The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-02 00:00:00

TER COURTS OP LAW.

Mr. T. W. Greene, Q C., bas published a
pamphlet (Wildy and Bons), in which he seta forth the
advantages of a site for her Majesty's superior courts. of
law which we believe he is the in*, to suggest Me says
the requisites for attaining the object all heave in view who
advocate the emir., on of new courts are that the courts
shall be ereeted-1. In contiguity ; 2. In the legal quarter;
3. At the last cost; 4. With convenient amiss ; 5. Re-
mote from noise ;6. And protected against tumult& An
opportunity presimes itself of **marine all these advantages,
and some others of minor importance, which, if now lost.
may never be regained.
The bill for the embaokroent of the north or left bank of
the Thames is in progress through parhament.
Between the lines of deviation, and in front of the gar-
dens of the Middle Temple mid Inners Middle, there will
be an area of about 100 by 264 yards,
bout 6a. Ir. 32p.,
nearly 50. of reclaimable lend.
Of thin space there will be required for roadway, terrace,
lie., about 30 by 264 yards, or about la. 2r. 20p.
And if the line of embankment should not be extended
to the extreme verge of the river lure of deviation (though
for so great a public necessity there can be no reason why
it should not), there may be nearly la. more, or in all 2p.
takes from the site, which will leave Is., ample space,
&Tellable for the building of the courts.
This is the area whiea lies wholly within the limits of
the Temple frontages ; but if more should be required for
law offices in Col3lleXiOa with the courts, there would be no
difficulty whatever in extendiog the buildings east and west
over the adjciuing reclaimed land, and thus the area for
buildings may be doubled, and made to embrace, if neces-
sary, from six to eight acres, acourding as the embankment
may be projected more or less into the bed of the river.
The grand facade of the river front would be improved
rather than disfigured by the granter length of the build-
ings, and light and air would be equally obtained through-
, out.
Then, will this site posse, all the advantages above ad-
verted to? I will take them m their order.
The first and second conditions require but little notice.
They are self-evident. All the courts will be brought
together. The two very valuable libraries of the Middle
and Inner Temple are in immediate proximity; so, also, are
some of the law offices.
The proposed site is • new acquisitiont unappropriated
at present ; and, as a site for the courts, I believe co pur-
chase would be requisite. No money to be paid for it.
The excavatiora for foundations and underground works
are partly prepared by the natural condition of the ground.
The Thames Embankment Commissioners will save the
otherwise necessary expense of filling up and making
sound the Led reclaimed from the river. The drainage,
which in any other locality would be very expensive,
Is, in this, reduced to almost nothing, as one of
the main drains to be constructed by the Metropolitan Board
of Works will run under the embankment, and close to the
walls of the courts ; and the facilities of the river scowl for
bringing or removing materials during the building will
reduce the builder's contracts.
About one million of money will thus, in the acquisition
of the site and Its accessories, be saved, and no outlay for
approaches required, as in Mr. Gem's plan, inasmuch as all
that will be required in this respect is necessarily involved
in the scheme for the embankment of the river and must
be executed for that purpose. Here, then, courts may be
[ (built at the lead cost.
The convenience of access to the site is obvious. The
main high road afforded by the river is, beyond all com-
parison, the most easy, speedy, convement, economical,
and agreeable that can be had ; and, besides this, there
will be the embankment roadway, connecting the courts
with the houses of parliament on the one hand, and
Guildhall on the other, to both of which a ready saxes for
the judges, the bar, and attornies must be had ; and no
other locality can afford this facility in the same degree, for
the site I propose is about midway between the two,
and will combine the most direct and spacious land and
water communication. There will also be an approach by
Norfolk-street from the Strand, on the west, and by
Bouverie-street from Fleet-street on the oast ; and, in ad.
dition, there are the approaches already existing through
Middle Temple lane and Whitef rims. Private approaches
for the judges, the bar, and attornies, may be conveniently
given through the gardens of the Temple, as well as from
the water-side.
The situation, moreover, has the advantage of being re-
mote from poles. The river's noiseless couree on the south,
and the gardens on the north, will completely shut out the
noise of the streets which in any other locality of this busy
quarter of our great city would be au objection. Even the
embanked roadway, being open to the river, could not,
under any circumstances, be so noisy as • street shut in on
both sides, and may be made, with care, almost noiseless.
The houses of parliament, with a less perfect exclusion of
noise from the Abbey side, fully demonstrate, T believe, the
advantage of the river site in this respect, and more espe-
cially will this and other advantages of such a locality be
felt when the new drainage in progress shall have improved
the

a river.
Lastly, many salutary reforms in our social and political
systems, and especially the abolition of all monopolies,
fremici7. t 9Mamerce, and equality of civil right', w 11, no
doubt, tend to prevent popular outbreaks in future. But
we must not suppose that tumultuous assemblies can never
happen again ; and if any such evils should unfortunately
arise, it is then more especially necessary that our judges
should be enabled to administer the laws in perfect
security, without the possibility of its boinir supposed that
they can be influenced Ity threats from without. Perfect
security must be provided also for the records, wills, he.
Now, the present gates of the Middle and loner Templet
and the Temple-buildings, form a complete barrier around
the semi-circular boundary of them lure of Court which
stretches from the western extremity on the river, along
the northern aide, and again down to the eastern extremity
on the river; and, in case of necessity, by cutting off
communication at the east and west on the embankment
roadway, and by preventing boats landing passengers, which
may easily be done by a comparatively small force of the
civil, or, if necessary, of the military power, perfect iso-
lation and protection will be afforded by the river on the
south.