not be
out of place in the new Gas Office.

_Nelson_--The bronze statue of Lord Nelson in the Bull Ring was executed
by Westmacott, and uncovered June 6, 1809. The artist received L2,500,
but the total cost (raised by subscription) with the pedestal, lamps,
and palisading, was nearly L3,000. The corner posts are old cannon from
the Admiral's ship the Victory.

_Peel_.--The statue of Sir Robert Peel, near the Town Hall, cost L2,000,
and was unveiled August 27, 1855. He faced towards Christ Church at
first, and was protected from Tories and Protectionists by iron
railings, until March, 1878, when his bonds were loosed, and he was
allowed to look down New Street.

_Priestley_.--The statue of the discoverer of oxygen, near the Town
Hall, was uncovered August 1, 1884. The amount subscribed as a Priestley
memorial fund was L1,820, of which L972 went for the philosopher's stone
effigy, about L10 for a tablet on the site of his house at Fair Hill,
and L653 to the Midland Institute to found a scholarship in chemistry.

_Prince Albert and the Queen_.--In 1862, after the death of the Prince
Consort, a Memorial Committee was formed and a fund raised for a statue,
the execution of which was entrusted to Mr. Foley, and it is said to be
one of his finest productions. It was placed in the old Art Gallery, and
uncovered August 27, 1863. It was in the reading-room at the time of the
fire, but fortunately escaped injury. The balance of the fund was deemed
sufficient for a companion statue of Her Majesty, and Mr. Foley received
the commission for it in 1871. At his death the order was given to Mr.
Woolner, who handed over his work to the town in May, 1884, the ceremony
of unveiling taking place on the 9th of that month. According to the
_Athanaeum_ it is "one of the finest portrait statues of the English
School, combining a severe yet elegant design with execution of the
highest kind, every element being thoroughly artistic." Thousands have
seen it alongside the Prince's statue in the hall of the Reference
Library, but few indeed have been heard to say they like it. Both
statues are ultimately intended to be placed in the Council House.

_Rogers_.--A memorial bust of John Rogers, a native of Deritend, and one
of the first martyrs of the Reformation, was unveiled in St. John's,
October 29, 1883.

_Scholefield_.--A bust of William Scholefield, M.P., for the borough, is
at Aston Hall.

_Sturge_.--The statue, and most appropriate memo