The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-11 00:00:00

I,ol\DOlll, MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1869.

The English do not bear the palm in the matter of
public buildings, and it has long been a mortifying
subject of reflection that those who have visited
foreign cities invariably return to gaze with indigna-
tion and contempt at the monuments of home archi-
tecture they see around them. If the Emperor
NAPOLEON does not rival his illustrious brother of
the past, who found Rome brick, and left it marble,
he may at least lay claim to respect and admiration
for the zeal and energy with which he has prosecuted

the work of remodelling Paris, and the fair city of
the Seine, " with its streets of palaces and walks of
state," bids fair to prove a lasting memento of his
taste, and a living witness of his perseverance when
the glories of the Imperial purple have faded, and the
might and majesty of his reign have vanished as a
dream. It seems desirable for many reasons that
care should be taken in the elaboration of any new
scheme of architecture, in order that the next gene-
ration may not add its history to the chronicle of
failures already too voluminous. The site of the new
Law Courts is a question of considerable interest just
now, and it is well worth while to weigh the matter
over before coming to a conclusion that must be irre-
vocable for the time being to all intents and purposes.
The suggestion of Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN, to which
we referred the other day, gains on the attention as
times passes on, and affords increased opportunity of
judging of its merits. Without condemning the deci-
sion of those who selected Carey-street as the scene
of operation for the Palace of Justice, it may suffice to
say that the present scheme is a change for the better,
and offers advantages that may not be gainsay-ed. In
looking at the arguments for and againstthe proposal
to change the site, it is no exaggeration to declare that
the balance is in favour of the alteration. We may
briefly dispose of all other objections, and come at
once to that which will be of consequence in the
eyes of some individuals, the money that has been
invested in the purchase of the property. In the first
place, money should not be the first consideration in
a scheme of this kind, it will surely be better and
wiser to fix upon the most advantageous place first,
and to count the cost afterwards ; and next we miy
look at the subject practically, for the eight hun-
dred thousand pounds paid out need not be looked
upon as lost. There is nothing to prevent the
sale of the property already purchased, and
it would realise nearly all that has been expended on
it. We need waste no time in speculating upon the
many uses to which this land could be applied, and it
must suffice to say that enough, and more than
enough, will be found for the purposes of its adapta-

tion.

On the other hand the advantages that arise
out of Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN'S proposals are
maillfold, and it appears almost incredible that they
should be overlooked by persons of experience and
judgment. The Thames Embankment promises to
be a noble site for the erection of a building that may
be classed among the national undertakings of the
day,. and it will be a legacy to future generations that
will indicate our spirit and our right appre-
ciation of the significance of the struc-
ture. However excellent the design of the
Carey-street edifice, the effect would be in a great
measure spoiled by the want of light and air, occa-
sioned by the surrounding structures. On the other
side of the way it is evident that these disadvantages
will not present themselves, for among the pleas
urged in favour of th 3 embankment proposal are
those of light and ventilation. Another point gained
would be the opportunity for display. If we are to
spend so much money and be at so much pails, let
it not be for nothing—let us not hide our light under
a bushel, but do our utmost to improve and adorn
the great city of which we are so justly proud. We
have not the invidious task before us of attaching
blame to any one in the affair, because at
the time when Carey-street was fixed upon
for the site of the new Law Courts the Thames
Embankment was not in existence, and it was quite
impossible to form an eitimate of the change it would
produce in the way of improvement and position
Without indulging in vain regrets for the past, or
anticipating too much for the future, it will behove
us to consider if the present is not the fitting time
for a comprehensive survey of the subject. An ad-
ditional £700,000 is needed to complete the purchase
of the place that has been fixed upon. Surely, then,
before this large sum be advanced in addition to that
which has gone before, it will be advisable to take
heed to our ways and not run counter to the wise
and prudent plan that is put before us. We
do not say that, apart from the additional expen-
diture required for the carrying out of the original
scheme, there is not much to admire in the plan of
Sir C. TREVELYAN, but the mention of the increased
outlay tends to confirm and strengthen his argument.
He is interfering with no finished affair, he is check-
ing no fully conceived work, but at a pause in the un-
dertaking, when a notice that more funds will be re-
quired has arrested attention, he puts forward a pro-
posal that is of infinite importance, and may well
challenge interest and attention. We seem to be on
the high road to improvement in some respects in the
comprehensive changes that have taken place in cer-
tain localities, and this project of selecting the
Embankment for the site of the Law Courts
is a golden opportunity not to be lost. It is
a step in the right direction, and if it will require an
effort to carry out the scheme, still it is one that is
deserving of all praise. The public can hardly fail
to appreciate the merits of this plan, and even those
who now hesitate to agree to the change may be in-
duced to give in their adhesion when they have taken
a little time to consider the matter. Whether we
look at our past failures in the way of architecture,
or at our present improvements and alterations of
the metropolis, we shall find cogent reasons to sup-
port this notion. Let it not be said by foreign nations
that ignorance or indolence prevented the adoption of
this noble scheme, when there seemed some chance of
redeeming past errors, and ridd ng the community of
a reproach that was only too true to be heard with
equanimity. The question may not be clearly un-
derstood by all, but let those who doubt consider it
in all its bearings, and they will in all probability
acknowledge the justice of the change that is advo-
cated. A mistake now made cannot be rectified
hereafter, and therefore time and trouble are not
thrown away in looking at the scheme in all its
bearings. It may be truly affirmed that a little more
care and caution at the outset of these undertakings
would be followed by the happiest results, and if more
consideration had been given to the structures around
us iefore they were definitively fixed upon, the Lon-
doner of to-day would have less cause to be ashamed,
and would be spared the mortifying reflection that
large sums have been spent in vain, for the one thing
needful has been omitted, and nothing can compen-
sate for its absence.

THE interest excited in commercial circles by the
" Overend and Gurney " trial becomes more intense.
It is impossible to say when the present preliminary
investigation will be over. Until it is over we should
do wrongly to comment upon the merits of the
case. There are, however, one or two circumstances
connected with it which may be noticed without pre-
judice to the defendants, In the first place, sufficient