The Shelly Memorial at Via Reggio.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8418, 10 December 1894, Page 4

The Shelly Memorial at Via Reggio.

The monument erected at Via Reggio to the poet Shelley by his Italian admirers has been unveiled with.great ceremony. Over 70 years have passed since Shelley's body was washed up on the shore near Via Reggio with that of Lieutenant Williams, but tbe proposal to raise some memorial olose by the soene of hit tragio deith was only made four years ago. The idea first ooourred to Siguor Caiar Ricoioni, a lawyer of the town, and to Signor P. Fieri, of Lucoa, while tbey were convening together about Shelley one August evening in '1890. Signor Ricoioni took up tho project with muoh enthuiiaim, ■and it was due to his initiative that an executive committee was formed, of whioh he himself was eleoted president. The honorary committee included Mr.Gladitone and Mr Algernon Charles Swinburne. The necessary funds were raised by publio subsoription. After the monument had been unveiled, Signor Ricoioni delivered an ad<> dress and handed the statue over to' Signor Nelli, the Mayor of Via Roggio, who aocepted it, amid hearty oheers, on behalf of the town. The monument is directly faoing tbe tea, and its total height ii 15ft. The bust of Shelley, by which it is surmounted, is the work of Profossor Urbano Liicoheii, the eminent soulptor, and represent* the poet at the age of 29. The eyes are| gazing meditatively across the sea, and a pen just laid down appears from under the folds of the cloak. On the side of the pedestal, encircled by interwined branches of oak and olive, is a book bearing on it* ; coyer the word " Prometoo.". Above this : is the following inscription ;— " 189*7 j?< B - Shelly, heart of hearts, in 1822 drowned in this sea, o'onsumed by fire on tliis shore, where. he meditated the addition to; 'Prometheus Unbound 'of a posthumous, page in whioh every generation , would have a, token of its struggles, its tears, and its redemption."