The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-16 00:00:00

p reflectl ey e d will
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the
etulmre calculated
perialfa t
family,
it is likely that the Grand Duke Constantine will
then be recalled aed replaced by General Berg.
Meantime, we cepnot congratulate either his Im-
perial Higline,s nor General Mouravieff on the last
exercise of their authority. The hangie„ of the
priest Ka
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certainly
L enoron
justified by the exigencies of the situation. Count
Plater was a leading member of one of the
wealthiest and most distinguished noble families in
Poland; and although it is true that arms were
found concealed on his estate, it is asserted that
he was ignoraut of the fact, and innocent of alit
complicity with the insurgents. Under any circum-
stances, he was entitled to a trial and a more
honourable death than that of a common malefactor.
We should consider that an earl in this country
must have taken a very leading part indeed in an
insurrectionary movement to justify his being hung
without trial in a public market place ; and if these
are the comparatively mild measures for which the
Russian Government intend to substitute other.A
still more stringent, we do not wonder at the Grand
Duke having been relieved from the duty of en-
forcing them, though we are at a loss to conceive in
what they are to consist. Meantime the summer is
passing away, and while the Great Powers are
changing diplomatic notes and making propositions,
the numbers of widows and orphans in Poland
crying aloud for help are daily increasing-
Unless some Power more energetic and cou-
rageous than the rest steps in, the autumn
will close upon a nation's agony, the time for
action will be past, and the protraction of
negotiations over the next few months will leave
Russia with her hands free at the end of them. The
result may be the momentary suppression of the
movement, but it will not be the extinction of the
national sentiment. Throughout every class this
feeling has gathered force and vitality just in pro-
portion as the prestige of Russian power has de-
clined ; and the experiences of the past year, though
bitter and disastrous, have been so far encouraging
that they have shown the extent of the patriotism
and the moral resources of the people, and the fire
which has now blazed with such fury it will need
more than a winter's frost to extinguish. If it be
the object of the great powers to secure the peace
of Europe, they must not be put off by vague pro-
mises and dilatory pleas on the part of Russia. It
is probable that the notes will be sent to St. Peters-
burg at once, and there can be no reason why we
should not get an immediate and decided answer
upon the matter of the treve, or armistice, or what-
ever the interlude may be termed. If the reply of
Russia upon this point is unsatisfactory, it will be
impossible to let the matter rest at that stage. It
may be that Austrian statesmen foresee this con-
tingency, and are prepared with a new policy in
lieu of those propositions which have cost so much
discussion, but are of so little practical value. We
have already indicated whatin our view that policy
should be ; but if the occasion is allowed to slip
by, it may be taken advantage of by others, and
the peace of Europe may be endangered by the very
Powers who most desire to preserve it.
HERALD.—The proposal made by the Govern-
ment to expend £484,000 in the purchase of 17 acres
of land in South Kensington, and the completion of
the building used for the Great Exhibition of 1862
is one which is sure to elicit a great variety of opi-
nions, not only from members of the House of Com-
mons but among persons outside who have at heart
the interests of the nation and of the metropolitan
city. There is no doubt, we suppose, that a very
good bargain has been made when 17 acres of land
in a good position, one that at a future day "nay be
in the centre of London, are to be had at a price of
about £7,000 per acre. In the Oxford-street im-
provements the land cost £57,000 an acre. In
prolonging Coventry-street the price of £119,000
an acre was paid. If 17 acres in South Kensington
are cheap at £120,000, the International Exhibi-
tion building is not dear at £BO,OOO. It would coot
much more to cover this space of ground with any
kind of shed for any sort of purpose. To this vote
of £200,000 we have no objection to make. AV°
cannot say the same of the £284,000 which are said
to be required for the completion of the Exhibition
building. For what is this enormous sum wanted ?
The building is to be rendered substantial, the
front is to be stuccoed, and the glass domes are to
be changed into solid domes of brick covered with
lead. Might not the money be much better ex-
pended in developing into a handsome structure
what is now, by common consent, a very ugly
building and a great disfigurement to the western
part of the metropolis? Why do not the Govern-
ment take the advice of a committee of architects
on this matter ? Captain Fowke may be very
skilful in the art of constructing convenient sheds
for temporary purposes ; he is not the sort of man
whom Augustus would have employed in rebuilding
Rome, or Napoleon in beautifying Paris. The
building has many patent faults which need to be
rectified. The length of the nave is broken and.
' spoiled by the rise of six feet at each end. The
domes are squat and ugly, and give heaviness to
the ends of the building, leaving the centre weak.
Even the contractors, whose business it was not to
design but to execute, proposed to erect a large dome
in the centre as a plan far preferable to having two
smaller ones at the ends. Then the terminal towers
at the east and west angles, in nobody knows what
style of architecture, might be removed altogether
with great advantage. The ends of the transepts,
of flat unsightly woodwork, which completely spoil
the view from the Horticultural Gardens, should.
surely be made into an architectural feature. Let
the building stand, by all means, and let it be com-
pleted, but do not suffer it to remain a damning
blot upon the taste of the country, an
occasion of scoffing to supercilious visitors from
the Continent, If the plan of restoration exhi-
bited at the building and in the South Ken-
sington Museum were carried out, we might have a
structure of which the nation need not be ashamed.
Lord Palmerston may despise architecture, and
think it impossible for any building in London
to be beautiful. For our part we think that for
half a million of money we ought to have a build-
ing which should be pleasing to the eye at the same
time that it satisfied our material requirements. But
what is to be done with the building when we have
it on our hands? It is quite a mistake to suppose
that in retaining this structure we are in any way
providing for the enlargement of the British Museum
or the transfer of the National Gallery of Paintings.
The natural history collection could never be housed
under a building roofed with glass. If the great
building were given to Professor Owen he would
fill it with whales, and then ask for more room. The
contents of the National Portrait Gallery may be
conveniently housed in the picture galleries of the
late Exhibition. Tne Patent Museum, liable to un-
limited expansion, may perhaps be lodged in the re-
mainder of the structure, which may be used also
on occasions for exhibitions in cob,tanuhwnniidlshedeampittniueoogbvnnelemiryowu,siitssolhteidrteontenhuoseest.
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only be completed substantially, it must be ren-
dered worthy of the nation in an architectural point
of view. It must become an ornament, and not re-
main a disfigurement to London.

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