Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
the materials of which this fabric is to be reared shall have crumbled into dust —( great cheering ) . I trust I shall be forgiven , if , instead of occupying your time in listening to high sounding periods , I dedicate the small portion of it which I mean to occupy to a practical purpose . Your Lordship must be aware that when it was first resolved on to erect this testimonial to Sir AValter Scott , a much larger subscription was looked for than has hitherto been realised . This arose from a desire in
many quarters to display their feelings by the erection of separate local testimonials , instead of contributing to the edifice to be placed in the capital . In this way , the county of Selkirk and the city of Glasgow have each endeavoured to evince their own veneration for this
eminent man . I am far from blaming this most natural feeling , and only mention the circumstance as accounting in some measure for the limited amount of our subscription . These funds have been duly husbanded , and been deposited in the hands of a hi ghly respectable banking establishment in this city . From the causes now detailed , the committee found that the total amount of subscriptions could not be safely considered as exceeding 7000 / On application to their hi ghly-esteemed countryman ,
Mr . Steell , they found that the statue of Sir Walter might be obtained for 2000 / . —( cheers ) . That liberal ancl most distinguished artist ( Mr . Steell ) has since entered into a contract for the statue at that price , being far beneath the just recompense for such a work . AVe trust , however , that he . will be rewarded for this highly creditable proceeding by the extension of his rising , or rather already established , fame , which cannot fail to follow the splendid exhibition of artwhicliwe are confidentwill
, , , be the result of his labours in this instance—( loud and repeated cheers ) . Then there remained only 5000 / - for the architectural part ; and , after taking designs from several eminent artists , the committee threw the matter open to competition , and they greatly rejoiced at having so done , as amidst many meritorious plans , one was produced which entirely outstripped all competition , ancl formed a model of beauty and proportion , as is admitted by the most scientific men , who consider it as perfect in
its character ancl details —( cheers ) . This was the work of a native artist —( loud cheers)—whose name had never before been heard of , namely , the unassuming and meritorious Mr . Kemp , whom I feel proud to mention to the meeting as one every way entitled to their confidence and good opinion . Our most eminent architect , Mr . Burn , who , though personally disapproving of architecture forming any part of a testimonial , narrowly examined the specification of the work ; and while he concurred with all in the merits of the fabrichas given an assurance that strength and
soli-, dity have been so studied , as effectually to secure permanency in every part of it . The cost of tbis building , of the size at first contemplated , was found to amount to about 5000 / ., and was thus within the funds which had been subscribed . In this emergency , an appeal was made to the persons residing in thatstreet , who favoured the proposal of the building being placed in this situation ; that appeal was most handsomely met , and the difficulty at once overcomemainly through the exertions of Mr .
Robert-, son , music-seller , and Mr . Dick of the Albion Company , who not only brought forward additional subscriptions , but divided the city into a hundred districts , and , procuring the aid of their friends in personally waiting upon the inhabitants , secured a subscription which has this day been reported to amount to 1450 / . These laudable exertions placed the funds in a new position ; there was deposited in the bank a sum in all amounting to S 300 / . —these additional subscriptions , supposing all ex-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
the materials of which this fabric is to be reared shall have crumbled into dust —( great cheering ) . I trust I shall be forgiven , if , instead of occupying your time in listening to high sounding periods , I dedicate the small portion of it which I mean to occupy to a practical purpose . Your Lordship must be aware that when it was first resolved on to erect this testimonial to Sir AValter Scott , a much larger subscription was looked for than has hitherto been realised . This arose from a desire in
many quarters to display their feelings by the erection of separate local testimonials , instead of contributing to the edifice to be placed in the capital . In this way , the county of Selkirk and the city of Glasgow have each endeavoured to evince their own veneration for this
eminent man . I am far from blaming this most natural feeling , and only mention the circumstance as accounting in some measure for the limited amount of our subscription . These funds have been duly husbanded , and been deposited in the hands of a hi ghly respectable banking establishment in this city . From the causes now detailed , the committee found that the total amount of subscriptions could not be safely considered as exceeding 7000 / On application to their hi ghly-esteemed countryman ,
Mr . Steell , they found that the statue of Sir Walter might be obtained for 2000 / . —( cheers ) . That liberal ancl most distinguished artist ( Mr . Steell ) has since entered into a contract for the statue at that price , being far beneath the just recompense for such a work . AVe trust , however , that he . will be rewarded for this highly creditable proceeding by the extension of his rising , or rather already established , fame , which cannot fail to follow the splendid exhibition of artwhicliwe are confidentwill
, , , be the result of his labours in this instance—( loud and repeated cheers ) . Then there remained only 5000 / - for the architectural part ; and , after taking designs from several eminent artists , the committee threw the matter open to competition , and they greatly rejoiced at having so done , as amidst many meritorious plans , one was produced which entirely outstripped all competition , ancl formed a model of beauty and proportion , as is admitted by the most scientific men , who consider it as perfect in
its character ancl details —( cheers ) . This was the work of a native artist —( loud cheers)—whose name had never before been heard of , namely , the unassuming and meritorious Mr . Kemp , whom I feel proud to mention to the meeting as one every way entitled to their confidence and good opinion . Our most eminent architect , Mr . Burn , who , though personally disapproving of architecture forming any part of a testimonial , narrowly examined the specification of the work ; and while he concurred with all in the merits of the fabrichas given an assurance that strength and
soli-, dity have been so studied , as effectually to secure permanency in every part of it . The cost of tbis building , of the size at first contemplated , was found to amount to about 5000 / ., and was thus within the funds which had been subscribed . In this emergency , an appeal was made to the persons residing in thatstreet , who favoured the proposal of the building being placed in this situation ; that appeal was most handsomely met , and the difficulty at once overcomemainly through the exertions of Mr .
Robert-, son , music-seller , and Mr . Dick of the Albion Company , who not only brought forward additional subscriptions , but divided the city into a hundred districts , and , procuring the aid of their friends in personally waiting upon the inhabitants , secured a subscription which has this day been reported to amount to 1450 / . These laudable exertions placed the funds in a new position ; there was deposited in the bank a sum in all amounting to S 300 / . —these additional subscriptions , supposing all ex-