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has been so little thought of since, that we have seen some of his designs lately brought forward as original conceptions.

We have taken this retrospective glance of London, in order to afford our readers better means of judging of the various suggestions for the improvement of our modern city, which we now proceed to examine.

Mr. Croker, in his Letter to the Earl of Liverpool,' (1823,) warmly urges the completion of the eastern wing of Somerset House, and suggests that it might be advantageously dedicated to the purposes of a National Museum, instead of the ruinous old fabric in Great Russell-street. This plan is stated for the consideration of the premier with all the zeal and ingenuity for which the author is distinguished; but though we have the satisfaction to know that the government has consented to the erection of the deficient wing, we rather think it will be devoted to public offices. Indeed, it may be doubted whether the banks of the Thames afford a safe situation for books and pictures. The foggy exhalations from the river, and the tremendous volumes of smoke and soot which are wafted from the steam-engines, (daily increasing in number,) in its neighbourhood, are found highly injurious to such articles, even in private houses, and would still more seriously affect an extensive public collection. In the preface to the third edition the author states that when the Letter was first written, the larger and more generous views which the Country seems now inclined to take of this kind of questions' were not anticipated, and that his proposals referred not to what he thought desirable, but to what it seemed practicable to obtain. We, therefore, conclude, that subsequent events have altered some of his opinions given on a different state of the case. When this pamphlet was first circulated there was but little prospect of rescuing our great national collections from the risk and inconve nience to which they were exposed in old Montague House. Much is therefore due to its author as the first who directed the public attention to this very important object. The rebuilding of that edifice, on a scale correspondent to the dignity of a British Museum, is now proceeding rapidly, and we agree (as has been already hinted*) in the more matured opinion of Mr. Croker, that it is the fittest depository for the great National Library, though the propriety of adding the library of his late Majesty to the existing collection seems more than doubtful. We should have preferred to see that library placed in a suitable separate building, nearer the Houses of Parliament. Thus accommodated, (perhaps on the site of Carlton-House,) it would stand as an

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honourable memorial of King George the Third, its founder, and of the munificence of his accomplished successor, by whom it was presented to the public. It is curious that the royal collector and his venerable librarian (Mr. Barnard) should have survived almost sixty years after commencing the formation of this, the most complete private library in Europe, steadily appropriating £2000 per annum to this object, and adhering with scrupulous attention to the instructions of Dr. Johnson, contained in the admirable letter recently printed by order of the House of Commons.

We are inclined to believe a veteran diplomatist, who much frequents the Alfred, to be the author of the lively and sensible Observations' which stand second on our list, and though we by no means concur in all his criticisms, we cordially recommend his pamphlet to those readers who, like ourselves, take an interest m the growing beauty of the metropolis.

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The attractive project of Colonel Trench, illustrated by a series of lithographic views, comes next to be considered; but it need not long detain us, for, with a sincere desire to see it executed, we have long thought it hopeless. Our first opinion was that he began his canvass in the wrong quarter-that he should have sounded the wharfingers and coal-merchants, before he launched his summer-barge upon the Thames freighted with princes, lordings, and high dames, the patrons and protectresses of his scheme. But perhaps he might think that a committee of management, including ministers of state and other men of refined taste, would carry all before it. It was soon perceived that the plan would never pay, and that Parliament, however liberal, must reserve its funds for higher objects. Thus abandoned by his most powerful supporters, we think Colonel Trench will not have courage to proceed farther in this speculation, but as we observe a portion of his long lithographic plan proposes to open a noble Colonnade from St. Paul's to the river Thames, we earnestly recommend him to coalesce as to that point with Sir Wm. Curtis. That worthy baronet, laudably anxious to commemorate himself as a benefactor to his own city, has long been teeming with a similar project, and would, we cannot doubt, be very thankful for the Colonel's aid in giving it birth.

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The pamphlet dedicated to the King by a Member of Parliament' offers a magnificent design for a Palace in Hyde-Park near Stanhope-street gate. We have seen another plan, not published, which proposes the Regent's Park as a preferable site. The authors, who are brethren in taste as well as blood, have abundantly proved that an intimate acquaintance with the details of architecture is not incompatible with the more dignified acquirements

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proper to persons of high rank and station. All men of right feeling have acknowledged that the Sovereign of this great realm has not hitherto possessed a proper London residence. Whether he was to inhabit an ancient hospital for lepers, as at St. James's, or to be lodged by the bounty of a Lord Dorchester at Carlton House, it must be confessed that the Nation has hitherto done nothing towards providing a metropolitan palace becoming the royal dignity. If a situation were now to be chosen, we should decidedly prefer Buckbine Hill in Hyde-Park, to any spot which has yet been named. We think the accommodation of the king in some one of his own parks should be the first consideration; and though we cannot too highly appreciate the generous reluctance to abridge the space set apart for the recreation of his subjects, which decided his majesty to rebuild Buckingham house, rather than chuse another site, we must say that very unbecoming objections and much foolish talk have been maintained about invading the parks. For our parts we should not have grudged the cost of such a palace even at the expense of two millions, considering it due to the monarch of this great empire, and well knowing that money so expended goes to the reward of British talent and industry; and we cannot but regret that the king's scruples, aided perhaps by a partiality for the place of his nativity, finally determined him to adopt an inferior situation, and a design, the estimates for which scarcely reach a tenth of that amount.

The Letter to Sir Charles Long,' (reported to be the offspring of a female pen,) seems chiefly designed to recommend the appointment of a Committee of Taste to direct all the architectural im provements of the metropolis. Many people already believe in the existence of such a committee, in the persons of the six noblemen and gentlemen, with Sir Charles Long as their chairman, to whose judgment the Lords of the Treasury from time to time referred the designs for public monuments in St. Paul's and Westminster Abbey. But there ended their functions, which were purely honorary. We cannot concur in the suggestions of the fair writer; and we venture to think Sir Charles himself would be of our opinion, though high authorities have recommended the appointment of a permanent commission, similar to that already chosen for the limited object of the repairs of Windsor castle. In the House of Commons warm discussions took place last year, on the merits of some of our new buildings, and the façade of one was rebuilt on the recommendation of a committee. We acknowledge ourselves indebted to them for that improvement, but we are of opinion that such interposition should be rare. As the king's ministers are responsible for the expenditure of the public money, we think (without reference to their personal quali

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fications) that they are the most proper persons to decide upon the adoption of plans submitted to them by the Board of Works. - The last of the pamphlets we have to notice, though printed only for private circulation, is written, we believe, by Sir Charles Long; we are therefore disposed to interpret many of its suggestions as hints of works which may in due time be executed. It is remarkable for the unaffected good taste and judgment of its observations, and especially those on the opening of the Strand and other great public avenues. The recommendation for removing the line of houses which separates King-street from Parliament-street, and those on the right of Bridge-street, would, if adopted, be a magnificent, though, we fear, a very costly improvement. The hints for supplanting the forest trees which skirt the Park, by flowering shrubs, and dressing the ground in a gayer style, are in excellent taste, and would convert even the gloomy alleys of St. James's Park into a lively and agreeable promenade. We are rejoiced to learn from such authority that the plan and elevation of the Palace now rising on the ruins of Buckingham House promise both splendour, and convenience, and, as it is now decided on, that the work is proceeding rapidly. But as the foundation of Carlton House is declared to be absolutely unsafe, and the building is to be pulled down immediately, his majesty, for the next two or three years, will have no London Palace except St. James's, which, though admirably arranged for holding his Court, is quite unfitted for a domestic residence. We hear also that the Arch of Constantine, with some variations and additions, and glittering with the newly invented mosaic gold, is to form the approach to the new palace, as the long-promised triumphal monument of the victories of Trafalgar and Waterloo. We had once hoped to see these national trophies erected elsewhere, but we honour the feeling which induces his Majesty to associate them with his own palace, and we only hope that the structure may be erected at Hyde Park Corner, as the royal entrance from Windsor; the front which is to commemorate the great achievement of the Duke of Wellington, facing Apsley House, and the other, dedicated to the memory of Nelson, looking towards Westminster. In this commanding position it would be an object of constant interest to all who enter this avenue of the metropolis, where every passer-by would view it with a grateful sense of those services which it is destined to commemorate.

We yield our entire assent to all the author has said in praise of the great works carrying on at Windsor. We have had the advantage of inspecting these, and, we think, though Mr. Wyatville has had to grapple with many unforeseen difficulties, he has surmounted them with great ingenuity. As antiquaries, certainly,

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we would have demanded that all the repairs should have been made, as was at first proposed, in the severe style of the age of Edward III.; but had this been done, much of the comfort and convenience of the royal Residence must have been sacrificed to the stern uniformity of the Castle. The architect doubtless felt himself entitled to introduce such variations in style as occurred between the era of its commencement by William of Wykeham, and that of the additions by Elizabeth; and in giving a more ornamental exterior, he has been enabled to afford great improvement in the internal arrangement. We are sorry, though not surprized, to learn that the ruinous condition of the whole building (which could not be discovered till some progress had been made in these alterations) will require a further grant to a large amount. The beautiful chapel of St. George, now imprisoned betwixt the Collegiate Houses, should be freed from these incumbrances. The buildings of that part of the town, which has encroached upon the castleditch, must also be removed, and when the terrace is carried, on a lower level, completely round the south and west sides, nothing will be wanting to render Windsor Castle the most splendid palace in Europe.

Upon the subject of the National Gallery, the author of the Short Remarks' writes con amore, and we trust that all which he recommends, as to the formation of the Collection, will be adopted. It is vain to look back upon what such a Gallery might have possessed from sources which are now passed away. The dispersion of the magnificent collection of Charles I., formed by that accomplished monarch with the truest taste and judgment, is now irretrievable. The pictures sold by the parliament after his death may yet be traced among the first collections on the continent; but few of them have yet returned to this country. But the æra of good taste is at length revived. A just estimate of the value of such works (as public property) is now entertained. The Houghton Gallery would not in our days have been driven to seek a purchaser on the confines of the Arctic circle; and we may congratulate our countrymen that the nucleus' of a British Gallery is already formed. The munificent donation of the entire collection of Sir George Beaumont does honour to that distinguished connoisseur; and the purchase of the pictures belonging to the late Mr. Angerstein has secured some of the finest specimens of the great masters. We are persuaded that several of the most eminent collectors will add to these hereafter by donation or bequest. Mr. Holwell Carr has already signified his intention of thus disposing of his beautiful Italian pictures, and we believe that many such gifts have been already lost to the public from the mere want of a national depository. The diffusion

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