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Byron
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Samuel Rogers and his Contemporaries
Thomas Moore to Samuel Rogers, 25 October 1847
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Preface
Vol. I Contents
Chapter I. 1803-1805.
Chapter II. 1805-1809.
Chapter III. 1810-1812.
Chapter IV. 1813-1814.
Chapter V. 1814-1815.
Chapter VI. 1815-1816.
Chapter VII. 1816-1818.
Chapter VIII. 1818-19.
Chapter IX. 1820-1821.
Chapter X. 1822-24.
Chapter XI. 1825-1827.
Vol. II Contents
Chapter I. 1828-1830.
Chapter II. 1831-34.
Chapter III. 1834-1837.
Chapter IV. 1838-41.
Chapter V. 1842-44.
Chapter VI. 1845-46.
Chapter VII. 1847-50.
Chapter VIII. 1850
Chapter IX. 1851.
Chapter X. 1852-55.
Index
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‘10 Western Cottages, Brighton: 25th October, 1847.

‘My dear Sir,—You already know from Miss Denman that through the excellent management of Edwin Field
316 ROGERS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES  
the Flaxman remains have been rescued at a very small sacrifice. They are once more at her disposition. You know also what her anxious desire is—and I now think that that desire will be gratified, for she tells me that you take an interest in the matter and have expressed a wish to see me as soon as I return to London. I believe that that will be, at the latest, this day week. I will lose no time in seeing you, and I hope that it will suit your convenience to accompany me to the University College, where these things are warehoused now, but where I trust, with your aid, or rather through your instrumentality, they will one day constitute a Flaxman gallery.

‘When Miss Denman offered these remains to the Government, a sum was offered which, if money had been her object, would have been acceptable; but as the Government had no room to place them in (it was declared by the officers at the British Museum that they could not afford to take in anything but marble), they would certainly have been lost to the world, perhaps in a short time destroyed. Now, what the Government could not give, the University College can give, but unfortunately nothing else—house-room. The finances of the College are in such a sad state that, with all my solicitude, I could not, as a member of the council, vote for the diversion of any portion of our scanty means from their proper object, even for the flooring of the apartment under the dome, where they might be placed; the funds must be supplied elsewhere both for fitting up the apartment and repairing the models and casts.

‘When the negotiation took place with the Government, it was stated by the Council of the Royal Academy,
HENRY CRABB ROBINSON317
to whom the matter was referred, that it would cost 500l. to put the things in order, that is, repair, cleanse and paint; Miss Denman says it may be done for 200l.; Mr. Atkinson says the dome may be put in a condition to receive them for 150l. But it will be safer to estimate the requisite sum at 500l. to 600l.

‘I cannot think that there will be any difficulty in raising the money. Edwin Field says the same, but we differ in our opinion as to the means of raising it. He would obtain subscriptions of 5l. or 10l. from the lawyers and artists. And he would give to each subscriber a cast from some favourite work. I would rather go to a few of the known patrons of art, such as Sir Robert Peel, Lord Northampton, &c., and I should expect that in sums of 100l. or 50l. the money might be easily procured. Many months ago, when I called on Watson the sculptor and hinted at this thought of forming a Flaxman gallery—but said nothing about sums—he said, if anything of the kind be done, let my name be put down for 50l. You will have the goodness to turn this over in your mind—and indeed, the whole business of the proposed gallery.

‘I called yesterday on Miss Rogers, and was struck by a great change in her appearance and in her talk also. She was wonderfully improved. My friends the Masqueriers desire their best remembrances to you.

‘Very truly yours,
‘H. C. Robinson.’