The Sun.
London, England, 1818-11-12 00:00:00

FOR. 'CUE SUN.

MR. EDlTniti—About a month ago, a very
sensible Letter. signed Lucius, called the atten-
tion of your Readers to the unfinished state of
Somerset Place ; justly representing it as a na,
timid disgrace, that a building of so mach beauty
and utility should remain so long incomplete.
The view of that great public building from
Waterloo-bt idge, if it were finished according to
the-original design, would be the most striking
imaginable ; whereas, in its present state, it
forces upon the mind ideas of fickleness, feeble-
ness of put-pose, or ill-judged ceconomy, very did-
honourable in their application to the public works
of -a mighty nation. When the expellee of such
undertakings is calculated, it should always he
taken into the account, that abundant good is
clause(' among the active part of the Community;
by the continuance of them to their completion.
Unlike those plans which carry into foreign coun-
tries the monies raised at home, these return at
once into the bosom of the Community the sums
drawn from it. They are raised chiefly from the
opulent, and they are diffused among the indigent.
They are hardly perceived in the collecting, but
communicate an exhilarating warmth in the ex-
penditure. I trust we are neatly recovered from
that sickly fit of alarm for our finances, which
made caconomy a public mania; and are convinced,
by the rapid return of our prosperity, that it was
never necessary to bolster up the resources of this
opulent country by saving candles-etvls, or board
ing cheese-parings. We have a right to be mag-
nificent, especially in our public works, for the
present benefit and permanent glory of the Com-
munity ; and 25,000 pounds, the annual sum ori-
ginally appropriated to the continuance of.this
work, would be much less felt by the Country,
than the penny contributions of the labouring
poor, for their own objects, are felt by them :
and, instead of being taken from them, would be
spent among masons, bricklayers, carpenters, and
every kind of artisans and labourers, whose hearts
would be rejoiced by the employment. I hope
the recent completion of the western arch, leading
to the secohd court on that side, may be consi-
dered as a proof that the design is actually taken
up ; and as a pledge that, ere long, the works at
the eastern extremity of the building will also be
resumed, and never again intermitted.
Somerset-place and Waterloo-bridge sre formed
to display, in the strongest colours, the mutual
beauties or defects of each other. Their relative
situation makes this unavoidable. While Somer-
set-place is unfinished, the Bridge emits out against
so obtrusive a deformity ; if time bridge were to
fall into ruins, Somerset-place would daily stig-
matize the neglect which suffered such a calamity.
to happen. Nor would the latter event be very
improbable, had not the architect given such per-
manent solidity to the edifice ; fur that the under-
takers of that noble design are nearly in that
state themselves is but too well known, and deeply
regretted by the Public. But for this too a most
honourable remedy might be found.
A public monument is wanted to record that
unparalleled Victory of Waterloo. Instead, there-
fore, of expending a shilling upon any other kind
of monument, let this at once be adopted. Let
the Country adopt it as its own, repay their ex-
penditure to the Proprietors, and throw it open
to the making it a free bridge, as Water-
loo secured to us the dignity of a free Nation.—
Then would it be properly IVaTeaeoo BRIDGE.
At present, it is only a public name given to a
private work ; a kind of national swindling, giving
credit to the Public for an edifice in which it has
no interest, but, on the contrary, is paying a
daily and perpetual tax fur its use.

MARCUS.

GORING CASTLE, WORTHING.--•111C Dowager
Marchioness 01 LANSDOWN has concluded a cu-
rums treaty with the descendants of Sir 13.
SHELLEY. Ti‘is magnificent pile, upon which
60,0001. has been expended within ti-e last ten
years, has been let to her ladyship at a rental of
twenty pounds for twenty one )e rs ; it is Hp° 1 a
repairing lease. There are superb gardens attach-
ed, with hot and succession houses. The
castle stands upon au eminence, command-
ing the sea in front, and rural objects in
the rear.—There are two distinct orders of ar-
chitecture displayed, the Grecian and (lot id Go-
thic. The kitchen is of a vast size, sufficiently
capacious to turn a coach and six iu.