Star.
London, England, 1824-07-20 00:00:00

should be attacked. The fleet, it seemed, passed Mount
Athos in the nigh ,without beng observed by the Greeks.
We are happy to see the universal homage that is
done to genius, in the respect that is paid to the me.
mory of Mr. WATT. The meeting held in London to
erect a M. nument to his fame, represented all the
rank, character, and talent in the Metropolis. His MA.
JESTY, with a bounty that has had no parallel, headed
the subscription with a donation of £500; and the FIRST
LORD of the TREASURY, the CHARM LOR oftbeEXCHE.
QUER, the SECRETARY of STATE for the Hoke Dr.
PARTA ENT, and the PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE,
attended, not merely to aid the subscription with their
purses, but to do homage to the talents of a man whose
name is identified with the greatness and prosperity of
his country. At Edinburgh, a similar meeting was at.
tended by persons of the highest character, *here all
puty distinctions were forgotten. At Greenock, a
meeting for the same object takes place to-day ; and
we are sure that Glasgow, a city whose trade has been
so largely indebted to Mr. WATT, will not be the 1:::t
to acknowledge its obligation, by a tribute to the me-
mory of their benefactor. M. DEPIX, an eloquent
French writer, when noticing the manufactures of
Great Britain, says—t' To the improvements invented
by the celebrated WA.' T, it is owing that the steam-
'engine has become an universal moving power. No
invention ever before comprehended, within so small a
compass, and at a fourth of the ordinary expense, a
power so great, so constant, and so regular. In WAIT
we behold one of the Lenefactors of his country." Such
is the compliment paid by a liberal and enlightened
foreigner—the memory of WATT claims more troni his
countrymen.

In nothing, perhaps, aisr the benefits of peace more
obvious than in the improvements which have been made
since the conclusion of the war in the British metropolis.
We have noble streets, splendid crescents, bi idges which
have not been inaptly deemed bridges of giants."—
Another bridge over, and a tunnel under, the Th.ime:,
have already been commenced, and whichever way we
turn, east, west, north, or south, we find London ex-
tending and improving ; but of all the projects yet en-
tertained for improving the Metropolis, that of erecting
a spacious Quay from Westminster to the New London
Bridge is not only the most gigantic, hut would co; duce
most to the health and elegance of this great city.
The Report of the Meeting at which the project was
so enthusiastically entertained, will be frond in another
column; and we are sure it will neither he considered
as detracting from the merits of the plan itself, nor of
the gallant Colonel who ha, taken so prominent a lead
in promoting it, to state that the idea is not new.
When the dreadful conflagration of 1666 had de-
stroyed a great portion of the city of London, various
plans were submitted for rebuilding it. That of Sir
CHRISTOPHER WREN, for having three wide streets
running from east to west, intersected by others of
equal width, is pretty generally known, and alihough
no doubt excellent, seem, to yield to the project of Dr.
Nawconar, wh&. among other things, urgently recom-
•mended a quay similar to the one now in contempla-
tion, as will be seen from the following account of it,
which we quote from the Percy Histories of London:
4' According to the plan of Newcourt there was to be ' one
straight goodly row of noble buildings,' facing the river from the
Tower to Bridewell, and in front of it • a fair *hart of sixty yards
broad to the water's side;' this row of buildings was to be erected
on arches, through which all the streets leading from the water aid:
were to open, so that the continuity of the terrace might remain
unbraen." _