We hardly ever recollect ...
The Times, 1824-04-06T00:00:00

WVe liardly ever recollect a more profligate applicatios for public money than that which wvas debated last night ir the House of Cammnons,-an application for a sum, which it is intended ultimately to carry to above a quarter of E million, for effecting alterations in Windsor Castle! It iE needless to say that a single defender of such a propositior cannot be found out of that assembly to which it has beer offered. It does really seem as if the public money w.'re tc be given up,without anykind of restraint. HislateMIAJESTI showed that he had some love of learning, and some taste foi science, by the splendid library wvhich he collected. Lau'is- sinam doctrinac supellectilern, the great BENTLEY elegantly calls a fine collection of books. His present MAJESTY. whose pursuits are different, gives the library to the na- tion; but there is demanded for him in return, the sum of tbree hundred thousand pounds-one instalment, amouat- ing to half, to be paid immendiately-in order that His MA- JESTY may employ himself in architectural improvements. WVe should propose that he be requested to take the books back again, auid be advised to amuse himself in them foi the remainder of his life, rather than in re-modelling Winds*r_1:antlP It is painful to reflect how much of the public money has been squandered in buildings. The Pavilion at Brigh- ton-the Brobdignag Cottage in Windsor Great Park- Carlton House; and yet is there nothing standing, which z man of any taste would not pull down immediately, if left to Ihimselft But probably the gist of the question does not lie here; for even if wve were to suppose those whom His AIATSTY employs, to be as ex- uberant in gosd taste as they are deficient, yet it must be recollected that the present dynasty must, in the course of nature, be hastening fast to a conclusion, all the sons of the late KING having long passed the meridian of life; and we do say that it will be very hard, if those by whom they are to be succeeded, being now infants, are, on their aiTival at the throne, to find themselves burdened with a number of ugly structures arranged in a taste uncongenial to the spirit of the future times. 'The little Princess of KENT, when arrived at years of discretion, may have as great a fancy to build a house for herself as others have to impose one upon her. The desire will be better suited to her age, and it would constitute a bond of mutual endearment between herself and her subjects, that they sbould enable her to form an hAhMtftinn t -n r4 rather than force her to live in those raised by other of whom she can know nothing. It would reall: be as proper to make her wear the present King's oh clothes, as to make her live in houses built to the measure ofaanother's taste and genius in architecture. A great deal ba! been allowed to his present MAJESTY for the indulgence oi his own peculiar fancy in building: he has been building from his youth up, and he has his ownr structures for hil present occupancy. Surely it is time that the taste shoul now cease: and he is not called upon to labour for others. Incredible as it may seem, the minority last night only amounted to 54 against this most iniquitous grant of the public money. We call general attention to the subject. The division was, 123 for the grant, and only 54 agaitnst it On how many occasions similar to the present, have the friends of the people failed them. Experience, which does not make men more virtuous, ought at least to render them more crafty. The nation will look with great attention to this grant; and we, of course, shall have other opportu. nities of recurring to the. sul.joct.