THE NELSON 310NUMENT.
TO TI1E E1)1TOIL OF THE SEEt"IATOR.
NO.8. George Street, London University, Stli AttgilEt 1938.
Sin—I was very much surprised and disconcerted on being informed last night by a friend, that may design for the National Monument to NELSON WU tleSt•ribed and commented upon in the Spectator of Saturday the 4th instant. On sending for the paper, I found the information correet. From the manner in which you speak of my work, your intention was evi• dently friendly, although ill•judged in the extreme. That a gentleman of so extended views as 31r. SPEcrAPoit should discuss the merits or demerits of II design for a public competition before being submitted to the Cwainittee, was unsxpected. I hope you will pardon me, but I feel it absolutely necessary, in maintaining the consistency of my character,—having always advocated a straightforward and manly competition in public works ot art,—to call on you to give publicity to this letter, that any friends may know that I never sanctioned or knew of the publication in question ; and that the public may be informed 1 ant incapable of attempting to prejudge a question of so much importance to the country and the art of sculpture. I feel the greatest regret and vexation that the remarks, which otherwise would have afforded me lively pleasure, should at this prema- ture moment have been made.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
PA [There has certainly been a misunderstanding here ; hut the PARK. we hope, will not he very serious. Having been invited to look at this and other works of Mr. PARK in his studio, we inferred the permission to speak freely of what we saw : indeed, we accept of such invitations on no other terms—we should grudge the time bestowed on mere amusement and the gra. tification of curiosity. Mr. PARK, of course,
was not cognizant of what we
were going to say. It is pretty well known that the Spectator receives no prompti ngs.—Eu.]
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