The proceedings at the Willis's Rooms dinner, on the 18th of June, when a testimonial was presented to Admiral Rous, by a numerous company not only of his personal friends and comrades in the Navy, but of the members of the Jockey Club and all those gentlemen, interested in the Turf who have witnessed his zealous, able, and impartial conduct of its affairs, were duly noticed in this Journal at the time. The chairman, it may be remembered, was Earl Granville; and the Duke of Beaufort, the Duke of St. Albans, the Marquis of Hastings, the Marquis of Anglesey, the Earls of Cardigan, Wilton, Bradford, and Coventry, with most of the great racing men of the day, were present on that occasion. The gift to Admiral Rous consisted of the portrait of himself, by Mr. Weigall, which was in the late exhibition of the Royal Academy, and three magnificent silver candelabra, which appear in our present Illustration. The principal or centre piece was manufactured by Messrs. Hunt and Roskell. It is surmounted by a statuette of Admiral Rous, the figures around the shaft representing Justice, Wisdom, Courage, and Navigation. On one of the panels of the base is a representation of her Majesty's ship Pique (which the Admiral commanded) on her homeward voyage of 1500 miles across the Atlantic, without keel, forefoot, or rudder, in 1835. On another panel an ordinary race is depicted. The third bears the Admiral's arms, and the fourth has a suitable inscription; whilst at the angles of the base are groups of horses, studies from nature.
The other two candelabra, manufactured by Messrs. C. F. Hancock, Son, and Co., are in the Renaissance style. They support branches for six lights, terminating with a figure of Zephyr. The stem rests upon a circular base, intersected by four projecting panels decorated with heads of sea-horses. The base is further ornamented by figures in round relief of Neptune and Fame, in allusion to the Admiral's early life, and the renown he has earned both as an able officer and during his lengthened career on the Turf also by bassi-relievi representing—one, the Pique as she appeared when, after having taken the rocks on the previous night, on the coast of Labrador, about Point Forteau, she was, by the great exertions and skill of her captain, hove off on the morning of Sept. 23, 1835; and eventually, although fearfully damaged and almost sinking, brought safely back to England. The other basse-relievo is devoted to racing, and shows a "dead heat;" and the lower part of the stem has also four medallions representing "Breeding," "Breaking," "Training," and "Racing;" whilst the centre of the same has a figure of a sailor with the telescope and compass, and that of Justice holding the scales.
