The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-09 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PRESS-THIS MORNING.

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.

The Times observes that it sounds very likea reproach to
thin great nation that it should still be necessary to make
4tl
appeal in behalf of the grandest of our national edifices
the Cathedral of St. Paul. The appeal is made, or rather
having been made twelve years ago with very partial suc-
cess, it is repeated more emphatically, distinctly, and
bon
-e-""y• The British people are invited to finish St.
pate
's• We used to be told, indeed, that it was begun in
1675 and completed in 1710, under one architect and one
builder : and this brief period of 35 years was favourably
contrasted with the centuries spent upon rival structures.
But that St. Paul's ever was completed at all is an invm-
i°,ll„ of the bookmakers.- At the last mentioned date,
Z.-u, poor Wren was a disappointed, baffled, indignant,
but still indomitable man, with his portfolios full
Magnificent designs and careful specifications
or the completion of his masterpiece and his
country's pride. He no more thought his work
the
than an English gentleman does when he has finished
6e ,___walls, roof, and flooring of his new house, and when
cs„4-aews the most difficult and, costly part is to come.
c 24-1 OW dark ! how dismal ! how monotonous !" are the
`rd ejaculations
offo the tourist fresh from St. Peter's.
1-Pther criticisms. a more purely architectural character,
he is likelyy to offer, but we may listen to him where it Ls
Possible to improve. The appeal before us. tells us v.-iutt
is to be done, if we would remove a national disgrace,
and justify the pride with which we rank St. Paul's
nong the giants of architecture. It is no honour to have
havelt a gf•eat church and not to be able to finish it, or not
the heart to do so. It is no honourto possess a mag-
teent shrine and hardly know how to use it. We may
say at once that to give the Cathedral its fair and
Ilecessary complement of marbles, mosaics, coloured glass
ddmg, metal work, and other decorations would cost at
:least a quarter of a million. There is, however, scope for
be goo deal more • and on the other hand, it would
Wise to concentrate our interest, and do part of
the work the Choir, as Wren himself would have
done it. say

WANING GLORIES OF HYDE PARK.
The Post declares that so far as the idle and the fashion-
able are concerned, Hyde Park appears to be losing
Featly in popularity, and this season chews a marked
falling off, as compared with former seasons, in the favour
awith which it is viewed. This desertion of the once
accustomed lounge is due in a great measure to the fast
Pace
of London life. There also happen to be especial
reasons why the Park should be less popular this year
than usual. The works which are in progress in the bed
oct the Serpentine have been ingeniously so arranged that
Wnealn-engine is found running within a few yards of the
„I de, and of course putting forth puffs and
-„,..___'"leks such as no horse can hear without
twa'rca and which daily produce an amount of
rr,_aruig and plunging not a little alarming to behold.
The flower-beds with which the eastern end of Rotten-
t„ew has heen embellished are more insufficiently tended
:tau ever, and the Ride itself is so little cared for,
at while a shower of rain makes it a quagmire, a fine
r. day makes it a hard, iron causeway. Finally, there
t'as been more misunderstanding this year about the
band. Whether these drawbacks are sufficient to explain
the undoubted falling away in the glories of the Park we
not pretend to say; but that they have some influence
laPon it is at least probable, What it is held can be done
thinfor the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences could, we must
be much more properly done for the Park itself
and if a strip of a corner were taken off and sold, not for
a nominal sum, but for its real full value, the produce
W4l.°llld be sufficient to make the rest a creditable resort for
11,,e weary Londoner. It is not too much to ask that some-
"'lug at least should be done to effect this most desirable

SPAIN AND HER KING.
Notwithstanding the disorganisation inseparable from
pepoch of transition, these last two years, thinks the
rnes, are cleargain to Spain.
hrßeligious tolerance, emanci-
Dation by law from priestly taldom, popular education,
410:1 the development of great material prosperity are
among the most immediate results of the late change. The
very promptitude with which the Madrid Government has
lately been able to rescue the English captives from the hands
theg near Gibraltar speaks volumes in praise of
ascendency the central authority exercises in the re-
.aotest provinces. It is only a strong Government that
u 3 able to establish a free Government, and of the firm-
ness of Prim's hand we require no better evidence than
L has given in the many serious emergencies which
he"ve arisen at too frequent periods during his tenure
of office. It is only in this matter of the King's election
that Prim seems to us to have acted an inconsistent
"lig, Perhaps, not very ingenuous part. There is much in
What Prim has done that may be looked upon as mere
out his part ; but now let us hope the play is fully
payed, and that serious business alone is henceforth
to be attended to. Let the kingdom be set in order ; the
Ong will come in his own good time, and as a matter of
course. Nor is to so very difficult to imagine who the
Ittg is ultimately to be.