Sessional papers online

And the procession to be closed with the strangers at
Athens, called the Mettocci.

The whole of the figures, chariots, &c., of this proces-
sion, which adorn the plateau, shall be four inches in
height, and perfect whole or entire figures, and which
figures, &c., surrounding the plateau, I propose to be of
frosted silver gilt, and relieved in polished parts, and which
will be beautifully reflected in the mirrors forming the
ground of the plateau ; the plateau to be twenty-four feet
in length. The standards, feet, or supports of the plateau
to be of the frieze and triglyphs, and portions ol columns
of the Doric order. The whole to be of frosted silver
gilt, but the frame of the mirrorS to be of burnished
silver gilt.



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211



II. THE ORNAMENT FOR THE CENTRE OF THE 1822.
PLATEAU.

The Temple of the Parthenon appears to be an appro-
priate device for the middle piece on the plateau, as being
styled the most beautiful and symmetrical edifice of the
Acropolis.

I propose the steps, ground, and roof to be of bur-
nished silver gilt

The columns, triglyphs, frieze, and tympans of frosted
silver gilt.



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THE WINE COOLERS,
EMBELLISHED WITH THE FRIEZE OF THE TEMPLE OF BACCHUS.



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213



m. THE WINE COOLERS. 1822.

The subject round the body of the wine coolers, I pro-
pose to represent the Bacchanalian Dance of Bacchus,
and his numerous followers, taken from the admired
frieze of the temple of that God which adorns the
Acropolis at Athens.



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215



IV, THE SOUP AND SAUCE TUREENS. 1822,

The representation of the battles between the LapithsB
and the Centaurs, so popular among the Athenians,
and with which Phidias, and Ictinus, the architect of
the Parthenon, embellished the numerous metopes of
that magnificent temple, I propose to be the ornamental
subject for the body of the soup and sauce tureens.



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217



V. THE CURRY DISHES AND WARMERS. 1822.

The dispute between Neptune and Minerva^ for the
possession of Attica, and the triumph of the Goddess, as
represented in the western tympan of the Parthenon,
may be aptly applied, in complete and perfect figures, to
decorate the curry dishes and warmers.

The warmer is not perceptible. It is independent, and
fits upon the stand inside of, under the lining of the
curry dish ^ when the body of the curry dish is lifted up,
the warmer is taken away firom the stand, and the figures
preserve on the outer edge of the stand their perpendi-
cular situation.



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219



VI. THE WHOLE OF THE MEAT DISHES AND 1822.

DINNER PLATES.

The subject for the whole of these dishes and plates I
propose to include the allegory that constitutes the
eastern tympan of the Parthenon, alluding to the birth
of Minerva ^ consequently, each flat dish and plate will
exhibit the allegory of the eastern in has relief.



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221



VII. THE DISH COVERS. 1822.



As the Temple of the Parthenon is of the Doric order,
I propose to ornament the helts of the dish covers with
the frieze and trigljphs of that order, placing in the
metopes the Centaurs, Amazons, and Lapithse.



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THE PEDCSTAL or THE CANDELABRA'S
IS TAKEN FROM THE TEMPLE OF DEMOSTHENES AT ATHENS.



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223



Vm. THE CANDELABRA— EACH FOR EIGHT 1822.

LIGHTS.

The Temple of Demosthenes, at Athens, is universally
admired for the taste and elegance of its design, and of
which I avail myself for the pedestal or standard for the
candelabra. The pillars and steps to be of burnished
silver gilt i but the frieze, capitals, and the rich foliage
of the arms, pans, and nossals, of frosted silver gilt.
The height of the candelabra to be two feet ten inches.



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THE ILLISSU6 THE COO OF THE RIVER,
WHICH RUN« ALONa THE ^OUTH SIDE OF THE PLAIN OF ATHENS.



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225



IX. THE FLAGGONS- 1822.

The attitude and allegory of the lUisstis, called the
God of the river which runs along the south side of
the plain of Athens, and which is so universally ad-
mired, presents a suitable ornament for the subject of
one flaggon, the foliage ornaments being the water lily.

For the other flaggon I propose the Theseus in a
reclining position, to correspond, the foliage ornaments
being the vine and firuit.



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THE SALT CELLAR.



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227



X. THE SALT CELLARS. 1822.

I have selected Neptune sitting at his ease on a shell,
which rests upon a dolphin stand. The upper part
of the salt-spoon is a trident, as comhined emhlems for
the salt cellars.



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229

When ready, I started with it to town, for the express 1822.
purpose of laying the same hefore his Majesty ; in a cir-
cumstance of such a nature it was not an easy thing to
effect. Mr. Francis Lawley, M.P., being in town, and
he being our member, and having the interest of Bir-
nungham at heart, I first applied and shewed the book
to him. See his letter to me : —

" Dear Sir,

" I am sorry I was not at home when you
called this morning, I wished to inform you that I had
a long conversation last night with Sir Charles Long — as
satisfactory, at least, as the former one. But he stated
that at present his Majesty is confined to his bed by
gout, and that previous to his recovery it will be very
difficult to arrive at any determination on the subject of
your drawings.

" I remain,

" Dear Sir,
" Very faithfully yours,

^.-^

" May 8, 1822.''

I then requested an interview with Lord Sidmouth,
from whom I received the following note : —

'' Clifford Street, May 10th, 1822.




i fc^^X^ ^^y ^^^^zf^^^^''^''^^*^^^^^ presents
his compliments to Mr. Thomason, and will be glad to
see him at one o'clock, either to-morrow, or on Saturday,
as may be most convenient to him.
" Edward Thomason, Esq.''



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230
1822. Reply of his Majesty the Emperor of Russia : —

** London, the 20th of May, 1822.
"Sir,

" The Emperor, my master, has received the
letter which you have addressed to his Imperial Majesty,
and he has been pleased to accept the series of medals
which you have forwarded at the same time, and which
are illustrative of the marbles brought from Athens by
the Earl of Elgin.

The Emperor has charged me, not only to thank you
in his name for your attention, but to transmit to you the
accompanying diamond brooch, which his Imperial Ma-
jesty wishes you might receive as a testimony of his
satisfaction.

" I remain, with much esteem,
" Sir,
" Your most obedient servant.




** To Edward Thomason, Esq., Birmingham.''

I also had interviews with the Duke of Wellington,
the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Manchester, the
Duke of Dorset, Lord Liverpool, Lords Shrewsbury,
Albermarle, Lonsdale, Sir Charles Long, Mr. Huskis-
son, Mr. E. Lyttleton, Mr. Nash, Mr. Edgar Ellis, and,
in all, about forty nobles and gentlemen of taste ; all of
whom hoped I might succeed in making the service for
the King, and that the first classical service might be
manufactured in England.

So far it went off satisfactory. My Lord Sidmouth



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An fntercild £n?acfv,set rx>urui with 3rillicc?vts,'^^
f resented to the .Author by^



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231

observed that the privy purse was low ; I suggested that 1822.
in the King's plate-room there was an immense weight
of old Hanoverian and other badly executed plate,
which his Majesty never used •, I examined it, and I
should think that there was a sufficient weighty which*
was of no use, to perfect the whole service. All this was
considered as a fortunate discovery, and every hope was
entertained ; but it so occurred that Mr. Hume and
that party brought something before the House, on the
14th and 15th of May, relative to the great expendi-
ture in the Civil List. Lord Sidmouth sent for me, and
said he thought it should be waived for the present until
the storm was blown over. I, therefore, returned home,
and I left the box containing the book of drawings, or
designs, at Mr. Lawley's, who was at the time absent from
home. On his return he kindly sent me the following
letter to Birmingham :—

" Grosvenor Square, May SO, 1822.
" My dear Sir,

" On my return to town this morning,
I found your letter, and the box containing the drawings
and designs, of which the greatest care shall be taken.

•* I perfectly coincide in the opinion and advice which
you received from Lord Sidmouth. I will immediately
confer with Mr. Dugdale on the best and most prompt
method of getting his Majesty to admit your book of
designs into his presence, and I am not without a hope
that your well-founded expectations may yet be realized
at no very distant period.

" I remain, dear Sir, most truly yours,

^.-^

" Edward Thomason, Esq., Birmingham/*



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232

1822- This service of plate got much talked of, so that the
King heard of it, and I was advised to go back to Lon-
don as if I had never left it, and obtain an audience. I
wrote to Lord Conyngham, saying that I had wanted a
favourable opportunity to tell him my wishes, and he.
Lord Conyngham, sent me the following letter :—




is much concerned he was not at home when Mr.
Thomason called upon him this morning. Lord C.
will be glad to see Mr. Thomason to-morrow morning, at
any hour between eleven and two most convenient to
Mr. Thomason.

Friday, June 6, 1822-

I waited upon Lord Conyngham, at his house in
Gloucester Place. I was agreeably surprised to learn
that the King was there. His Majesty condescended
to look over the whole of the book of designs, and ex-
pressed his royal pleaBure.

I had an hour's conversation with Lord Conyngham,
in his library, afterwards ; he advised a postponement of
the measure, in consequence of what was stated in the
House. I then returned home, and circumstances rela-
tive to the expenditure in the Civil List increased in trou-
ble during the whole of that year. If the King should
have disapproved of having the old Hanoverian plate
melted down, 35,000 guineas (my estimate for the silver
gilt, commonly called gold plate) was startling, although
for a service of mere leafage the King had paid £33,000 ;
and so this important circumstance to me remained.



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233

nothing turning up to warrant the outlay during his 1822.
MojestfQ life.

I was desirous to make a pair of silver candelabras,
like those in the Radclifife Library, at Oxford ; and I
wrote to my esteemed friend. Dr. Toumay, to know if
my draughtsman would be admitted to copy them. See
the Doctor's reply : —

"Peterborough, Aug. 19, 1822.
"Sir,

" Your letter of the 2d inst. has been sent to
me at this place. When I return to Oxford, in October,
I will not fail to execute your commission, if possible.
Permit me to add, that it would afford me great pleasure
personally to thank you, at Wadham College, for the
polite attention which I experienced at your most inte-
resting manufactory.

" I remain. Sir,

" Your most obedient servant,

" Edward Thomason, Esq.*'

" Dunn's Hotel, Westminster Bridge,
Sept. 9, 1822.
"Sir,

" I beg your acceptance of the only en-
gravings I can procure of the candelabras in the Rad-
cliffe Library. Though they exhibit a general likeness,
they do not represent the parts with sufficient distinct-
ness, and I think you will find it necessary to have
drawings made of some parts, at least. If, to decide c»i



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234

1822. this point, you, or your son, visit Oxford after the
middle of next month, I shall be happy in shewing you
my best attentions at Wadham, and in being otherwise
as useful to you as possible.

" With my compliments to Mr. Thomason, junior.
" I remain. Sir,

" Your most obedient servant



' Edward Thomason, Esq/'



^^ ^/^:^^<^-5«-^^



At this period the Government of Spain made me their
Vice-Consul for the town of Birmingham.

" Consulado General de la Nacion Espanola.
" Conviniendo al Servicio de S. M. Catalica y 4 la
Proteccion de sus subditos que haya un Vice-Consul de
la Nacion en la Ciuddd de Birmingham — para que pro-
teja y asista a aquellos Espanoles que residieren, Uegaren
d dicha Ciuddd : y concurriendo en la persona de Don
Edwardo Thomason, residente en Birmingham la inteli-
jencia, ceto y prudencia que se requieren para el desem-
peno de tan importante encargo, usando de las facultades
que como Consul-Jeneral me estan concedidas por S. M.
la Reina en nombre de Augusta Hija en su Real Pa-
tente dada en Madrid k 23 de Julio de 1822, Ye estando
autorizado para ejercerlas en esti Reino Unido por el
Regio Exequatur de S. M. Britanica, expedido en 14
de Agosto del mismo, he venido en elegir y nombra por-
tal Vice-Consul de la Nacion Espanola en la Ciudad de
Birmingham, previa la aprobation de S. M. al Expresado
Don Edwardo Thomason — ^para que sirva y ejerza, por



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935

el tiempo demi voluntad, este empleo con todas las pre- 1822.
eminencias y privilejios que gozan los Vice-Consules do
las demds naciones : con prohibicion de poder nombra
por si quien le reemplace> ni aun accidentalmente para
el desempeno de sus funciones en calidad de interino, ne
ajente del Vice-Consulado : pues en el acto de faltar i
esta clausula quedara nulo este nombramiento.

" Per tanto exorto y encargo & todos los Capitanes Es-
panoles, Patrones, Maestres, de Navios, o de otras
cualesquiera embarcaciones y a los Comerciantes, Ma-
rineros y demds nacionales, traten, honren y reconozcan
al referido Don Edwardo Thomason. Como a tal Vice-
Coiisuly satisfaciendole los emolumentos y derechos que
le correspondan, sopena, de ser apremiados d ello. Y
{ por ultimo, pido y ruego a todas las Autoridades, asi
Civiles como Maritimas y Militares de este Reino Unido
& quienes to care, reconozcan al Citado Don Edwardo
Thomason por tal Vice-Consul de la Nacion Espanola,
y le permitan ejercer su empleo libermente en la men-
cionada Ciuddd de Birmingham dandole todo el favor y
ausilio que para ello necesitare.

" Don Ignacio Perez de Lema.
" Dado en Londres, 29th de Agosto, 1822/'

" Sydney Park, Sept. 21st, 1822.
"Sir,

" I think myself much obliged to you for your
letter, though the information which occasioned it was
inaccurate. Two of my daughters left York for Wor-
cestershire, about three weeks ago, but I was obliged to
separate from them at York, and to travel through Lon-
don to this place, where they met me three days since.
Our hope and intention was to travel together, and to



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236

1822. visit some objects of the most powerful attraction, parti-
cularly in the counties of Derby and Warwick. This
plan, however, was unfortunately and unavoidably frus-
trated, and we accordingly missed the pleasure we had
promised ourselves from your proffered kindness, of
which we trust that you will permit us to avail ourselves
on some future occasion.

" I am. Sir,
" Your obliged and obedient servant,




•* Edward Thomason, Esq.'*

Sir William Parker Carrol, Commandant at Malta,
wrote me the following letter : —

" Malta, 24th Oct., 1822.
" My dear Sir,

" Herewith I enclose you a letter from
the President of the Mess Committee of the 18th, or
Royal Irish Regiment. They want a number of arti-
cles of silver (not plated) for the mess, perhaps to the
amount of between four and five hundred pounds ; and
though such an order may not be of very great import-
ance at the present, yet, knowing that every thing that
comes from your house will recommend itself for its taste
and elegance, I consider that furnishing the Royal Irish
Mess with these articles might lead to extensive orders
from other corps. At all events my writing you upon this
occasion affords me an opportunity of expressing my re-
gard for you, and assuring you that it will ever afford

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237

me gratification to have opportunities of evincing how 1822.
truly I am,

" My dear Sir,

" Yours,




" If I can be of any use to you in any way in the Medi-
terranean, command me most freely.

" I inclose you a drawing of the breast-plate of the
soldiers of the Royal Irish, which will give your draughts-
man the motto of the Regiment.

"E. Thomason, Esq/'

I received the order from Captain William Pratt,
President of the 18th Regiment, lying at Malta. It
however came to about £1000.

Some time after this, but the note does not mention the
date, Sir William Parker Carroll passed through Bir-
mingham on his road to Ireland. I was absent from
home ; but he left me the following letter, dated Royal
Hotel, with a magnificent folio volume of Spanish
designs : —



" My dear Sir,

^* I feel gratified at sending you * Le
Antichita di Ercolano,' which, fortunately, I had in the
carriage with me. The other three volumes are in



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. 238

1822. Spain, but I hope at some future period I shall have
the pleasure of sending them to you.

" Yours, my dear Sir,

" Very faithfully,




/3^>^




Royal Hotel, Thursday Evening.**



The Common Council of the town of Liverpool deter-
mined to have a copper bronzed pillar, of about forty feet
high, erected in Liverpool, with a gas light at the top,
to give light for the harbour, &c., and my friend, Mr.
John Foster, jun., the City Architect, applied to me to
be one of the candidates to manufacture it, and to send
in designs. I made and forwarded him a design with
the lantern of Demosthenes on the top, the bottom of the
lantern being of one piece of plate glass. I offered to
erect it for 1,500 guineas. See Mr. Foster's reply : —

"Liverpool, 14th November, 1822.

" Dear Sir,

" The Committee of the Common Council
of this town having already determined upon the design
for the pillar to support the gas light intended to be
erected in this town, they decline to deviate from their re-
solution, and, consequently, to accept the drawing which
you were so kind to send. I have, therefore, forwarded
it to you per coach this evening, and am very sorry you
have given yourself the trouble to cause its being made.

" I must, however, candidly confess to you that I
admire it very much, particularly the lantern, which I



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239

think is very creditable to your classic taste. I will not 1822.
fail to lay before the next Committee your estimate for
the pillar, according to the design they have chosen, to
be executed in bronze, the result of which I will imme-
diately communicate to you, though I am very fearful
its amount will exceed their expectations.
" I remain,

" Dear Sir,

" Yours, very truly,

" Edward Thomason, Esq., Birmingham.*'

On being permitted to go over the Pavilion Palace at
Brighton, it was remarked to me that, from the principal
drawing-room, there was a beautiful spot for a fountain.
I made a design of a column of thirty-two feet in height,
to overcome any atmospherical pressure, and I suggested
some simple forcing machine, to be moved by two horses,
(quite out of sight of the palace) which carried the water
up a six-inch pipe, and forced it out about six feet above
the top. See Sir William Knighton's letter : —

"Sir,

" I have received by the hands of the Lord
Steward, a drawing of a design for a fountain, which
you propose to erect on the lawn at Brighton.

" I have had the honour of laying this before His
Majesty, but I have received no commands on the sub«
ject ; should I do so, at any future period, they will be
immediately communicated to you.



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240

1823. "I request the favour of you to mention by what
conveyance I should return the drawing.
" I remain, Sir,
" Your faithful, humble Servant,



>fc^5«^^



"Pavilion, Brighton, 4 November, 1822.*'

At this period I was making experiments to produce
the Tutenac of the Chinese. See a copy of my letter to
the Secretary of the Society of Arts, A. Aikin, with
specimens, and the mode of making it : —

**To A. Aikin, Esq., Secretary to the Society of
Arts, Adelphi.

" Birmingham, 9th May, 1823.

"Sir,

"You will oblige by submitting to the
inspection of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts
and Manufactures the two specimens herewith sent of a
metal bearing a strong similarity to the tutenac of the
Chinese. In a series of metallic experiments which I
have lately made, I have obtained the metal of which
the two specimens herewith sent are composed, and as
I know of no metal, or composition of metals, having
for its appearance a silvery hue but what immediately
oxidizes or changes its colour, without the possibility of
restoring the same, with the exception of silver, I have
some reason to believe that the metal which these two
specimens are composed of may be applied in many cases
to the arts and manufactures.

"These have been cast about seven weeks, and I



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241

placed them in a damp, moist situation, to witness 1823.
what change might take place by the absorption of
oxygen. It is true that a tarnish or partial oxide was
found, but so slight was the tinge that the tarnish was
immediately removed by wiping it with a leather or cloth,
and its primitive lustre regained. Its texture is close
and compact, and its specific gravity about 8.750.

Iron. Spelter. Copper. Nickel.

17,000 600 4,500 700

I produced it as follows : — As iron is fusible at 17,000
(Fahrenheit), Copper, 4,500 ; nickel, 800 p and zinc,
600, I found it advisable to place the iron first in the
crucible, when, perceiving that it was fused, I added
the copper ; then when these two metals were found in
a state of fluidity, I threw in the nickel, and last of all
the zinc ; but as this last metal quickly sublimes the
whole, it was actively stirred up with a steel spatula for
about a minute, and immediately poured into the moulds
prepared for its reception.

"The quantity of each of the ingredients is as
follows : —



Iron wire.


5


ounces


Copper wire.


85


ditto


Nickel ...


65


ditto


Zinc


55


ditto



210



" It retains a very high temperature, and is easilv
cast into large things, such as equestrian and other
statues, columns, capitals, entablatures, pilasters, and
other large work, and peculiarly adapted for them, inas-



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24>Q

1823. much that its hardness is so great as almost to resist
impressions from a violent blow of the hammer.

"I am, &e., &c.,

" Edward Thomason."

" Society of Arts, &c., Adelphi, London,

13th June, 1823.
" Sir,

" I have the honour to inform you, that your
specimens and letter to the Society instituted for the En-
couragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce,
have been received by me, laid before them, and referred
to the consideration of a Committee.

" When their opinion upon the subject is confirmed
by the Society, I will acquaint you with the result.
" I remain, respectfully,
"Sir,
" Your obedient Servant,

" P.S. Your communication, having arrived too late
for consideration during the present Session, is neces-
sarily postponed till November next.*'