The Express.
London, England, 1863-10-14 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING,

'hundred thousand pounds. We do not profess to
be advocates of this or any other plan in particular,
but we think it only fair that as being the first
and the cheapest, and the least calculated to create
hostility by interference with existing interests, it
ought to be taken into consideration as well as the
rest, and have its merits or demerits fairly can-
vassed. Even supposing either of the more ambi-
tious plans now before the corporation to be
adopted, we think that Mr. Taylor's scheme would
be very valuable, as giving a second channel for a
traffic which is sure to go on increasing every day.
The other plans extant all deal with Holborn
Valley itself, and follow one of two main principles,
either to fill up the valley altogether and re-build
the houses on each aide, or to span the chasm by a
viaduct. Forthe filling up only one design has been
published, that of Mr. Bunning, the City architect,
who, some years since, proposed to fill up the lower
part of the valley between Holborn-hill and
Skinner-street to the height of 12 feet,
and, to meet this sudden rise in the street, Mr.
Bunning would convert the first floors of the houses
in Holborn-bill, Skinner-street, &c., into shops, the
present shops into basement stories, and would add
a new story at the top of each house. The prin-
cipal objections to this plan are that it would be
very costly, the estimate being 350,0001., that it
would be only a half measure at beat, and that,
whilst relieving Holborn Valley to some extent, it
would create a steep incline in Farringdon-street,
where there is at present a dead level. Next come
the viaducts, of which some propose to run
on pillars through the centre of the street,
leaving the present roadways on each side
untouched ; some propose to take the south
Iside, and some the north side of Holborn,
but all involving, more or less, the destruction of a
certain portion of the existing commerce of the
great arterial street. The best of the viaduct
plane is decidedly that of Mr. Marrable, the archi-
tect of the Metropolitan Board of Works, who, hav-
ing reported some time since on all the then exist-
ing plans, was called upon by the board to produce
one of his own. Mr. Marrable proposes to build a
high level viaduct on the north side of the street,
from Hatton-garden to Skinner-street, setting back
the frontage all the way to the extent of 80
feet, and crossing the junction of Farringdon-
street with Victoria-street by an arch. The plan

includes splendid terraces of houses on the northern
aide of Holborn, and one of the grounds upon which
it is recommended is that it would leave un-
touched the side of the street the commercial
value of which is by far the greater. There can
be no doubt but that this is a bold and handsome
design, that it would thoroughly accommodate the
through traffic east and west, would beautify the
north side of Holborn very much, and that it
could be carried out at a not unreasonable cost.
These are the " pros," but fairness obliges also
to state the " cons " of this scheme. Whilst pro-
fesaing to leave the property on the south side of
the street untouched, it would completely destroy
its commercial value by carrying the stream of
traffic along on a level with the two-pair windows
of the houses, and leaving the roadway below and
immediately in front of them no more populous than
a stable lane. Besides, it would, in our judgment,
create an eyesore and an absurdity in one of the
busiest streets in London. We should have one
side of Holborn, high and level, flanked with pala-
tial houses and alive with traffic of every kind, and
the other, and that which is now the busiest aide,
turned, as it were, into a vast kitchen area, the
existence of which could only be ascertained by the
passengers overhead peering through the railings, as
the perambulating policeman, partly from duty and
partly for pleasure, is wont to do at present. It
must, however, be raid that Mr. Marrable's plan
only shares this defect in common with all the
viaduct schemes, and that it contains the greatest
number of mitigating features. If we are
to have only the half loaf, then is Mr. Mar-
table's the beet bread, but we should prefer the
whole one, which would be a filling up of the valley
right through, east and west, and all the way across
the street. We would have the houses rebuilt in a
style worthy of the great City and of their own cen-
tral situation on both sides, and not have a row of
palaces shaming from their grand eminence on one
side, a huddle of tumble down ricketty houses
cowering in a bole on the other ; and if the cor-
poration cannot spare the money for so comprehen-
sive a scheme at present, let them relieve the
thr3ngb traffic by adopting Mr. Taylor's plan ad
interim, and then they can consider the permanent
improvement of the great thoroughfare at their
leisure.

Pluttcs COIMORT MEMORIAL AT GVERNSEY.—The
Inauguration of a statue to the late Prince Consort at
Guereaey took place on Thursday last with coaaiderableeerr-

moor —indeed the day Ins quite • gala one for thetown. The
cost of the statue, about 1,5001., has been raised by public
subscription. The pedestal consists of a step and Isodieg,
upon which are two courses of granite, rosticated. Upon
these rests the plinth and a deep moulded base, the latter
=pouting the shaft, which is surmounted with a moulded
capital. The statue crowns the whole. It is an electro cut
from the I'm of Mews. Elkington, of London, ten feet in
height, tad is a most beautiful and expressive work of art.
The Prince is represented in the mantle and with the la-
sigoia of the !taster of the Order of the Bath—the Queen
as Sovereign. being herd of every other illostriore order.
The entire monument is about 27 feet in height, and is one
of which Guernsey has cause to be proud. Oa the macro
penal, in gilt lettering, sad ia plain Ramis capitals, is the
inscription " Albert, Prbsee Consort." On the western
panel, " Erected by the people of Guernsey, 1863."
DIATM OF Mt. 012N11.411, OF Haßnow.—Tbe
death of the Rev. William Ozenbitm, lower muter of
Harrow School, will be felt as a personal Imo by a wide
circle of aid Harrovisaa. Himself ecluented at Hai row, Mr.
Otentssaa was appointed an assistant master is 1824, and on
the death el the Rev. Hoary Drury succeeded to the post
of lower muter. _

Eikr. PAUL'S, COVICKT-GAILDEN.—The Rev. C. E.
Oakley. B.C. L., of Wedhass College, Oxford, sect w of
Wickwar, Gloucestershire, Ims accepted the rectory of Ibis
=
from the Duke of Bedford, who is the patron. The
became vaesist some weeks nem by the death of
the Rev. Henry Hutton. Mr. Oakley, who es earCrid to •
sister of Earl Dude, &whited in 18.5.5, when he took &first
elms in Jurisprudence and Yoder. Hietiser. end was Univac,
city Theological Scholar. The rectory of Wickwire, which
becomes vacant, is worth M.N. • year, cud is in the gift of

Winusoa Curn.E.—Notice is Riven that the
State Apartments of Windsor Castle will be closed to the
publieme sad after to-morrow until further orders.—Gazette.
Caowit-orrica, Ocr. 13.—Member returned to
serve in the preeeot parlismeet : John Peel, of Middleton.
hell, iu the county of Warwick. Fari.. for the borough of
Tamworth, is the room of John Villiers Stuart Townshend,
commonly called Viecoutit Raynham, now Marquis Towne.
heal, summoned to the Mouse of Peers.—Gazette.
THE EMPEROR OF RENSIA THE DELIGHT or
MANKIND.—The following war the speech of the Russian
Admiral Lisoyeki, at New York :—"Oevillemen, I regret
very much that I cannot express as I would wish the
feelings of gratitude which the speech of our friend, Mr.
Fads. has produced on all of no. The praise which he gave
to our Emperor is really deserved by him. (Cln.an.) He
is certainly not only the benefactor of hie subjects—he is
the friend of mankind. (Cheers.) From what he has al-
ready does, and what be is doing every day, he is cm 'airily
entitled to the same =realm which oboe a Roman emperor
cleimed—' The Delight of Mankind.' No less true base
been to oar hearts the feelings of sympathy sod fiiendship
which American citizens have manifested to us. (Churn/
I assure you. gentlemen, that from the beginning of theme
difficulties of yours our people have followed with deep
interest, and. at the same time, with narrow, the trials
through which you are passing ; but we expect that the
talents end energy of the heron, who have already mad*
themselves immortal, will save your country. (Applause.)
propose the health of the person to whom the American
people have en..rusted at this time their future. Let us,
peetlemen, drink to 'The Health of the President of the
United States." (Chun, and shouts of " Bravo r)

Cbc Court.

--o--
BALMORAL, Ocr. 11.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louis of
Hesse, went out yesterday morning.
The QllOlO, accompanied by the Crown Princess of
Prussia, drove in the afternoon to the falls of the ()amebalt.
The Crown Princess of Prussia lunched with her Majesty.
His Grand Ducal Highness Priam William of Hew arrived
at the Castle oa a visit to her Majesty.
October 12.

The Queen, Prince and Princess Louis and Prince William
of Hesse, and the royal family, with the ladies and gentle-
men in waiting, ►ttended divine service yesterday morning
in the Castle.

The Rev. N. li'Leed, one et the Queen's chaplains,
officiated.

Primes' Helens, and the Crown Prince and Princess of
Prussia, attended Divine service in the parish church of
Cratnie.

The King of the Greeks, the Prince of Welm, Primo
Christian of Denmark, end Prince Frederick, attended by
Baron Guldencrone, Lieutenant Funch, Captain Grey, Cap-
tain Lund, and Captain Cautenicbjold, left town at a quar-
ter past 10 o'clock yesterday morning for Newmarket.
The Prisons of Wales, the Princess ChrWia• of Dan.
mark, and Princess Delmar, attended by the Hoe. Mrs. W.
Grey, honoured the Mesas. Southwell, in Baker-street,
with • visit and est for their photographs. Their Royal
Highnesses took • drive in an open carriage in the
1 afternoon.

The dinner party included the King of the Greeks, the
Prince and Princess of Wales, the Prince and Princes
Christian of Damask, the Duke of Cambridge. Prince
Frederick and the Princes Darner of Deromack.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the
official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury,
in Downing-street. The ministers present were
Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Ea-1
Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Earl Russell, the
Duke of 'Newcastle, Earl de Grey, Sir Charles
Wood, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Duke
of Somerset, the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson,
the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, Lord Stanley of
Alderley, and the Right Hon. 0. P. Villiers.

The Has. Edward Palmer, Attarney-deneml, and the
Hen. William H. Pope, Colonial Seeratasy of Prince
Edward Island, North Americo, kid an interview vie
Monday with the Duke of Newcastle at the Colonial-
* Sae, Dowsing-street, on the subject of the land tenures of
that (doily.
Viscount Palmerstsm arrived in town yesterday morning
from kis seat, Broadlands, Hants.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrived in London
yesterday morning from Scotland.

Despatches were received ye.terday at the Colonial-
°Mee from the governors of the settlement' on the West
Coed of Africa, and from the Lord High Commissioner of
the lonian Islands.

DEPARTURE OP THE NINO OF THE GREEKS.

(THIS DAY.)

This morning the King of the Greeks, accom-
panied by his sr,te, left at 9.15 a.m. by the train of the
Landoll, Chatham, and Dover Rol way. for Dover, and
thence via Calais to P111:11. His Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales accompanied his Majesty to the shtion, and his
Royal Higitzeos the Doke of Cambridge was also present.
His Majesty was received at the station by Sir Cusack
Roney, one of the &rectors, Mr. Johnson, secretary, and
Mr. Bishop, axiom 'doodad, who proceeded in the train to
Dover.

A large deputation from the Greek Committee, and
several of the leading merchant' and their ladies, were also
present.

The whole of the platform apprcpriated for the departure
of 12,a Majesty was covercd with ottoman cloth, upon which
the ladies of the members of the Greek Committee strewed
ete rarest and moat beautiful flower.

After the departure of hie Majesty three vociferous
cheers were g:ven for the P.:nee of Water, and three also for
the Doke of Cambridge.