32. _Statue of Mrs. Jordan._--In visiting Chantrey's studio some years
since, in company with a sculptor still living, we received from Mr.
Allan Cunningham a similar account to that which MR. PETER CUNNINGHAM
has given, that is to say, that the design was _Stodhart's_, of which,
indeed, it bore too certain evidence.
Chantrey was engaged at that time upon a colossal equestrian figure of
Sir Thomas Picton, destined, I believe, for India. On that visit I was
singularly impressed with the gracefulness and beauty of the statue of a
female figure with three children; one was at her breast, and in the
curled head of another at her feet was the mother's hand enfolded. On
the pedestal of the statue was this inscription:
"Sacred to the memory of Norah Bland."
I learnt from Mr. Cunningham that this was the statue of Mrs. Jordan,
and was executed for William IV., and that there was some difficulty
respecting its place of reception. What is become of this noble work of
art? The little boy amongst whose curls the mother's hand played, was
the late Earl of Munster.