The Sun.
London, England, 1832-05-05 00:00:00

ST. ALBAN'S ABBEY.

Wednesday morning a numerous and highly respectable
meeting of the nobility, gentry, and inhabitants of this
place, was held at the Town-hall, at St. Alban's, to take
into consideration the ruinous state of the Abbey Church,
and the s►eps to he taken in order to preserve it from de-
struction:: the Earl of VERULAM in the chair.
The Noble Lord briefly stated the objects of the meet-
ing. They had met to concert some plan for the preser-
vation to posterity of one of the most noble and ancient
edifices in the country, which must, if not prevented, be
Destroyed by the mouldering hand of time. He was sure
the neighbouring gentry and town's-people need only exert
themselves, and make an appeal to a British public, to
prevent such a catastrophe.
The architect's report was read. It gave a minute and
antiquarian account of the various parts of the building,
which is in a most dilapidated and dangerous condition.
The expense for its restoration will amount to about
14,0001.
Toe Mayor (Faalwis SHERANK, Esq.) suggested the
propriety of a public meeting in London. Besides those
of the immediate neighbourhood, there were many anti-
quaries and others, lovers of the arts, who would cheer-
fully espouse the cause.
Mr. DesaormsoN, the architect, said, that unless imme-
diate steps were taken, the roof would come down. It
had already given way, and was exposed to the light of
day. The walls were good, hut the weight of the roof
was so great, in consequence of the great quantity of
lead, that they were quite unsafe.
The Earl of VFRULA NI here read a letter from the Rev.
Mr. Newcome, the rector of Shenley and Tottenham, in
which he expressed his regret at not being able to attend
the meeting. He trusted, however, that the " Men of
Herta" would emulate those of " Yolk." As a member of
the Antiquarian Society, and a nephew of the author of
the " lliatory of the Abbey," he felt a deep interest in the
proceedings of the day. The Abbey might be coniidered
as the memorial of our first British martyr, and as having,
in the days of pestilence, accommodated the states of the
realm in Parliament assembled. On this occasion he
thought the Church had peculiar claims on national and
Parliamentary aid. The Noble Chairman read another
letter, from the Bishop of London, with a donation of
2001. ; as well as one from Archdeacon Watson, with a
donation.

The Rev. Mr. SOUTHALL thought the present appear-
ances were highly encouraging, and if general publicity
was given to it, there was no doubt but the money would be
raised. At York, fifty-two thousand pounds were raised,
chiefly in the county, for the Minster ; and he trusted the
example would be followed by all the wealthy in the neigh-
bourhood, as well us the public at large.
The Earl of VERULA hi said he bad heard of large sums
being raised by pence, and he was assured that if " the
ladies," who were at all times forward in every patriotic
cause, were only to set on foot a subscription of Is., large
sums would he raised. He had already suggested it in
his own family, and it would be adopted in the circle in
which he moved.

Dr. FITZPATRICK said he had no doubt that if the sug-
gestion thrown out by the noble chairman were adopted,
his fair countrywomen would be the principal means of pre-
serving from ruin that edifice, which has been so long one
of the ornaments of the British empire. He also recom-
mended a strong appeal to the editors of the respective
pipers. The press was a powerful engine, and they were
ever ready to preserve the honour of their country.
Resolutions were proposed and adopted, to the effect,
that the meeting saw with regret the serious accident that
had befallen this venerable edifice, and strongly recom-
mended a public meeting at the Thatched House Tavern,
in St. James's-street, to carry into effect the objects of the
me 'ling.
The Mayor (Mr. Sherank) proposed a vote of thanks
to the chairman, and the meeting separated.