The Sun.
London, England, 1826-07-26 00:00:00

MPROVEMENTS ROUND ST. PAUL'S.

On Monday a private Meeting of Gentlemen took place
at the Mansion-house, for the purpoie of considering the
propriety of adopting a plan submitted by Mr. Limes, the
Actuary of the lEgis Assurance Office, for the improve-
ment of the neighbourhood of St. Paul's.
The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the Chair.
Amongst the persons present were, Aldermen Wood
and Thompson, Mr. Slade, Mr. Blades, Mr. Pellatt, &c.

The drawing of the plan is beautiful in the extreme.--
In fact the change contemplated by the projector cannot
be adequately described, except by the pencil, or the reality.
The proposed improvements consist in removing to a
proper distance, and rebuilding to a regular plan, all the
houses round the present church-yard, and constructing
two or three useful and necessary streets. The leading
feature in the new design is , the building of a semi-circus
at the west 'end of the editlee, divided by a, handsome
square, and a splendid new street at right angles with. the
meridian of the Cathedral, which terminates nearly in the
centre of Crescent-place, Bridge-street. The semi-circus
is then continued to the eastward, on both sides of the
Cathedral, where, joining with St. Paul's School on the
east, and to a grand opening near the south end of the
new Post-office, it forms an alnphitheatre of splendid shops
and handsome houses, which it is proposed to name the
Amphitheatre of St. Paul ; near to the centre of the Am-
phitheatre parallel to the meridian of the Cathedral, and op.-
posite to the transepts, are two other wide and handsome
streets. That on the north crosses Paternoster-row, and termi-
nates in Newgate-street, and that on the south alittle below
Thames-street, where it is proposed to build a new market,
as midway between Hungerford Market and Billingsgate.
This market will be appropriated to the sale of fish,
poultry, fruit, vegetables,' and other similar produce that
are brought down the river from the neighbourhood of
Chelsea, Battersea, Fulham, Putney, 13rentford, and Isle-
worth. Another street will be formed opposite to the
Old Bailey, by widening the passage into Water-lane, and
carrying it obliquely into Earl-street. The importance of
this street, leading
.as it will from Blackfriars-bridge to
Smithfield-market, is calculated upon as very great.—

Amongst the leading advantages of this improvement to
the public, will be the widening of all the approaches and
avenues to and round the Cathedralonaking the north side
passable, as well as the south side, for coaches, and faci-

iitating the approaches to and from the new Post-office, by
which means the Cathedral will be then thrown open to a
proper vista. At the same time a due regard is to be paid
both to profit and economy, as the new streets and am-
phitheatre will form the handsomest and best places for
business in the City.
The Lord Mayor was inclined to think, that it would be
advisable to mix up this plan with a plan for the general
improvement of the city. He was unwilling to do any
thing that might have a tendency to commit the Corpora-
tion, and suggested an application to the Court of Corri;.
men Council, .for the purpose of petitioning the Legisla
ture on the subject.
It was stated, that Government had already ;riven an
answer, to the invitation to join for the general impro►e-
ment of the city, by, declaring that the city must manage
to pay for its own improvements.—This answer, how-
ever, did 'not refer to national works, of which the im-
provement round St. Paul's seemed to be considered one
of the greatest that could be accomplished. Lord Liver-
pool had mentioned upon the occasion, that the Govern.
ment would be happy to co-operate with the city in a na-

tional work.
Of course some of the Meeting directed their atten-
tion to the expence likely to be incurred by an under-
taking of so stupendous a nature as this, whilst others who
had witnessed the frightful jobs to which the City had
been subject in almost all the new buildings undertaken
at the instance of the Corporation, felt apprehensive of a
continuance of such ruinous labours. It was universally
admitted that the alteration proposed was magnificent in
the extreme, but the expenees incurred by the building of
the Custom-house and the Post-office, stared the Meeting
in the face.
Mr. Elms* combatted the argument of expence, by
stating that the outlay would not exceed 1,200,0001. and
the destruction of property would be confined to about
200,0004 ; the purchase of good-will and fixtures would
amount to about 250,0001. and the purchase of freeholds
would not exceed 750,0001. By the sale of the old build-
ing materials 30,000/. would be regained ; the ground"
rent would produce 300,0001.; and the value of the re-
versionary interest would be so great, as to cover the
other expellees,
wi
t
h
al-
ready alluded to.
It appeared, that the exception of the 200,000!.
strong praise of the Mr. Arbuthnot had expressed his
plan; and it is believed that his Ma-
jesty and the Duke of York have manifested towards it
approbation the most unequivocal. In the course of the
discussion of its merits, it was stated, that the City of
Dublin had become one of the most beautiful cities in the
world, by the annual grant of 20,0001. or 30,0001. clear

from Parliament ; and it wu regretted that Commission-'
ers were not appointed in the same manner to superintend
improvements in this Metropolis.
After considerable discussion, it was agreed that A lder-
man Wood, and Mr. Hickof Cheapside, who are going
to'consult Lord Liverpool, on the subject of the Post-
office or the Custom-house, in the course of the week,
should incidentally mention the subject of the improve-
ment contemplated, with the view of obtaining the sanc-
tion of Government. A Petition is also to be drawn up,
and presented to the Court of Common Council, upon the
subject. The meeting was founded upon a letter from
Mr. Arbuthnot, advising that the name and powerful in-
fluence of the Lord Mayor, and the great body of the
I Corporation, should be obtained to the undertaking, and
expressing a hope of a successful result, under the admini-
stration of a Parliamentary Commission.

NEW CONSTITUTION OF PORTUGAL.

(From the .Ettoik, dated Monday.)
We have received from Lisbon, under date of the lids of July,
the following intelligence
On the 13th, the Portugnese Charter is to be proclaimed here.
I have been able to obtain a copy of only some of its principal
dispositions, which I send you.
It is divided into eight Titles, and 145 Articles. The Titles
are-1. Of the kingdom of Portugal—of its territory, govern-
ment, dynasty, and religion. 2. Of Portuguese Ci*.-tens. 3. Of
the different Powers of the State, and of the National Represen-
tation. 4. Of the Legislative Power. 5. Of the King and the
moderating Power, &e.
The following is the preamble :
Don Pedro, by the Grace of God, King of Portugal, of the
Algarves, &c. I make known to you all, my Portuguese sub-
jects, that I have been pleased to decree, to give, and to cause to
be sworn immediately by the three orders of the State, the Con-
stitutional Charter hereto annexed, which is afterwards to govern
my Kingdoms and Possession', and the tenor of which follows.
The following is literally the chapter on the moderating power :
TITLE 1.
OF THE KING, AND OF rim MODERATING rowsa.
Article 71. The moderating power is the key of all political
organization, and belongs in the first place to the King, as 'su-
preme Chief of the State, that it may constantly watch over the
maintenance and preservation of the independence, the equilibrium,
and harmony of the other Powers.
Art. 72. The person of the King is inviolate and sacred. He
is subject to no responsibility whatever.
Art. 73. His titles are, King of Portugal and the Algarve', on
this side and beyond the sea ; in Africa, Lord of Guinea, and of
the Conquest, Navigation, and Commerce of Ethiopia, Arabia,
and India. He is to be addressed by the title of Most Faithful
Majesty.
Art. 74. The King exercises the governing power. Ist. In
nominating the Peers without being limited by any flied num-
ber. 2d. In convoking the General and Extraordinary Cortes,
both in the intervals of their sessions, or when the good of the
kingdom requires it. 3d. In sanctioning the decrees and resolu-
tions of the general Cortes, that they may have the force of laws.
4th. In proroguing or hastening the epoch of their convocation,
or in ordering the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies, in
cases wherein the good of the ceuntry requires it—convoking im-
mediately a new chamber. sth. In nominating and dismissing
without restraint the Ministers of State. 6th. In suspending
from their functions magistrates in eases provided for by Article
121. 7th. In pardoning or mitigating the punishment imposed
upon criminals by the sentences of Courts of Justice. Bth and
and 9th. In granting an amnesty in urgent cases, where huma-
nity and the good of the State require it.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW.
Morning l6 minutes after 7. I Evening ....... 42 minutes after 7.