METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.
Tnx sight of the hoard that now encloses the Egyptian front of the old office of the Courier and the Ionic portico of the burnt Lyceum, prepa- ratory to their removal to make way for the new thoroughfare in continu- ation of Wellington Street, reminded us of other improvements, pro- jected and in progress, of which we had not taken cognizance ; and we set. Out upon a survey of the doings of the architects in the Metropolis. The tide was running down; so we stept into a boat, and were quickly landed at London Bridge.
The new Hall for the Fishmongers Company was the first object that attracted our attention. The scaffolding—which, as a piece of elaborate intricacy, was a curiosity of itself—is only in part removed ; but enough of the building was visible to enable us to see that it is a very chaste edifice of Grecian Ionic. The end, or river front, consisting of a pediment supported by columns on a basement of granite, ap- pears very elegant. The front facing the road-way consists of a pro- jecting centre, with three-quarter columns and pilasters supporting a cornice surmounted by the Company's arms ; and two wings finished with balustrades. The effect of the coat of arms in bold relief, with the blank spaces on each side of it, is more striking than pleasing; and we fear it will be out of keeping with the quiet elegance of the rest of the build- ing. The two sea-horses in has-relief on either side of the centre are in very good taste, and will not interfere with the general effect. Al- together, the design is very creditable to the young architect, Mr. Ro- BEATS ; it being his first commission. We think, however, that an edifice in so open and commanding a situation, and rising above and immediately beside a bridge of the grandest proportions, should have been more massive in its design, and of bolder projections. Its appear- ance viewed from a distance we fear will be somewhat tame.
The Goldsmiths' new Hull, whose exterior is nearly completed, would have shown to better advantage on such a site, than in its present con- fined space ; where it can only be viewed (except from one point) by looking upwards almost from under its very walls. It is a compact oblong square building of two stories, ornamented with three-quarter columns and pilasters, not fluted, and having Corinthian capitals sup- porting a massive cornice. The dressings of the windows are not only bold, but positively heavy. The centre of the principal front, facing the Post-office, is ornamented between the columns with
trophies of armorial beatings, in bas-relief. The ceilings of the prin- cipal apartments appear, as we gut a peep at them through the un- glazed windows, to be richly ornamented in compartments. Some of the windows of the dining-hall, and of those of the Fishmongers' also will be of stained glass. The Goldsmiths' Hall is altogether in keeping with its civic character ; and whatever minor objections its de- tails may be open to, it is any rate neither mean nor insipid. It is de- signed by Mr. HaanwicKE ; who is likewise the architect of the City Club.house, in Broad Street, which, though plainer, is somewhat simi- lar in style and character. Crossing London Bridge from Fishmongers' Hall, a huge heap of building meets the eye, its flat front stuck full of windows, and its two wings crowned with unsightly oval domes of lead, looking like two enormous dish-covers. It was intended for a tavern. The Ladye Chapel, now completed, proves to be a great ornament to St. Saviour's Church ; the end view of which, through the open space in High Street, Southwark, is highly picturesque. The chancel and transepts with the chapel being now entirely restored, in appropriate taste, it only re- mains to rebuild the nave, and its side-aisles. This part of the church is now in a state of utter ruin, arid open to the weather. When this necessary restoration shall have been completed, the church of St. Mary Overy will be one of the handsomest Gothic structures in the country. The west side of the High Street, Southwark, as far as the Town Hall, is nearly rebuilt, and most of the houses inhabited. On the other side, the waste ground between St. Thomas's Hospital and the new approach from the Bridge Road to Tooley Street, is enclosed by an iron palisade, with gates and lodges. In what way it will he ap- propriated by the Hospital, is not, we believe, determined on. The old building itself stands in need of repair ; and as the Hospital funds are flourishing, we may expect a handsome addition to it.
The Old Bridge has now almost entirely disappeared : two arches on the City side alone remain. These might form a pier, and thus be the means of drawing some of the passengers down Fish Street Hill, which is now almost deserted. The main stream of traffic being diverted from this its ancient channel, it has become a mere back-water. The approach to the Bridge from Graeechurch Street, by a sharp turning, is very badly arranged, and mars the imposing effect of the New Bridge. The new thoroughfare direct from the Bridge to the Mansionhouse is very much needed, and will be a great improvement. They have pulled down nearly all the houses that stood in the way ; and we sup- pose therefore that the new street will be proceeded with forthwith. The new ranges of building are neat, but on rather a small scale; and. seem more suitable for a provincial town than a wealthy metropolis like London. They are of yellow brick, with stone or stucco dressings. Crooked Lane is metamorphosed into a straight alley, so narrow that the inhabitants of the houses opposite might shake bands out of the windows. This ought not to have been in the present day. A cross street opens a good view of the Monument. The aspect of the whole of this part of the Bridge approaches is unsatisfactory. It looks alto. gether like a botched business—a piece of jobbery. We observed another Wellington Street leading to London Bridge. Had the City no patriotic Mayor or citizen to boast of, whose name might have been given to the principal approach to the new Bridge? The noble pedestals that flank the ascents to the Bridge from the nver,
The shapeless shoulders of the new Church, and its bald and heavy
desirable place to take water from. really, now that the unjust stigma is removed from the play-actors, and that The great WILKINS job is, it seems, actually in course of perpetration they are no longer rogues and vagabonds in the eyes of the law, it is rather too at Charing Cross ! We keep our eye upon Lord DUNCANNON, and bad that they should continue to exact salaries which could be only justified by a take leave to compare notes with him when the House of Corn- rn- in the modesty of their emoluments, to approach the persons engaged in the mons meets again : in the mean time, we merely remind our readers of learned professions, who certainly are rant their inferiors in intellect or educa- the shuffling palaver that passed on the subject towards the close of the tion. It may be further urged, however, that in this occupation the labour is last session. It is now said, that the east wing of the building is to he certain, the success alone precarious ; that the struggle for eminence is severe erected first, to receive the National Pictures. The nation in this and tedious ; that few only can ultimately raise themselves to station and in- particular is at the mercy of Mr. WII.KINS. We can only hope that the dependence ; and that of the thousand aspirants, scarcely one succeeds in building will not be an eyesore. There is to he a central portico, winning even a transitory fame ; that the income of the player altogether dies which will partly eclipse the view of that of St. Martin's Church from with him ; and that for all these reasons it is but just that the actor should be Pall Mall ; after what Mr. WII.KINS has said, it should eclipse it in very largely remunerated for his performances during his season of renown. elegance also. Over the portico will be a dome, and smaller domes True—most true ! but is not all this equally true of men in all the profes- will crown the ends of the building. Each wing will be pierced with sions, and in the generality of occupations, provided they possess no private an archway; but whether the openings will be partly screened by fortunes ? Physicians, churchmen, barristers, soldiers, sailors—all excepting only the favoured of the blind goddess in theft- birth—are in their palmy hour the columns, we do not know. The King has seen the model ; but we servants of the public ; and we know the truth of the pithy proverb quoted by dare say it will be kept from the prying eyes of the Public. 'When the the ungrammatical kitchenmaid in Les Fernnzes Scavantes, that service is no building is erected it will be too late to criticize. They managed these inheritance. Besides, they in their earlier time have to watch, and wait, and things better in Athens. When the figures that adorned the pediments struggle, like the player, and oftentimes under severer circumstances; for they of the Parthenon were to be sculptured, PHDDIAS and his pupil ALCA- may be comparatively as poor as him in their grade, and they yet have to main- MENES were rivals in modelling a figure of Minerva. The productions tam n the appearance, and limit themselves to the associations, of a gentleman ; of the mighty master and his pupil were publicly exhibited. On a moreover, they have this additional disadvantage, they must one and all have near View level with the eye, the statue by ALCAMENES was preferred : sunk a capital in the adventure. The education of those engaged in the learned Pumas had carved the features of his goddess so as they should be professions is a work of much time and great expense : the soldier has to seen in proper relief and due proportions when placed on the pediment ; purchase his steps, or, at the best, to expend his own money while he is ALCAMENES, to be viewed on a level with the eye. The Athenians waiting for promotion ; all have to support themselves for a long period whilst
they are courting fortune; even the tradesman, however humble, must have did not pronounce their final judgment, however, without seeing the something before he embarks in business. All, from the moment when two statues from their place on the pediment; and in this view that of they attain their occupation, have a certain rank and character to maintain PHIDIAS was preferred. We cannot, in the case of a building, have in the world, and not one in ten thousand, we may add, is in the end adequately
• the same opportunity of judging of the merits of rival designs; so the rewarded for his studies, his services, his toils. The play-actor alone can enter public are kindly spared the perplexity and danger of coming to a wrong upon his avocation with "a light heart and a thin pair of breeches," and no decision, by being left out of the matter altogether. Enough for them superfluous pocket to that breeches withal. He needs no money ; for his daily that they pay. labours, as he goes on, supply, though perhaps scantily, his natural wants; he The open space in front of the Men's is boarded up, previous to the needs no knowledge or information, he learns aim drives along; he may begin laying out of the ground as a garden ; but what design, if any, is yet by snuffing the candles, dancing, tumbling, and admiring others, until he is at ,determined upon, we cannot learn. length himself admired as the living image of Benedict or Hamlet: he needs no The exterior of the new Westminster Hospital is completed, and character, for here alone of all employments in this country is it that there are presents a handsome appearance. The design is by Messrs. INw000. "no questions asked" respecting the votary ;—he needs not even a name, for he It is a Gothic building; the entrance front, facing Dean's Yard, has a may select from the wide range of British nomenclature, ancient and modern, that which he proposes in his person to immortalize. Nor, as he advances in .portico of three arches, and a light and elegant oriel window above ; his pursuit, does the necessity of an expenditure proportionably increased attend the angles of the building are also enriched in a similar manner ; and it. And, last and best of all, the labours of the successful play-actor are one the walls are battlemented. It completely screens one side of the perpetual triumph. He has not to look to the doubtful future for his reward,— Mews recently erected for the convenience of the Members of both to a laboured panegyric, a chiselled stone, the decree of a posterity at length Houses, and never used for that purpose. impartial,—the present pays him every thing, even unto the vulgar applause The Sessions-house, which adjoins the Hospital, looks more out of which his soul loveth. He lives, and moves, and has his being, in the halo of character and uglier than ever. It might be Gothicised at no great ex- his proper fame. Ina word, when we consider the emoluments and advantages pence, and be made highly ornamental. Buttresses might be placed of other and higher classes of men, there appears to be no one reason why the . at the angles of the projecting sides, supporting flying buttresses uniting player should be so largely rewarded for his labours as he has been, and vet will in the centre of the roof in a pinnacle or lantern ; the circular-headed be, except that men always pay more liberally for that which pleases, than for windows be carried up to a point, and the square ones enriched with that which is really useful.—Praser's Magazine for September. Gothic dressings. The octagonal form of the central building and its VOCAL MACHINERY OF B1RDS.—It is difficult to account for so small a low roof offer great facilities for such a metamorphosis. It would creature as a.bird making a tone as loud as some animals a thousand times almost be preferable to removing it. The grand thoroughfare to sweep its size; but a recent discovery has shown, that in birds the lungs have several from this point and unite with Grosvenor Place, forming a segment of a openings communicating with corresponding air-hags or cells, which till the whole cavity of the body from the neck downwards, and into which the air circle, as projected by Mr. Raarrwm., would be an immense improve. passes and reposes in the progress of breathing. This is not all ; the very ment. The Westminster Hospital might form part of the line of bones are hollow, from which air-pipes are conveyed to the most solid parts of Street. The new Barracks adjoining the Birdcage Walk would inter- the body, even into the quills and feathers. This air being rarefied by the heat fiere with that part of Mr. BARDWELVS plan which has reference to of their body, adds to their levity. By forcing the air out of the body they can the Park, but not with the main street. The Barrack is a handsome dart down from the greatest heights with astonishing velocity. No doubt the structure, much more like a mansion than the scrubby brick building same machinery forms the basis of their vocal powers, and at once salves the in the corner of the Park near James Street: mystify, Gardiner's Music of Nature. reallY Want bronze colossal statues upon them ; which would have an . The new lodge and entrance to the Park is a handsome improvement. imposing effect. WAITHMAN deserves to be placed on one. The neat It is considerably to the south of the okl gateway leading to Pimlico, in granite obelisk erected in Farringdon Street to his memory, is a modest order. to make room for the extension of the wings of the new Palace. testimonial to his worth, and its site opposite his house is appropriate ; These consist of a basement story only, for kitchens and servants' but as the City can boast of few such Mayors, we think they might offices ; and extend about 150 feet on each side. They will, we think, with all their wealth do more honour to WAITHMAN. We dare say, improve the appearance of the front of the Palace, by adding to its however, that the Corporation will prefer to flatter royalty and the length, and thus increasing its apparent elevation ; but still the propor-
nobility of title. Most of the Aldermen are rank tufthunters. tions of the marble arch will tend to dwarf the building. The massive
The intended thoroughfare to Clerkenwell, in continuation of Far- superstructure above the cornice of the arch, round which was to have ringdon Street, is not yet commenced, The houses which fell down, been the sculptured frieze, has been removed. What is to be substi- the other day, in that sink of filth and foul air Saffron Hill, have made tuted for it, remains to be seen. It will not of course continue as it is. a beginning, which should be taken as a hint to be followed up. We A group of figures, or a coat of arms, on a plinth, would make a hand, should not be surprised, however, if they were hastily built up again, some finish. Something is yet wanted to crown the centre of the Palace. in order to secure a compensation-premium when the new street is The egg-shell dome was paltry; but one of a size proportioned to the determined upon. The opening in Newgate Street, which shows the building might now be added with propriety. The platform of the roof new Hall of Christ's Hospital, is still boarded up. But it is intended seems destined to support some ornament of this kind. At the South- to have entrance-gates and lodges, with a palisade. This improvement west corner of the garden front, is an isolated structure like a raised will be a great ornament to Newgate Street. The brick building at altar, or pedestal ; which, seen from the Pimlico road, has a picturesque right angles with the hall, and the new grammar schools (the latter es- appearance. We were at a loss to define its purpose ; and upon inquiry, pecially) are in good old English taste. we learned that it was a chimney, in which were concentred all the flues
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