ansing down the
colossal figure of King William IV., preparatory to the hoarding being
removed, and the statue thrown open to the view of the public. The base
will present a very novel and pleasing appearance, it being ornamented
with numerous naval trophies. The four cross footpaths leading to the
figure will be lighted by four gas lamps, on massive granite pillars. In
a few days the whole work will be completed, when it will be inspected by
Her Majesty, the Queen Dowager, and His Royal Highness Prince Albert,
those illustrious personages having intimated their desire to view it
when finished."@

On 15 January the Queen paid a visit to the Duke of Buckingham, at Stowe,
and the magnificence of her reception had much to do with the financial
collapse of the too generous Duke. On leaving Stowe she went to
Strathfieldsaye to stay with the Duke of Wellington. It was on this
occasion that the old Duke gave a lesson to the gentlemen of the Press,
which the interviewers of our times might well take to heart:
"Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr.
---, and begs to say he does not see what his house at Strathfieldsaye
has to do with the public press."

On 21 Jan. a National Testimonial was presented to Rowland Hill for his
labours in connection with the introduction of the Penny Post, and Mr.
Larpent, the Chairman of the City of London Mercantile Committee on
Postage, handed him a cheque for 10,000 pounds, which handsome sum had
been raised by a public subscription, which was not confined to the
mercantile community alone, persons of every rank, and of both sexes,
contributing amounts varying from large sums to a few pence.

Just before the closing of the British Museum at 4 p.m. on 7 Feb., a
crash was heard, and the famous Barberini, or Portland Vase, was found in
pieces on the floor. A man, named Lloyd, in a fit of delirium produced
by drink, had smashed it out of pure wantonness. The vase was valued at
1,000 pounds by the Museum authorities, but, of course, that sum was
purely nominal, as the vase was unique. It was deposited in the British
Museum in the year 1810 by the Duke of Portland, and was considered as
his property; hence the name of the "Portland Vase." It was found about
the middle of the 16th century, about two and a half miles from Rome, on
the road leading from Frascati. At the time of its discovery it was
enclosed in a marble sarcophagus, within a sepulchral chamber, un