The statue of the Duke of York was placed upon its column in Carlton Gardens on April 11th, and the Examiner of the 12th thus speaks of it—
"The announcement of the newspapers that the elevation of the Duke of York's statue was to be celebrated with military honours drew a vast number of people to Carlton Gardens and the neighbouring houses. There was, however, no military spectacle, not even a military band to while away the time during the slow process of hoisting up the statue, which did not reach the top of the column till the people had dispersed, who had spent the day in wondering what was to happen to requite them for their trouble in coming to the spot and the tedium of waiting. Nothing was to be seen but a bit of canvas fluttering in the bitter east wind, showing the place of the statue, to which it served as wrapper. The ascent was imperceptibly slow, such as sailors proverbially say is the progress of lawyers to heaven. The weight of the statue is said to be seven tons, and the height above thirteen feet. A woman in the crowd, according to the Globe, observed, 'The Duke of York was never so large as that.' The same criticism was made by a learned judge on the statue of Canning at Westminster, and his companion, Mr. Thesiger, agreeing that Canning was not so large, readily perfected the criticism by adding 'nor so green either.'
"The statue of the Duke of York turns his back on the town and his face to the Park. This arrangement was contrary to the judgment of Mr. Westmacott, but insisted on by the Duke of Wellington, who held it a point of propriety that the Commander-in-Chief should face the Horse Guards. His Grace also contends that it will be seen by more people from the Park below than from Waterloo Place—another curious evidence of the correctness of his observation. But this is not the Duke's first mistake as to public views. It now seems that the Duke of York is ashamed to show his face to the town, and, what to military notions is worse, he turns his back on Waterloo Place.
"On the base of the monument should be inscribed, 'He made creditors pitied!'—an effect never before produced, as the sympathies of the world generally runs with poor debtors, and creditors are only thought of and talked of as 'hard' and 'cruel.' No general in history was ever so heavily charged as the Commander-in-Chief, and yet the charges of his creditors were the only charges the general ever defeated."
In May, people were much exercised about Trades' Unions, which were then being formed, and, as is their nature, leading to strikes, some of which were then becoming serious, as in the cases of the cotton spinners and the journeymen tailors. An attempt was made to turn the movement into ridicule, as shown by the following, but without effect—
"Circular Letter and Regulations from the Grand Lodge of Ladies' Maids.
"Madam,
"By direction of the Friendly Society of Operative Ladies' Maids, I have to inform you that, to stay the ruinous effects which a destructive fashionable competition has so long been inflicting on them, they have resolved to introduce certain new regulations into their profession, which regulations they intend should commence from Monday next; and I herewith beg to enclose a copy of them—
"Regulations.
"No sister shall be allowed to work, except for herself, from the first day of May to the last day of April. No sister shall plait, brush, or dress her lady's hair, or wait upon her in sickness—except for such extra remuneration as each sister shall deem it expedient to ask. No sister shall be called before ten in the morning, nor shall any sister remain in a service where she is refused a fire in her own room, an armchair, a subscription to a circulating library, the free use of her lady's clothes, and as many followers as she may like to retain. No lady shall presume to part with her maid or to hire another without the consent of all the ladies' maids within four miles of Grosvenor Square. Nor shall any lady buy any gown, bonnet, or any article of dress that may not be made serviceable or profitable to her maid, nor shall she be allowed to retain the same in wear after the Grand United Lodge of Operative Ladies' Maids shall have declared it a lawful perquisite. No sister shall be allowed to ask leave to go out, nor shall any sister be contradicted or found fault with, neither shall she be put up with a small looking-glass, nor with a room with a northern aspect.