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NOLLEKEN'S CONTEMPORARIES.

"Here endeth the list of British Worthies. In the Mason's-yard, there is a statue, larger than life, of George II crowned, in his robes, by Scheemakers: it formerly stood in the gardens on a handsome Corinthian column, which was taken down to prevent its falling from decay. To my mind, there is much merit in this statue. Queen Caroline yet stands in a retired part of the gardens—aloft, supported by four Corinthian columns, she is surrounded by trees, and too high to be examined—but the similarity of style is in favour of Scheemakers as the sculptor.

"In the Temple of Friendship are several busts in white marble. I can discover names, however, upon two only— Richard Grenville, late Earl Temple, by Scheemakers, and the Earl of Westmoreland, by one 'Thomas Ady, 1742.' Very probably some of the others are by Scheemakers; they possess considerable merit, and are as follow:—Frederick, Prince of Wales, the Earls of Chesterfield and Marchmont, the Lords Cobham, Gower, and Bathurst, William Pitt, late Earl of Chatham, and George Lyttelton, late Lord Lyttelton.

"I believe I have now enumerated all that are, or are suspected to be, the work of Scheemakers."[1]


  1. This Sculptor's statue of Shakspeare, similar in composition to that erected in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey, which has been recently set up over the principal entrance of Drury-lane Theatre, is of lead, and was executed by Cheere, "the leaden-figure man," formerly so highly celebrated at Hyde Park Corner, mentioned in the first volume of this work. This figure has been on the premises ever since the time of Mr. Whitbread, who gave it to the Theatre. For this information, I am indebted to my friend, Mr. Winston.