This medal was struck in gold to the metal value of ten
guineas, to be presented to the writer of the best poem entitled
“ The Christian Hero.” The advertisement of the Prize was
published in the Gent. Mag. 1735, p. 778. The portrait of Til-
lotson was put upon the medal instead of that of Lady Elizabeth
Hastings, which had been originally intended, but which was
prevented by that lady herself. James Edward Oglethorpe was
the founder of the colony of Georgia in North America, to serve
as an asylum for the oppressed Protestants of Germany and
other Continental States. The first party of colonists arrived
at Charlestown in Jan. 1733. This aet, and his philanthropic
efforts for improving the condition of the poor debtors confined
in the London prisons, made him very popular at that time.
Some of the poems which competed for the prize are given in
the Gent. Mag. 1736.
83.. M il t o n ’s M o n u m e n t . 1737.
Bust of Milton, r., hair long, in falling collar, coat, and
mantle. Leg. io h a n n e s . m il t o n u s . On truncation, t a n n e r . f .
(John Sigismund Tanner fecit.)
Rev. Inscription, e m arm o re in e c c l e s ia sa n c t i p e t r i a pu d
WESTMONASTERIUM ERECTORE GULIELMO BENSONO ARM . ANNO
SALUTIS HUMAN.® M DCO XXXVII . RTSBRACHIUS SCULPSIT. (R yS -
braeh sculptured [the monument] of marble erected by William
Benson, Esq., in the Church of St. Peter, Westminster, in the
year of grace, 1737.)
2'05. Snelling, xxvi. 4.
MB; At. M . ' Bare.
William Benson, better known by the style of Auditor
Benson, employed Rysbrach to erect the monument to the
memory of Milton which now exists in Westminster Abbey, and
engaged Tanner to engrave this medal, one of which he presented
on the 9th Dec. 1738, the anniversary of Milton’s birthday,
to the author of the best poem in praise of Paradise Lost.
The portrait on the monument was taken from a bust in the
possession of Mr. Thomas Hollis, and from a drawing by
Faithorne.
84. M il t o n ’s M o n um e n t . 1737.
An impression of the preceding medal was altered by order
of Mr. Hollis. On the obverse the Latin legend was erased by
the turning-lathe and io h n m il t o n engraved in its place. The
type of the reverse was also erased, and in its place was substituted
Mr. Hollis’s favourite symbol, an owl with expanded wings
standing upon a palm branch, and his motto, by . d e e d s . o f .
PEACE .
2.
MB. M. Unique?
85. J u b il e e o f t h e P e a c e o f U t r e c h t , 1738.
Belgium, accompanied by her Lion, is seated before the
closed Temple of Janus: she holds in her left hand a hook
inscribed, e u a n g e l iu m , and in her right her spear, which is
hound with palm and laurel branches, and bears the cap of
Liberty. At her feet are arms and standards and a captive
soldier: above is Fame with two trumpets, their flags inscribed,
iu b il a t e xxv. Leg. v . l u s t r : fced ; b e l g : pa c e s t a b il .
(The Peace of the Belgian Confederacy established for 25 years.)
Ex. XI . APRIL . MDCCXXXVHI. N. V. SWINDEREN . F .
Rev. Suspended from one bow of riband are the crowned
shields of Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark,
and Poland. Leg. o r b is Ch r i s t ia n : q u ie t e in t e r s e compo-
s it a . (The mutual peace of the Christian world established.)
2'2. Yan Loon, Suppl. xiv. 127.
MB. JL Rare.
This medal, executed in Holland, Commemorates the 25th
anniversary of the Peace of Utrecht.
86. D ea n Sw i f t . 1738.
Medallion of Dean Swift above clouds, supported by Hibernia
with her shield and spear, a Gorgon shield lying near her, and
by History, who crowns the bust with a laurel wreath. Above