The Sun.
London, England, 1825-12-22 00:00:00

WARD.

Messrs. James Hunt - 60
John Drinkald 60
Gilpin Gorst 59
Wm. Robinson 59
'Thos. Howell 59
'John Hartshorne 8

.urns twelve.

UL WARD.
Melva. Cope - 34
Wood ward - 34
"Deans - 2
I • nyde - l 9
returns eight-.

In the following Wards an alteration took place without a
contest :—Farringdon Within, Mr. Durishy was elected, vice
Scatchard, resigned ; Vintry, Hr. Martin, vice Dickens, re-
signed ; Bridge Ward, Mr. Smith, vice Dixon, resigned ;
Cornhill, Mr. Bish, vice Bond, resigned.

Those marked thus are new Candidates.

WESTMINSTER NEW LAW COURTS.

The attention which the Legislature has lately
paid to matters of Architectural Taste, as concerns the embel-
lishment of the Metropolis, and the improvement of its ancient
structures, is a very pleasing and useful implication of the
times. For while this newly—engendered spirit of refinement
(to which the past generation of mere money-getters may be
said to have been perfectly obtuse) furnishes collaterial security
of the growing prosperity of the country ; it exhibits satisfac-
tory proof that our Administration's late patronage of the
exact and ornamental acts has not beets thrown away. Neither
(considered in the narrower point ofzetr—of commercial pro-
fit) is the subject of so secondary a nature as it is apt to be re.
puted. It is the nature of taste in art that it is interchangable ;
and that if accumulated on one point, it diffuses its influence
over all. Not only pleasure and convenience, but national
wealth is affected by the progress of architectural refinement.
Indeed, it is clear that in a country like England, where so
many manufactures, of so many and various kinds, depend on
the arts of design, it is-highly essential that taste in these arts
should become as perfect, anti be diffused as widely, as possi-
ble. Such were our feelings and views in recently paying a
visit to the New Law Courts, now in progress under the able
architectural auspices of Mr. Soane. We were highly gratified
with observing the rapidity with which they are advancing to
completion. Of many points respecting them the public are
obviously in the dark. Deceived by the sinister statements of
interested parties introduced by corrupt channels into the
Press, it is indeed' very probable that the general impression
respecting them is directly the reverse of what, in conformity
with truth, it ought to be. We have ourselves seen statements,
in which the New Courts have been described as contracted
and inconvenient, and the access to them, dark, narrow, and
mean. Now the fact is directly the reverse. The Courts are,
in conformity with the increasing demands of justice, resulting
from increased population, larger than the preceetiing ; but
they are not overlarge; they are of sufficient space to accom-
modate, in the most convenient manner, not only the Bends,
the Bar, and the spectators, but the Tyros of the legal pro-
fession, and the reporters of the press. They are, moreover, as
we personally know, exactly, in point of dimensions, what the
leading majority of the Bench and Bar have desired ; they are
large enough for the purpose of judicial dignity and public con-
venience, and just so large as that nothing that is said, done,
or looked, can be lost ; indeed, the eye of every person present
is commanded by the Bench. The conveniences of access and
exit are numerous and ingeniously contrived, so that the noise
of approaching or withdrawing feet cannot as formerly disturb
the Court. The arrangements for the private access, retire-
ment, and convenience of the Judges, are admirable ; and not
only are separate private approaches reserved for the Bar, but
I still further to prevent the least chance of confusion, or incon-
venience, the leading Counsel have a distinct passage and door
of communication from the rest. Another highly advantageous
feature of the new design is, that one great line of communi-
cation, which may be opened and closed, partially or intirely,
as circumstances require, unites the whole of the Courts, as
they are morally united, in a comprehensive system, which
will save time and prevent the " delays of justice ;" in short,
nothing has been left undone for the purposes of accommoda-
tion. With respect to the alleged paucity, narrowness, and
darkness of the public passages leading to the Courts, there is
not a word of truth in it. They are very numerous from the
Westminster-hall side as well as Margaret-street, intercommu-
nicating throughout, and throughout well lighted and spacious
enough to accommodate, if necessary, the crowd of the largest
and most crowded Theatre. Perhaps it was against the miti-
gated light of the Courts themselves that the objectors meant
to level their disapprobation. The chastened manner in which
this light is diffused, through the medium of the most exqui-
site architectural lanterns, gracefully surmounting. cielings
otequally exquisite taste, is to us one of the greatest improve-
ments introduced; it is quiet, solemn, and majestic, and espe_
daily adapted to correspond with the dignified associations of a
Court of Justice. In fine, the intire architectural design, as
well as the minor details of these New Courts, is characterised
by a grave, and majestic though not severe simplicity, from
which every thing like ornamental pretence, or meretricious
embellishment is excluded. But in mentioning the name of
Mr. Soane as the architect, we consider ourselves as having
said enough ; and we shall, therefore, recurring to the majestic
simplicity above described, conclude with an axiom which as
it concerns John Bull's pocket, is worthy his notice, viz.:
that it is one of the best and most valuable qualities of
genuine architectural taste that its simplicity renders it econo.
mical, and that it is one of the greatest proofs of such taste to -
effect its purposes at the least possible expence.
6.4 We copy with great pleasure the foregoing article from
the Sunday Times of December 18, as it is evidently written
with knowledge, candour, and justice, and may be deemed a
satisfactory answer to all the illiberal and ignorant strictures
which have been made upon the works in question, and we have
reason to believe that the Law Authorities who are most inte-
rested in the subject are themselves thoroughly satisfied with
the convenience and comfort which those works have afforded.

ECONOMY IN STATE PRISONS-It would appear, from a
statement in the Boston Daily Advertiser, that the Massachu-
setts state prisons, at Charlestown and Concord, have made a
net profit, to that state, of 10,055 dollars.