ALDERMAN WOOD'S METROPOLITAN

IMPROVEMENTS.

Report from the Select Committee of Metropolis Improvements, with the Minutes of Evidence and Appendix. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed.

The nation owes an eternal debt of gratitude to George IV. for the planning and effecting of Regent-street. The profusion which was natural to him was on that occasion more productive of solid good, than perhaps the wisest and most rigid economy would have been. Amid the dingy, dismal, unaspiring streets of London, the lavish splendour of what is indeed a Royal road, 66 rose like an exhalation," and, by the force of contrast, attracted an attention which the chastest efforts of corrected taste might long have courted in vain. The public attention once aroused, the effect was soon evident. The march of public affairs has not been so changed by the carrying of the Reform Bill, as the aspect of our street architecture by the creation of Regentstreet. Since then we may have had to complain, and but too truly, of bad taste, and bad taste, indeed; but still in very most cases even the bad taste has been gorgeous; in every thing that has been done there has been at least an attempt at splendour; and whatever London may become, it is at least sure not to remain that mere inanimate "mass of bricks and mortar," that dowdy "agglomeration of country towns" as which it might once with but too much show of reason be taunted.

The recent improvements effected in the City-which bear so plainly upon them the stamp of the influence of their prototype-have, it appears, awakened an appetite for more. This might have been expected, for in some respects they surpass even those of the west end. The makers of Regent-street had to force their way through a dull, monotonous mass of streets, which did not afford them a single great object of architecture to adorn their new thoroughfare; they found absolutely nothing, but created all. In the City it is just the reverse; the finest parts of the new improvements are those which the improvers have merely brought to light from the dark recesses in which they formerly lay concealed. By widening Princes-street, by forming Moorgatestreet, they have thrown the Bank more into view; by the demolition of the un

lucky "Lucky Corner," they have shown to more advantage the Mansion House, and, as it were, unburied the church of St. Mary Woolnoth*-while, to termi nate the view, as if built expressly for that purpose, rises above the houses the lofty column of the Monument. The

same kind of result is sure to attend al-
most every similar operation of widening
and beautifying in these thickly-crowded
regions. In the narrow streets of the
City there are many fine buildings so
elbowed in, that every atom of their effect
is lost, that the architect himself could
hardly form an idea of their beauties-
but which, if extricated from the shape-
less confusion that surrounds them, would
at once take their place as worthy of orna-
menting any street, however splendid,
that can be formed for their display. To
quote no minor instance, let the citizen of
London only think of St. Paul's. The
mere creation of a square, no matter how
built or how ornamented, one side of
which should be formed by one side of
that magnificent structure; or of a street
leading up to either its northern or south-
ern door, would supply a point of beauty
which the expenditure of twenty times the
sum in any other part of the metropolis
could not rival. There are spots in its
neighbourhood which might justify us in
quoting, with a slight alteration, in refer-
ence to the architectural enthusiast, the
words of Wordsworth with regard to the
lover-
"All Paradise

Could by the mere upsetting of a house
Let itself in upon him."

Such are the advantages which the City offers to its improvers with respect to beauty. There is, however, a stronger motive than the desire of producing this to operate in impelling the powers that be to make extensive alterations in this part of the metropolis. It is at length distinctly recognised, that the enormous traffic carried on through the main arteries of London imperatively demands additional thoroughfares for its accommoda

*It is to be hoped there is no truth in the report, that it is intended to reconstruct the Globe Fire-office nearly on its present site, with merely the edge shaved off. Just at that part of the City there can hardly be too much space allowed both for the convenience of commerce and for the ap pearance of the buildings. The City improvers should not, to save a few pounds at the end of their undertaking, destroy half the effect of what it has cost hundreds of thousands to execute.

tion; that with a population of a million and a half crowded together in one vast capital, the streets and roadways which might suffice when its population was only half a million can no longer be deemed sufficient. The two motives the desire of having a city both better "pierced" and better looking than we are yet able to boast of-probably co operated in inducing the City Member, Mr. Alderman Wood, to apply to the House of Commons for the Committee on "Metropolitan Improvements," the Report of which it is now our intention to examine,

We regret to say, that the Committee does not appear to have taken so wide a survey of the subject as was generally expected, from the comprehensiveness of its title. It was thought that it would make a point of taking into consideration all the suggestions for the improvement of the metropolis that have of late years been prominently brought before the public, with the view of deciding on their eligibility or practicability. We find, however, not a word on the subject of Colonel Trench's Thames Quay, of Mr. Martin's plan for the improvement of the banks of the river, or any other project of the kind. The suggestion of Sir Robert Peel, that the Committee should not only occupy itself with the improvements called for at the moment, but also with those likely to be required in course of time by the increasing extension of the inetropolis, has likewise been treated with disregard, though evidently founded on the plainest dictates of common sense. No means appear to have been taken to secure to the Committee an acquaintance with the number of plans which have of late years been formed, but not yet published, by ingenious men bearing on the object in view; and it does not even seem to have informed itself of the plans in contemplation by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, who are said to meditate extensive alterations in some of the very districts this Committee talks of improving also. The only "metropolitan improvements," in fact, brought under their notice, with a very few exceptions, are a lot of Alderman Wood's own! The evidence altogether occupies only fifty-four pages, and of these scarcely more than ten contain information bearing even on the subject of the Alderman's improvements; the remainder are occupied with discussions on the preferability

of raising the 1,500,000l. required by means of a lottery (to which Mr. Bish, who is summoned as a witness, doth most "seriously incline") or by a tax of 6d. per ton on coals, which it is stated that, somehow or other, the poor will not feel at all!

What these improvements are we shall now afford the reader an opportunity of judging, by extracting a list of them from the Committee's Report, to which we shall take the liberty of adding a few remarks of our own.

City of London.-A new street from the Bank to the General Post-office."

This is to run from the Lothbury end of Moorgate-street to the corner of the Post-office, near Goldsmiths' Hall. Were this street in existence already, it might be preferable certainly to the route now adopted, from one of these points to the other, but we see no advantage to be gained by its formation adequate to the expense of forming it. There is already one street (Cheapside and the Poultry) running direct from the Bank to the Postoffice.

"A new street from the General Postoffice to Newgate-street."

This proposal appears at first rather enigmatical, inasmuch as there is already St. Martin's-le-Grand in existence to supply the desideratum. By referring to the lithographic plan, however, we discover that the street proposed is one to run direct from the portico of the Postoffice to about the middle of Newgatestreet, coming out near the new buildings of Christ's Hospital. It is difficult to see what can be the meaning of such a proposal as this. What could the Alderman be thinking of? The expense of this scheme would be enormous, its utility-0.

"The improvement of Skinner-street and Holborn-hill."

This is to be effected by carrying a bridge over the valley of Holborn at the height of twenty-one feet above Farringdon-street, while the roadway is to be widened, and part of it left at its present level. The same improvement, with some difference in the levels, was proposed to be executed by a joint-stock company about a year ago. In fact, the scheme was often proposed before, and is any thing but new-it has, however,

a greater recommendation, in obvious utility.

"A new street from the Mansion House to the Southwark-bridge."

This is to commence in front of the church of St. Stephen, Walbrook; why not at the grand meeting of the roads now in progress of formation in front of the Mansion House, we are at a loss to perceive; that is, if the plan be adopted at all. The scheme appears to be a favourite, but its advantages are not very obvious. By conveying the traffic of another bridge to the line of Princes-street and the City-road, it seems likely rather to augment than to diminish the complaint of over-crowded thoroughfares. Were a new way carried instead, as has been proposed, from Southwark-bridge to the Watling-street corner of St. Paul's Churchyard, a communication would be effected with the Aldersgate-street and Goswell-street line of road, which would tend to vivify a part of the town at present not over alive.

"A new street from St. Paul's Cathedral to Blackfriars-bridge."

With regard to exhibiting the Cathedral, this improvement would be little better than a duplicate of Ludgate-hill, as it approaches the front of the building at nearly the same angle.

For the pur

pose of display, a street coming up to either side or to the back of the Cathedral, would evidently be superior to either, as the great feature of that majestic edifice, the dome, is too far removed from the front to be seen in all its gran

deur except at some distance. A street,

or rather a square, from the southern door to the water-side would, perhaps, be the most eligible way of effecting an object which every admirer of architecture in the metropolis must be eager to see effected-the proper exhibition of a masterpiece which London is not likely ever to equal. This square would afford an excellent site for a new building for Doctors' Commons, &c., a little more worthy of the business transacted there,

"County of Middlesex.-A new street from Farringdon-street to the Sessions' House, Clerkenwell."

This is the well-known scheme which has now been in agitation some years. The new street here terminatesi n a very abrupt and undignified mauner at the back of Hicks's Hall.

"A new street from Westminster Abbey to Pimlico."

There is hardly a crookeder street now in London than the one which it is here proposed to cut from the front of Westminster Abbey to-where?—to Eatonstreet, Pimlico. The necessity for it we do not exactly see, but we should suggest that a new way be cut immediately from the projector's house to St. Luke's Hospital. Among the other agreeable features of this Westminster Abbey scheme, is the destruction of the old Jerusalem chamber mentioned in history and Shakspeare, as the room in which Henry IV. expired, and so singularly connected with the prediction of his death.

"A new street from Oxford-street to Piumtree-street, St. Giles's."

For the last fifty years, at least, there have been very few individuals who have ever taken up a map of London, with the idea of suggesting improvements, who have not at onee hit upon the idea of carrying Oxford-street straight on into Holborn, Of all alterations that have been or can be suggested, this is the most obvious; in fact, the only objection to its execution is, that it would deprive society of the most classical remark it possesses on the subject of metropolitan improvements-one which is invariably made, and almost unanimously assented to, whenever the topic arises in conversation. We say almost, because it appears from this Report that there are one or two individuals in London who propose, instead of carrying Oxford-street straight on, so as to enter Holborn about Southampton-street, to make it diverge (in a manner, perhaps, just one grain better than its present abrupt turn-off to Broad-street,) and terminate its career at the end of Plumtree-street, St. Giles's. We hope that this very diminutive improvement will never be carried into effect; indeed, we have few apprehensions that it will, as, in all probability, its execution would effectually prevent that of the very superior one which will otherwise, in all probability, take place in the course of a few years.

"A new street from Gower-street to Waterloo-bridge."

This is the continuation of Bow-street to the end of Charlotte-street, which the Commissioners of Woods and Forests

are understood to have resolved on, since they have made such considerable alterations at the Bow-street end of the line. The details, as they are given in this plan, are not of a very satisfactory character. As it is, the street from the bridge to Long Acre is remarkably crooked.

"A new street from Finsbury-square to the Commercial-road."

The great improvement wanted, with regard to the Commercial-road, is to continue it on to Aldgate High-street. The present plan has nothing whatever to recommend it.

"A new street from Holborn to the Strand, and taking down the houses on the north side of the Strand between the churches of St. Clement Danes and St. Mary-le-Strand."

The widening of the Strand in the part described might be desirable, but there is such a thing as making a street too wide, and in this case that fault would be particularly striking from the necessity, (unless St. Mary's Church be taken down, which will scarcely be proposed) of communicating after all by only a narrow isthmus with the other wide part of the Strand in front of Somerset House. With regard to the new street to Holborn, the plan here brought forward has more merit than most of its companions. It is to take the western side of Lincoln's-Innfields for part of the line, and at either end force a way into the main street nearest it. But the great advantage of selecting this side of Lincoln's-Inn-fields, instead of the eastern, seems to have escaped the projector. If the new way thus made into Holborn were continued across it for the length of 100 yards, it would enter King-street, and a direct communication, as straight as any street in London, would thus be effected between the Strand at Somerset House and the Hampsteadroad. This new road is more eligible in every point than the proposed more western one by Gower-street.

"The improvement of the thoroughfare from St. Katharine Docks to Eastcheap."

This consists in the widening of the Tower end of Tower-street, and the pulling down of some projecting houses on Tower-hill. It would, no doubt, be a useful improvement.

"The removal of Middle-row, Holborn." A scheme which hardly needed the assistance of a lithographic plan to make

it intelligible. A street, as was before remarked, may be too wide. Holborn in front of Furnival's Inn is assuredly in that predicament; and if Middle-row be removed, some other object a statue or public monument of some kind-will certainly be required on its site to mark the distinction between a street and a common.

County of Surrey.-A new street from St. George's, Southwark, to Blackfriars' Bridge."

This new road is to be a continuation of the well-known line of Stamfordstreet, which, suddenly starting from the river-side, is, for some reason or reasons unknown, to make a desperate rush at St. George's Church in the Borough. A union with Tooley-street would be more in consonance with its previous habits.

"A continuation of the proposed new street from St. George's Church, Southwark, to Blackfriars' Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, and Westminster Bridge, and to the proposed Foot Bridge at Lambeth."

This recommendation must have slipt in by some mistake. The continuation alluded to is, as shown by the plan already in existence (with the exception of a branch to the Foot Bridge), under the name of Stamford-street.

These, then, are the improvements proposed which the Committee calculate may, with the purchase of the interest of the proprietors of Waterloo and Southwark Bridges, be effected for a sum not exceeding 1,2000,007., but which they, duly considering the uncertain nature of estimates, require 300,000l. more to begin with.

The reader who has followed us thus far will, we think, be unable to repress a feeling of disappointment at the results of the Committee on Metropolitan Improvements." A commonly attentive glance at a map of London might, one would think, have suggested proposals far superior to any they have recommended. It is said that the central avenues of the City are choked up with too abundant traffic. Does not the map explain this? To the westward there are two great thoroughfares towards the centre-the Strand and Holborn; to the eastward there are also two-the Mile End and Commercial Roads; but in the centre itself these great roadways con

verge into one, and Cheapside is made to bear all the burden of all the commerce that traverses these grand avenues from east to west. The remedy is obvious; at least, one other line of way to the north of Cheapside is called for. The map will likewise show the great deficiency of lines of road from north to south, there not being one, with the exception of Bishopsgate-street and its continuations, that fairly traverses the metrópolis. For one of these desiderated thoroughfares, an excellent line is pointed out in this evidence (by Samuel Mills, Esq., a Commissioner of Sewers), in a continuation of Old-street to Theobald's-road, and so on to Oxford-street; another was suggested

years ago by Mr. Nash in his proposed improvements of St. Martin's-lane, so as to communicate at one end with Charlotte-street, at the other with Whitehall. Had the Committee kept a few great objects like these in view, and carefully considered plans to effect them, not only consulting the utility which ought to form their chief feature, but the beauty which, under able management, they might be made to present, they would have done honour to themselves-rendered an essential service to the City and the citizens-and not have thrown away the public money by having plans engraved for new streets from Newgatestreet to the Post-office.

Sir,-In London, where fires are of very frequent occurrence, the experience of the firemen enables them to attain great skilfulness in their method of dealing with that destructive element. From constant practice they are enabled to approach so close to the burning materials, as to deliver their engine-streams pointblank upon the very heart of the fire, even in the midst of such quantities of heat and smoke, as would render it impossible for less practised persons to keep their ground for an instant.

It not unfrequently happens, however, that persons have the care of engines and are called upon to extinguish fires, whose opportunities of acquiring the needful experience in these matters is exceedingly limited, and they therefore seldom make the best use of the means at their command. A striking instance of this sort occurred about four months back at the

Bank of England. There are no less than seven excellent fire-engines kept within the walls of the Bank, which are inspected by the maker every month, and there is in every department a good supply of leather fire-buckets. In each of the yards capacious tanks are judiciously placed and kept constantly filled with water. There is a nightly guard of thirty-two soldiers sent from the Tower, besides which, a number of the porters, of the principal clerks and other officers of the establishment, constantly reside in the building. Notwithstanding all these admirable arrangements, and the presence of this considerable force, upon the occasion of the recent fire, they battled with it for nearly an hour, and finding themselves gaining no ground, they sent for the assistance of the London fire-establishment. When the firemen arrived they found the men belonging to the Bank