue itself, as a work of art, it is very difficult to form a judgment in its

present posture. It should be seen at some distance to judge of its general effect; and at that distance much of its details are lost. A near view, from the street, presents the lower parts of the horse in unfavourable, if not distorted, position.

Respecting the incongruity of the union of this statue with the arch upon which it now stands, we could fill our present Magazine with what has been written on the subject: yet all would neither increase nor mitigate the condemnation conveyed in a few sentences written more than a year ago by Mr. Decimus Burton, who, as being the author of the arch, must be admitted as a most competent critic. He says, "The Wellington Testimonial is a single equestrian statue of colossal dimensions. It would not be a satisfactory surmount for the arch; colossal as it is, the horse, when placed on so huge a pedestal, would present an appearance far too meagre and tall for the situation. [This is exactly the result now seen.] Proportion and unity of design are the first and most important elements in a work of art; both of these would be wanting in this instance if such a statue were placed upon the arch. The fact that the monument was not the design of one and the same artist would strike the most casual observer." The truth is, that the Testimonial Committee had no more right to convert the arch at Hyde-park Corner into a pedestal for their statue, than the subscribers to a gigantic statue of Watt had to make one of the chapels of Westminster Abbey its most inappropriate show room. In the words of our spirited contemporary "The Builder,"" The arch was not intended to be a pedestal, but a structure-a monument of itself, and if embellished, as proposed by its architect, with a statue flanking the attic, over each column, trophies on the main piers, [the uncovered blocks intended for which are now projecting from its walls,] sculpture in relief on the face of the attic, [the bareness of which is exposed by the addition of the statue,] and a quadriga on the top, of proper size as a decoration,— an accessory, not the principal,-would have been a worthy adornment of the metropolis. Used as it now is, that character has entirely disappeared; all the money expended upon it is utterly thrown away and wasted, while, as a pedestal, it is wholly inappropriate and unfit."

July 10. A new church in Charlottestreet, Fitzroy-square, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, was consecrated by the Bishop of London. The appointed incumbent of this church is the Rev. J. E. Kempe, M.A. and the curate, the Rev.

R. S. Oldham, M.A. The church will accommodate 1030 persons, 500 of the sittings being free. Its architecture is Norman, and the front is intended to have two small spires, of which one only is yet built.

Sept. 13. A new Welsh church was opened in Aldersgate-street, contiguous to the General Post Office. The. Rev. D. Morgan, of Llanfyllen, conducted the services, and continued to officiate during the month. No permanent minister will be appointed, as it is intended that the services shall be performed for the present by clergymen of the Welsh Church by

turns.

Sept. 28. The new Roman Catholic Chapel of St. Edward, situated at Millwall, Isle of Dogs, Poplar, was consecrated with all the solemn pomp and ceremony prescribed by the Roman ritual. The Right Rev. Bishop Griffiths, Vicar Apostolic for the London District, officiated as the consecrating prelate. At eleven o'clock the bell rang out, and the procession of priests and dignitaries, robed in vestments of gold, silver, lace, satin, velvet and embroidered silk, moved from the sacristy, chanting "Quam dilecta tabernacula tua," and the service commenced. High mass was sung by the Rev. Patrick O'Dwyer, of the Catholic Church, Moorfields, assisted by the Rev. J. Walsh, of the same church, as deacon, and the Rev. Walter M'Avilla, of the Catholic Church, Islington, as subdeacon. After the gospel, Bishop Morris advanced to the foot of the altar, and preached a sermon. The chapel, which is in the Decorative style, has been erected under the superintendence of Mr. William Wardell, architect. It is capable of accommodating 4,000 persons.

New Churches.-The 26th annual report of Her Majesty's Commissioners for Building New Churches has been issued. During the year 27 churches have been completed by the aid of their grants, in which accommodation has been provided for 20,826 persons, including 12,879 free seats appropriated to the use of the poor. In the whole, 370 churches have now been completed under the superintendence of the commission. There are 33 churches now in course of building, and plans for 18 have been approved of. During the year considerable progress has been made by the board in the important duty intrusted to them, of forming new parishes or districts.

The Free Baths and Wash-houses.-The committee have issued a statement, which contains some interesting details relative to the establishment in Glass-house-yard, East Smithfield. The success attending

the experiment has proved two important facts-First, that the poor are anxious for cleanliness when the means are within their reach; and, secondly, that the means may be rendered them at a very trifling expence. In the course of the year 27,622 bathers, 35,480 washers and dryers of clothes, and 4,512 ironers, have made use of the premises. The working expenses have been under 1d. a-head, although soap is allowed to each bather, and a portion of soap and soda to each washer of clothes. Quiet, orderly, and civil conduct has universally prevailed. Several of those applying to bathe and wash their clothes are so destitute that their entire clothing is that which they have on. Such applicants are provided with gowns whilst they wash, dry, and mend their scanty attire. The water has been supplied gratuitously by the East London Water Works Company. Upwards of 9,000 came a distance of from two to five miles, and above 1,300 bathed and washed, who on the previous night slept at places from five to twenty-five miles distant. From the financial statement it appears that the amount of subscriptions received was 5481. 38. 6d. The baths and washhouses for the north-west district of the metropolis, situate in George-street, Euston-square, have also been for some months in operation. The New River Company granted at a nominal rent the greater part of the vacant ground at the base of their reservoir in the Hampsteadroad, and agreed to supply water to the establishment for the first six months gratuitously, and afterwards at the lowest possible cost. There are 40 warm baths completed, and two cold baths, one 80 feet long by 20 or 25 feet in width, and the other about half as large. The washing troughs will accommodate sixty persons to wash at once without interfering with each other.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE.

Sept. 24. The freehold estate of Whittlesea was disposed of at the Auction Mart. The property comprised the manors of Whittlesea St. Andrew, St. Mary, and of the rectory of Whittlesea St. Mary, which extends over nearly 25,000 acres, including the fines, quitrents, royalties, &c. with the perpetual advowson of the vicarage of St. Mary. The whole, which was of the value of nearly 6,8007. per annum, was put up in one lot, and bought in at 169,000%. upon which it was put up in three lots. The first lot comprised the freehold rent charges of about 17,000 acres, yielding 3,0347. per annum : this was sold for 68,000. The second and third lot in