4 * 
 
 382Gwynn (John) London and West- 
 minster Improved, illustrated by plans, 
 b which is prefixed a discourse on Pub- 
 lbk Magnificence. Printed for the 
 Aithor, 1766. With tin four plans, £3, 
 rugh half vellum, scanejXmf*- 
 'his valuable old book o» the improvement 
 of London, especially the “ West End,” is 
 very uncommon. Its author was an archi- 
 tect, one of the original members of the 
 Boval Academy, and a frend of Ur. John- 
 son, who wrote the dedicaiion in this book. 
 
 
 ,'rf fr/a/y/ ^ /a#/ f 
 
 
 „ 4 - 
 
 A 
 
LONDON and WESTMINSTER 
 IMPROVED, 
 ILLUSTRATED by PLANS. 
 
 To which is prefixed, 
 
 A Difcourfe on Publick Magnificence; 
 
 WITH 
 
 Obfervations on the State of Arts and Artifts in this 
 Kingdom, wherein the Study of the Polite Arts 
 is recommended as neceffary to a liberal Education: 
 
 Concluded by 
 
 Some Propofals relative toPlaces not laid down in thePlans. 
 By J 0 H N G W Y N N. 
 
 like an entrance into a large city, after a diftant profpe&. Remotely, we fee 
 
 nothing but Ipires’of temples, and turrets of palaces, and imagine it the reli- 
 ance of fplcndor , grandeur, and magnificence; but, when we have palled the 
 gates, we find it perplexed with narrow pallages, difgraced with defpicabie 
 cottages, embarafled with obftru&ions, and clouded with fmoke. Rambler. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for the Author. 
 
 Sold by Mr Dodfley, and at Mr. Dalton’s Print- Warehoufe in Pall- 
 Mall, Mr. Bathoe in the Strand, Mr. Davies in Ruflel-Street, Covent- 
 Garden, and by Mr. Longman in Pater-nofter-Row. 
 
 MDCCLXVI. 
 
K 
 
 I 
 
 N 
 
 G. 
 
 S I R, 
 
 T HE patronage of works which have a 
 tendency towards advancing the happi- 
 nefs of mankind, naturally belongs to great 
 Princes; and publick good, in which publick 
 elegance is comprifed, has ever been the object 
 of your Majefty’s regard. 
 
 In the following pages your Majefty, I flat- 
 ter myfelf, will find, that I have endeavoured 
 at extenfive and general ufefulnels. Knowing, 
 therefore, your Majefty’s early attention to 
 the polite arts, and more particular afie&ion 
 for the ftudy of archite&ure, I was encouraged 
 to hope that the work which I now prefume to 
 
 a 2 lay 
 
lay before your Majefty, might be thought 
 not unworthy your Royal Favour j and that 
 the protection which your Majefty always af- 
 fords to thole who mean well, may be extended 
 to, 
 
 S I R ? 
 
 Your Majefty’s 
 
 moft dutiful fubjeCt, 
 and moft: obedient 
 and moft humble fervant. 
 
I N the obfervations annexed to a fmall plan (reduced , 
 from that of Sir Chriftopher Wren’s for rebuilding 
 the city of London after the fire in 1666*) the author 
 of the following work fufficiently intimated the necefilty 
 of a general plan of the whole capital, improved and 
 divided into proper diftridts, the execution of which 
 improvements he propofed fhould be put under the direc- 
 tion of fit and able perfons, who fhould be empowered by 
 authority, to regulate the fcattered and confuted appear- 
 ance they make, to reftore the ruinated parts to beauty, 
 and fix the proper mode of new improvements ; by which, 
 means not only the value of private property would be 
 confiderably increafed, but there improvements become 
 conducive to health as well as publick convenience. 
 
 In confequence of this propofal, and foon after its 
 publication, the author adually began a plan of inch 
 improvements as appeared to him beautiful, neceffary 
 and ufeful, but other avocations prevented his car- 
 rying it on at that time, and it has been a matter of 
 iurprize to him that no one has undertaken fo ufeful 
 a work in fo long a time, efpecially as the rage of build- 
 ing has been carried to fo great a height for ieveral years 
 pad, as to have increafed this metropolis in an aftonifhing 
 manner. For want oi fuch a publick direction, thofe 
 very buildings which might have been eafiJy rendered 
 
 # Published in the year 174,9. lto 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 its greateft ornament, are a melancholy proof of the ne- 
 cefTity there was of adopting a well regulated plan. The 
 violent paffion for building having continued to increaie, 
 and it appearing that no fuch plan was likely to be 
 undertaken by any body elfe, the author refumed his 
 original intention, and he flatters himfelf it will not even 
 at this time be unferviceable or unacceptable to the 
 publick. He has therefore publiflied four plates of the 
 principal part of his original defign, and if they flhould 
 meet with approbation his intention is to render it a 
 compleat work, by extending his thoughts to every 
 part of the whole city and fuburbs. 
 
 After the unaccountable treatment the noble plan 
 oi Sir Chriftopher Wren met with from the interefted 
 views of ignorant, obftinate, deflgning men, (notwith- 
 ftanding it had-the fan&ion of the King and Parliament) 
 who by rejecting it did an irreparable injury to the city 
 of London, the author cannot hope to fee a fcheme fo 
 much inferior to that, adopted in the manner he could 
 wifli ; he doubts not but it will by many be treated 
 as Utopian, a work of fupererogation, and that the 
 old cry of private property and the infringment on 
 liberty will be objected and urged with the greateft 
 vehemence, in opposition to the good efledts he pro- 
 pofes. In defence therefore of his defign, and in order 
 to obviate, as much as poillble, every objection which 
 may be made to it, the author declares and hopes that 
 every thinking perfon will agree with him, that the 
 future good aiding from the major part of his propofa! 
 will greatly overbalance the prefen t evil. For although 
 people are of ten clamorous againfi the prefent expence, 
 as if the money laid out for fuch purpofes was totally 
 
 funk 
 
Vll 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 funk and annihilated, if they would but confider, it is only 
 the changing of hands and circulating lb much dead money, 
 that, perhaps, was otherwife ufelefs to its poflelfor, and 
 may probably in time return to its original owner ; the 
 inconvenience then becomes only temporary, and its ap- 
 plication is a very conliderable advantage to the public. 
 It is very certain that no publick good ever was propofed 
 to which interefted individuals have not objected, but it 
 certainly does not follow, that for this reafon publick 
 good is not to b@ attended to at all. We are not with- 
 out inftances of villages, nay whole towns, having been 
 removed for the convenience and emolument of private 
 perfons ; then why not adopt the improvements here laid 
 down, (at leaft fuch as are moft neceffary) wherein the 
 good of the community is Co eflfentially concerned ? The 
 fire of London was undoubtedly a moft deplorable evil to 
 the fufferers, and yet no body will deny, that (bad as the 
 prefent ftate of the city is) it was productive of very great 
 advantages. For the fame realbn, the making rivers navi- 
 gable and publick roads convenient, are liable to equal ob - 
 je&ions ; fuch works are certainly often injurious to indi- 
 viduals, but their utility is a publick benefit, and pofteri- 
 ty, as well as thofe who carry fuch improvements into ex- 
 ecution, will reap conliderable advantages from them ; 
 but for the further illuftration of this propefition the 
 reader is referred to the 1 olio wing dilcourfe on the utility 
 and advantage of public magnificence ; the reafons which 
 are there given for the neceffity of its being adopted^ 
 it is hoped will plead a fufficient excufe for the liber- 
 ties which are taken with relpeCt to private property. 
 
 The 
 
The author is aware that it will appear upon the 
 full infpe&ibn of his plan, that notwithftanding he 
 has complained that the metropolis is already over built, 
 he htmfelf has laid down the plans of many more new 
 buildings. To obviate this objection, the reader is defired 
 to confider the many internal improvements which he has 
 propoied ; and the neceffity of providing dwellings for 
 thole perfons who would be obliged to remove in con- 
 fequence of fuch confiderable alterations; the greateft 
 error that has been committed, is that of extending the 
 metropolis to too great a length; nor can we fay 
 where it will flop, if builders are fuffered to proceed 
 thus wildly without direction, as they have hitherto 
 done ; but if attention was paid to the widening rather 
 than the lengthening the town, it would certainly 
 render the whole more compadt, be more convenient 
 for the inhabitants in every advantage of lituation, and 
 confequentJy equally healthy and commodious. 
 
 In fettling a plan oi large flreets for the dwellings of 
 the rich, it will be found neceflary to allot fmaller fpaces 
 contiguous, for the habitations of ufeful and laborious peo- 
 ple, whofe dependance on their fuperiors requires fuch a 
 diflribution ; and by adhering to this principal a politi- 
 cal advantage will refult to the nation; as this inter- 
 courfe ftimulates their induflry, improves their morals 
 by example, and prevents any particular part from being 
 the habitation of the indigent alone, to the great detri- 
 ment of private property. 
 
 The author naturally fuppofes that many of the pro- 
 pofed improvements will be looked upon by fome as ex- 
 travagant and vilionary, and therefore had better been 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 "totally fuppreffed; but to obviate, in fome fort, the 
 force of fuch objection, he begs leave to obferve, that 
 they are not laid down as pofitive improvements to be 
 made at this time, but rather what ought to have been 
 attended to by the original builders and proprietors of 
 lands ; and confequently, as a caution to all fuch as may 
 have the conducting and directing future buildings ; that 
 regularity, convenience and propriety, may hereafter 
 take- place of unfkilfulnefs and diforder. 
 
 It is not improbable that fome perfons will alfo think 
 the feveral fchemes propofed are impracticable, or that 
 they may be of little or no utility if put into execution ; 
 in this cafe, the author, however partial he may be to 
 his own defigns, will be much obliged to any one who 
 will point out his errors, or give the publick fome more 
 ufeful and practicable plans of his own, as he is 
 firmly purfuadcd that a work of this kind is abfolutely 
 neceffary, and cannot help thinking that if his own 
 hints, or thofe of others upon the fame fubjeCt, are not 
 timely attended to, that publick negligence will un- 
 avoidably produce publick deformity, and publick defor- 
 mity muft certainly produce publick difgrace. 
 
 Internal improvements fhould certainly be firft attend- 
 fed to before fo many new foundations are fufiered to be 
 laid ; as it is highly improper and prejudicial to go on 
 building in one place, to the utter ruin of others; and 
 this often without the leaft connection with what k 
 already built. 
 
 In the prefent ftate of building, the fined: part of the 
 town (where only real improvement can be hoped,) is 
 left to the mercy of capricious, ignorant perfons, and 
 the vaft number of buildings, now r carrying on, are 
 
 a only 
 
only fo many convincing proofs of the neceffity of 
 adopting the following, or fome better hints, in order 
 to convince the world that blundering is not the only 
 charadteriftic of Englifh builders. 
 
 One inconvenience deferves particular notice. Some 
 ftreets that would naturally open into the country are 
 {hut up and darkened by houfes built crofs them at 
 the end next the fields. This ought to be avoided, as 
 well for the fake of convenience as of elegance, in the 
 ftreets which (hall be raifed on the ground yet unoccu- 
 pied, between the prefent buildings and the new road 
 from Paddington to Iflington, which in this work has 
 always been confidered as the great boundary or line 
 for reftraining and limiting the rage of building. A 
 flop ought alfo to be put to the pradtice of eredting 
 irregular groups of houfes at the extremities of the 
 town, an evil which if continued will make this me- 
 tropolis more irregular if poffible than it is. The adt 
 of parliament diredts, that no building be eredled for the 
 future within fifty feet of the New-Road, but fome 
 people, in order to evade this judicious claufe, have in- 
 genioufly contrived to build houfes at that diftance, but 
 then to make themfelves amends they take care to oc- 
 cupy the intermediate fpace, which was intended to 
 difencumber the road, by a garden, the wall of which 
 comes clofe upon it, and entirely defeats the original 
 intention. This pradlice, and the mean appearance of 
 the backs of the houfes *, offices, and hovels, will in 
 time render the approaches to the capital fo many fcenes 
 of confufion and deformity, extremely unbecoming the 
 
 * An example of this abfurdity evidently appears in that heap of buildings lately 
 eredled from Oxford-Road to Hyde-Park Corner, whofe back-fronts are feen from 
 the Park. 
 
 charadter 
 
XI 
 
 PREFACE, 
 
 cha'rafier of a great and opulent city. Certainly the 
 fronts of all buildings (hould be as confpicuous as pof- % 
 fible, and therefore the before-mentioned pra&ice is 
 abfurd ; on the contrary, if the environs were properly 
 regulated by a judicious difpofition, a mod elegant line 
 would be formed round the metropolis ; and the adja- 
 cent fields compofe a beautiful lawn, and make an 
 agreeable finifh to the extream parts of the town. 
 
 Upon the whole, if among the number of improve- 
 ments propofed, any one of them fhould be judged 
 worthy of being put into execution, it will in fome 
 meafure recompence the trouble and fatigue the author 
 has undergone in the profecution of this work ; and he 
 will think himfelf fufficiently repaid in finding that he has 
 not been labouring in vain, or given an erroneous opinion 
 of what he thinks might or ought to have been done. 
 
 The ftate of the arts and artifts in this kingdom being 
 in a great meafure dependant upon publick works of 
 magnificence and elegance, it was judged not improper 
 or foreign to the prelent defign, to give fome account of 
 them. How the author has fucceeded he cannot pre- 
 tend to determine ; he has carefully avoided giving of- 
 fence by becoming particular, and as he has avoided be- 
 llowing perfonal encomiums, fo he has hkewife avoided 
 perfonal cenfure ; and as he entered into this part of the 
 work with a good defign, he hopes it will be a {efficient 
 apology to fay, that it. was well intended. 
 
 The author concludes this preface with a grateful 
 -acknowledgment to thofe friends who have been pub- 
 lick-fpirited enough to affift him in the profecution of 
 this work, without which it muft have been much 
 more imperfect than it is. 
 
 a 2 
 
 CON- 
 
( xii- ) 
 
 C O N T E N T S. 
 
 PREFACE.. 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 Page.. 
 
 A Difcourfe on Publick Magnificence* i 
 
 Obfervations on the State of Arts and Artifts in Great-Britain, 22- 
 Explanation of the Plates, y 6 ; 
 
 Some Propofals relative to Places not laid down in the Plans, i ii ■ 
 
 X N X R 
 
( xiii ) 
 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 W H E N hiftorians give us the rife, progrefs and declenfion- 
 of any ftate, they generally relate its fall to have pro- 
 ceeded from fome political error in government, or from luxury; 
 a very vague and undetermined expreffion, which if it fignifies 
 exceffes created by inordinate defires, ftimulated by riches, has been 
 juftly marked as the vice of a nation. But if in the place of it 
 we ifubftitute delicacy, we fhall find it the great fource of the liberal 
 arts* and of every improvement not immediately. neceflary to life. 
 
 Thus it becomes a promoter of induftry and ingenious labour, 
 and finds employment for thofe fuperfluous hands that can be 
 fpared from agriculture, &c. and while the hand of affluence thus 
 affords the means of fubfiftence to the ingenious artilan, it finds 
 employment for itfelf, without which life would become a burden. 
 
 Suppofe a colony of emigrants firft fettling , in any climate, the 
 calls of nature are few. Building huts, and tillage, are the firft 
 obje&s of their attention; and their cloathing the fkins of beafts. 
 Thefe fupply them with food, and defend them from the inclemen- 
 cies of the feafons, until encreafing in numbers, and their improve- 
 ments advancing equally, their lancfs produce moie than they con- 
 fume, and they are able to fupply the wants of their neighbours. 
 This introduces commerce and navigation. The demands for exr 
 portation fhmulate the manuraCtuiei, wealth aides, and aitificial 
 wants encreafe; the rich inhabitants look out for the means of eafe, 
 pleafure and diftinition ; thefe. produce the polite arts, a^id the orw 
 ginal formation of huts is now converted into architecture; painting 
 and fculpture contribute to the decoration, and ftamp that value 
 on canvas and marble which is acknowledged by tafte and diicern- 
 2 ment, 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ment, ana mark thofe necedary diflir dions between the palace and 
 the cottage. 
 
 Publick magnificence mav be confidered as a political and moral 
 advantage to every nation; politically, from the intercourfe with 
 foreigners expending vafl fums on our curiofities and productions; 
 morally, as it tends to promote induftry, to dimulate invention 
 and to excite emulation in the polite and liberal arts; for thofe in- 
 duftrious hands who find agriculture, overlooked with labour- 
 ers, naturally fall into thole employments where they may expeCt 
 more encouragement, in proportion, as more ingenuity is required. 
 
 We ail know that the chief fources of wealth to many fallen 
 dates, are the remains of their ancient magnificence, and the con- 
 flan t confluence of foreigners to thofe places fupply the deficiencies 
 of manufactures or commerce. 
 
 The fums expended by foreigners may be confidered as a laud- 
 able tax on their curiofity, whofe ideas being excited by fame, can 
 never be fatisfied but by occular demonflration. And had we 
 more ample means of gratifying that third after novelty and amufe- 
 ment, numbers would continually flock over to our nation, as we 
 continually do to theirs. 
 
 Let us confider the man of affluence, actuated by that beneficent 
 fpirit, the mere delight of doing good, and rendering himfelf ac- 
 ceptable to his Creator; he is furnifhed with the means, and by 
 employing the ingenious and laborious artizans, adds to the necef- 
 fity of labour, the defire of excellence : A villa rifes, an edate is 
 improved, and a manufacture edablifhed; thefe create the proper 
 didinction between the Prince and the peafant, the merchant and 
 the workman ; thefe characterize the genius of a nation, mark 
 the aera of its excellence, raife it from obfcurity to fame, and fix it 
 as the dandard of tade to lated poderity. 
 
 In fpeaking of the ignorance of early times it is natural to charge 
 them with want of genius ; but the natural qualities of every na- 
 tion are alike. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, who have 
 made fuch a great progrefs in the fciences, were not actuated by 
 fupernatural caufes, or any innate principles in their original for- 
 mation ; tl^e mind is a mere blank, but capable of receiving fuch 
 
 im- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 impreffions as cuftom, education, or any other relative caufe (hall 
 make upon it. It increafes in vigour, according to its fenfibility of 
 fuch application, and, by degrees, fo far exalts its powers, that it 
 feems to obtain new faculties in feeing, hearing and feeling thofe objects 
 to which it is mod; familiarized; it perceives defedts and excellen- 
 cies which the ignorant and unexperienced never apprehend. The 
 man becomes eminent in his profeffion in proportion as his percep- 
 tion is more or lefs acute ; and you eafily didinguidi the man of 
 genius, or the inventor of original dedgns, from the fervile copyift;. 
 who, though he may pretend to be an ingenious man, can have no 
 title to the praife of genius. 
 
 But to return. If we examine the remains of the Roman mag- 
 nificence, we fhall fee their fil'd: intentions were to procure the 
 conveniences, of life and health of the inhabitants ; thefe are vifible 
 to this, day, in their aquedu&s and fubterraneous drains. Next to 
 thefe conliderations, was the honouring the gods by magnificent 
 temples. Then arofe cities, palaces and private buildings, which 
 were adorned with every production of fcience. 
 
 The Englidi are now what the Romans were of old, dif- 
 tinguifhed like them by power and opulence, and excelling all 
 other nations in commerce and navigation. Our wifdom is refpedted, 
 our laws are envied, and our dominions are fpread over a large part 
 of the globe. 
 
 Let us, therefore, no longer negledt to enjoy our fuperiority;. 
 let us employ our riches in the encouragement of ingenious labour,, 
 by promoting the advancement of grandeur and elegance,. 
 
 LONDON 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Page 9, line 3;, for execution, read defigns. 
 
 11, 14, for elegantly, J tolerably well. 
 
 62, in the note, line 40, for entertains and inttead, read entertains inftead. 
 
 73, laft line, for ducation, reeducation. 
 
 81, Number' 1 4, mr/Gate-Street to be opened into Holborn, and a new ftreet to be made 
 oppofite to it into Red Lion Square, Drake-Street and Devonfhire-ftreet are widened, fo 
 that an uninterrupted communication will be formed from.Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields to Queen’s 
 Square, and fo on to the New-Road j an improvement which is much wanted in that 
 part of the town. 
 
 .114, line 13, dele in. 
 
 JV. B. The Lines tinged with red in the plan Ihew the propofed im- 
 provements, the dotted or faint Lines., the ftreets in their prelent ftate. 
 
LONDON and WESTMINSTER 
 
 IMPROVED. 
 
 
 A Difcourfe on Publick Magnificence. 
 
 I F the ufe and advantage of publick magnificence is confidered 
 as a national concern, it will be found to be of the utmoft con- 
 fluence, in promoting the welfare of mankind, as that attention to 
 it, which encouragement will produce, muft neceffarily ftimulate the 
 powers of invention and ingenuity, and of courfe, create employment 
 for great numbers of artifts, who, exclufive of the reward of their 
 abilities, cannot fail of flriking out many things which will do 
 honour to themfelves and to their country. This confideration alone, 
 is without doubt highly worthy of a commercial people j it is this 
 which gives the preference to one country in comparifon with an- 
 other, and it is this which diftinguifhes the genius of a people, in 
 the moft ftriking manner. In the fame proportion as publick 
 magnificence increafes, in the fame proportion will a love of 
 elegance increafe among all ranks and degrees of people, and 
 that refinement of tafte, which in a nobleman produces true 
 magnificence and elegance, will in a mechanic produce at leaf!: 
 cleanlinefs and decorum. 
 
 B 
 
 Publick 
 
2 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 Pubiick magnificence and elegance has, by perfons of narrow 
 conceptions, been fometimes termed luxury, but this is an affertion 
 which they would have done well if they had explained; if they 
 mean that all artificial wants beyond the common neceffaries of 
 life are to be termed luxuries, it will then appear that the con- 
 dition of mankind is no way fuperior to that of the brute crea- 
 tion ; bring reafon into the fcale and we fhall be reduced below 
 them; the defire of knowledge is naturally implanted in mankind, 
 and to fuppofe the great author of nature has given us defires 
 and denied us the power of gratifying them, is to fuppofe he 
 has made us the moft miferable beings in the creation. Every 
 rational man will allow that no natural appetite is to be totally 
 extinguifhed, it is only to be direded by right reafon. If the 
 enjoyment of the elegancies of life neither hurts the mind, impairs 
 the body, or does harm to individuals, it is no great matter what 
 name the affedation of fuch perfons may happen to beftow upon 
 what their underffandings were never formed to comprehend; but 
 if a man of delicate fenfation in order to gratify his paffions hurts 
 either of thefe he certainly abufes the noble faculties nature has 
 bellowed upon him. What therefore in regard to pubiick magni- 
 ficence is commonly called luxury, may be applied to the noblefi 
 purpofes, the encouragement of ingenuity and induflry; and 
 certainly in a trading kingdom the more ingenious and induflrious 
 the fobordinate part of the inhabitants are made, the more advan- 
 tages will accrue to the community. No man in his fenfes would 
 furely argue for an equality among mankind^ to deftroy dif- 
 tindions would be to deftroy all order and decorum, and if what 
 is falfely called luxury was annihilated, what of courfe muft become 
 of the multitudes whofe fubfiftence entirely depend upon its 
 exigence. 
 
 If pubiick magnificence, and a tafle for the polite arts, was 
 attended to and properly encouraged, of what prodigious fervice 
 would it be to noblemen and gentlemen of fortune who travel. 
 If they were accuflomed to the frequent obfervation of grand and 
 elegant objeds at home, how differently would they appear in 
 the eyes of foreigners* Inftead of becoming aftonifhed and con- 
 founded 
 
3 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 founded at the grandeur and novelty of the feveral obje&s pre- 
 fented to their view, they would confider them with a tranquility 
 which could not fail of convincing thofe about them, they were 
 not ftrangers to magnificence, and that they were no otherwife 
 affe&ed, than as the obje&s before them were well or ill executed, 
 which would at once pronounce the goodnefs of their tafte, and da 
 honour to themfelves and country. 
 
 In order to illuftrate the foregoing obfervations on the utility of 
 publick magnificence and elegance it may not be improper to con- 
 fider the ftate of the city of London before the conflagration in 
 1666, when that great city, (which like molt others had arifen from 
 fmall beginings) was totally inelegant, inconvenient, and unheal- 
 thy *, of which latter misfortune many melancholy proofs are au- 
 thenticated in hiftory, and which without doubt proceeded from the 
 narrownefs of the ftreets and the unaccountable proje&ion of the 
 buildings, which confined the putrid air, and joined with other cir- 
 cumftances, fuch as the want of water, and the concurring conie- 
 quence of the increafe of filth, rendered the city fcarce ever free 
 from peftilential devaluation. The fire which confumed the greatefl: 
 part of the city, dreadful as it was to the inhabitants at that 
 time, was produ&ive of confequences which made ample amends 
 for the Ioffes fuftained by individuals ; a new city arofe on the 
 ruins of the old, but, though more regular, open, convenient and 
 healthful than the former, yet by no means anfwered to the 
 chara&ers of magnificence or elegance, and it is ever to be lamented 
 (fuch was the infatuation of thofe times) that the magnificent, 
 elegant and ufeful plan of the great Sir Chriflopher Wren was 
 totally difregarded and facrificed to the mean, interefted and felfifh 
 views of private property $ views which did irreparable injury to 
 the citizens themfelves, and to the nation in general, for had 
 that great archite&’s plan been followed, what has often been 
 afferted muff have been the refult, the metropolis of this king- 
 
 * This was certainly a fa ft, and as certainly contradi&s all the accounts of the 
 magnificence and elegance of the city of London, fo pompoufiy fet forth by Stowe 
 in his time, and Maitland and Seymour long fince, who have all taken great pains to 
 perfuade their readers that this city exceeds in fplendor every other in Europe. 
 
 B 2 dorn 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 dom would inconteftably have been the moft magnificent and 
 elegant city in the univerfe, and of confequence rauft from the 
 prodigious refort of foreigners of diftindtion and tafte, who would 
 have vifited it have become an inexhauftible fund of riches to this 
 Nation. But as the deplorable blindnefs of that age has deprived 
 us of fo valuable an acquifition, it is become abfolutely neceffary 
 that fome efforts fhould be made to render the prefent plan in 
 fome degree ahfwerable to the character of the richefl and moft 
 powerful people in the world, but this can only be done by confi- 
 dering every opportunity occafioned by fire, dilapidation, or any 
 other accident, as well as of purchafing ruinous buildings, which 
 are abfolute nuifances and dangerous to the lives and fafeties of 
 the people, as occafions to be improved for the ufe of the publick. 
 By this means ftreets might be opened, avenues widened, publick 
 edifices made confpicuous, and paffages to and from places of the 
 greateft refort for publick bufinefs rendered fafe., commodious and 
 elegant. 
 
 It has been thought by fome that the fituation of the city of 
 London is in many refpeds inferior in point of grandeur and affed 
 to thofe of Rome, Paris and Conftantinople, and that it is not to 
 be viewed to any kind of advantage but from, a very few places, 
 but as k was never intended to confider this point critically the 
 ground plan has only been attended to in this work. 
 
 The plan of London in its prefent ffate will upon infpedion ap- 
 pear, to very moderate judges, to be as injudicious a difpofition 
 as can poffibly be conceived for a city of trade and commerce 
 fituated on the borders of fo noble a river as the Thames; the 
 wharfs and quays on its banks are defpicable and inconvenient 
 beyond conception, and it is utterly impofiible that a worfe ufe 
 could have been made of fo beneficial as well as ornamental a 
 part of this city. But allowing in this cafe that private property, 
 the convenience of individuals, and above all the perplexing irregu- 
 larity of the Buildings which difgrace its borders, were obfiacles 
 which are infurmountable, and which rauft remain without remedy, 
 furely the cafe is widely different in refpedt to that part of the 
 town about Grofvenor Square and Mary-le-Bgne. No fuch difficulties 
 
 prefen ted 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 5 
 
 % 
 
 prefented themfelves in that quarter, and it is certain if a well 
 regulated plan had been confulted, fo noble a fpot might have 
 been made ornamental at lead, and indead of heaping ablurdity 
 upon abfurdity have produced elegance and convenience in the 
 room of reproach and contempt. Why fo wretched an ufe has 
 been made of fo valuable and definable an opportunity of difplaying 
 tade and elegance in this part of the town is a quedion that very 
 probably would puzzle the builders themfelves to anfwer. 
 
 The true reafon then is, that this profufion of deformity has been 
 obtruded upon the publick folely for want of a general well regu- 
 lated Unfitted plan, the execution of which fhould have been 
 enforced by cammiflioners appointed by authority, men of found 
 judgment, tade and activity ; had that happily been the cafe all 
 the glaring abfurdities which are perpetually daring in the faces 
 and infulting the underdandings of perfons of fenfe and tade, 
 would never have had exidence. But private property and pitiful 
 mean undertakings, fuited to the capacities of the projectors, have 
 taken place of that regularity and elegance which a general plan 
 would have produced, and nothing feems to have been confidered 
 but the intered of a few tadelefs builders, who have entered into 
 a combination with no other views than fleecing the publick and 
 of extending and diflorting the town till they have rendered it 
 compleatly ridiculous. But even in point of intered thefe very 
 builders are deceiving themfelves, for wherever any one or more 
 of them have contrived a narrow ftr.eet, lane or alley, though.the 
 houles may let well for the prefent, yet they may be affined that 
 as the. rage for building increafes,. whenever a more Ipacious avenue 
 is built, thofe ill-contrived things will be deferted, and the inhabi- 
 tants flock to places where they can breathe freely and better 
 enjoy the conveniences of life. 
 
 If it has with, any degree of truth been faid that the plan of the 
 city, as it now flands, is inconvenient, inelegant, and without the 
 lead pretenfion to. magnificence or grandeur, it may with equal 
 truth and propriety be faid, that by far the greated part of the 
 additional buildings which have been ereCled within thefe lad 
 
 twenty 
 
6 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 twenty years, in the places beforementioned, are not a jot behind 
 hand with the city in point of deformity, with this additional aggra- 
 vation, that the builders had it in their power to have made the 
 city appear infinitely more defpicable than it does, by oppofing 
 order and elegance to confufion and abfurdity. 
 
 It is utterly impoflible to determine any precife form in the plan 
 of a great city, as fo much will always depend upon the fituation 
 of the ground and the difpofition of the river, where there is one, 
 which, in a city of trade, will always diredt the pofition of 
 the principal parts; but then it ought always to be an efta- 
 blifhed rule, that every poflible advantage fhould be taken that 
 the fituation is capable of producing, for the prefervation of health 
 and the convenience of the inhabitants. It is to be wifhed, that 
 the ground-plans of all great cities and towns were compofed of right 
 lines, and that the ftreets interfered each other at right angles, for 
 except in cafes of abfolute neceflity, acute angles ought for ever to 
 be avoided, as they are not only difagreeable to the fight, but con- 
 ftantly wafte the ground and fpoil the buildings ; indeed, if it was 
 practicable, a fquare or circular form fhould be preferred in all ca- 
 pital cities as beft adapted to grandeur and convenience; in the center 
 of which in a fpacious opening the King’s palace fhould be fituated ; 
 in which cafe he would be furrounded by his fubjeCls, and the 
 whole, if the exprefiion may be allowed, would refemble a hive of 
 bees. But unfortunately for the city and fuburbs of London, right 
 lines have hardly ever been confidered, and it is entirely owing to 
 this negleCt, that fo much confufion has been introduced in the 
 difpofition of the ftreets. Such a vaft city as that of London ought 
 to have had at leaft three capital ftreets which fhould have run 
 through the whole, and at convenient diftances been interfe&ed by 
 other capital ftreets at right angles, by which means all the inferior 
 ftreets would have an eafy and convenient communication with 
 them, for want of fuch difpofition and to avoid fuch horrid paflages as 
 Wading Street and Thames Street in the city, all paffengers, whofe 
 bufinefs calls them to London Bridge, though thofe ftreets are well 
 fituated, are forced into Cheapfide in order to preferve their lives or 
 
 limbs. 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED, 
 
 7 
 
 limbs, which proves, inconteftibly, that a quiet and eafy communi- 
 cation from place to place is of the utmod confequence to the inha- 
 bitants of a great commercial city. 
 
 Cufiom has hitherto blinded the inhabitants of London with 
 jrefpeft to thefe notorious inconveniences, and the popular prejudice 
 fo deeply rooted in them, that London is in every refpedt the fined 
 city in the world, prevents the majority from feeing and confi- 
 dering its defe&s, and confequently they quietly fubmit to be thrud 
 more than half a mile out of the way, rather than call in quedion 
 the underdanding of their forefathers. But how would the good 
 people of London be druck, if a traveller, in defcribing a Hottentot 
 crawl or city, fhould tell them, that this immenfe crawl, equally 
 populous and rich, is nothing more than a confufed heap, an irre- 
 gular, flovenly, ill-digeded compofition, of all that is abfurd and 
 ungraceful* that its principal avenues are narrow and crooked, that 
 the greated part of the crawl is compofed of blind alleys and narrow 
 unconnected pafiages, equally inconvenient and unwholfome, that 
 fome of its houfes are differed to project before the others, to the 
 great annoyance of their neighbours, and that for Want of a tole- 
 rably well-regulated plan, the indolence of its inhabitants has fud 
 fered one of the fined fituations in the world to become a reproach 
 to the whole nation, and after enumerating all thefe difguding 
 particulars, fhould conclude with faying, that he knew no city in 
 Europe that could convey fo good an idea of this Hottentot crawl as 
 that of London. 
 
 In order to fupport and illufirate the foregoing difagreeable com* 
 parifon, which to many may appear fevere, partial and injurious, let 
 any one who has a tolerable tade, and fome idea of publick magni- 
 ficence, give himfelf the trouble of confiaering the date of the 
 buildings, quays and wharfs on both fides the River Thames, from 
 Chelfea to Blackwall on the one hand, and from Batterfea to Green- 
 wich on the other, and he will be immediately convinced that there 
 is not one convenient, well-regulated fpot (as the buildings thereon 
 are at prefent difpofed) either for bufinels or elegance in that whole 
 
 extent * 
 
8 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 extent; and what is ftili more, that one half of the buildings on the 
 banks of the river are in ruins, and the whole utterly loft to thepublick, 
 as well as extremely inconvenient to individuals. After he has con- 
 fidered the ftate of the banks of the river, he may continue his 
 obfervations upon the interior parts of the town, and naturally turn 
 his eyes upon thofe ufeful places to the trading part of the world, 
 Wapping, Rotherhithe, and Southwark, all contiguous to the 
 Thames, and all entirely deftitute of that ufeful regularity, conve- 
 nience and utility, fo very defirable in commercial cities, and that 
 too in places formed by nature for the execution of every thing of 
 that kind. In this part of his obfervation he muft neceftarily be led 
 to conftder the Tower, Towerhill, and particularly the Cuftom- 
 Houfe, which laft building being of the utmoft confequence to 
 the publick, he will find in point of grandeur, magnificence and 
 convenience, to be the worft contrived heap of abfurdity and in- 
 convenience that could poffibly be put together, in a place where 
 room might have been found to difplay every advantage the nature 
 of fuch a building indifpenfibly required. The obferver may from 
 thence diredt his view through WTetched, miferably contrived 
 avenues into Spittalfields, White-Chapel, Moorfields, and the 
 adjacent parts, where he will find the moft advantageous fitu- 
 ations laid out in the moft defpicable manner, nor will he be 
 much better fatisfied when he comes to confider the buildings 
 which are at this time carrying on, at, and about the Bank of Eng- 
 land, where he will immediately difcover that what was meant as 
 an improvement, is made an aukward blemifh to the city of Lon- 
 don. When he has proceeded thus far in the city, it may not be 
 amifs to confider the fituation of St. Paul’s, and other churches, 
 the Monument, the companies Halls, and other publick buildings, 
 and if mean encumbrances are to be efteemed as ornamental and 
 advantageous to fine buildings, he will find ample room for admi- 
 ration. The obferver may next take in all thofe wretched parts 
 
 which 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 9 
 
 which he will find on both fides the Fleet-Market, and afterwards 
 view the only gate (except Temple-Bar) the citizens have left theni- 
 felves to (hew that London was once a city ; this however unfortu- 
 nately was the greateft nuifance of them all, and was undoubtedly 
 left with a political view, as an apologetical fpecimen to pofterity, 
 for deftroying all the reft. Indeed this feems to be the only ftrong 
 hold the good citizens have left, and is the only place from which 
 the bad ones cannot efcape, if they have a mind to it. 
 
 Necefiity will compel the obferver to proceed into Smith- 
 field, for the fake of breathing a freer air, and when he has con- 
 fidered a fpot capable of the greateft advantages, but deftitute 
 of any, he may plunge into the deplorable avenues of Fee-lane and 
 other horrid paflages in that neighbourhood, and after purfuing the 
 moft difagreeable labyrinth that can be conceived for a confiderable 
 time, emerge again upon Clerkenwell-Green, in which he will 
 find the only good ftreet, in that part of the town, furrounded 
 by fome of the very worft in it. 
 
 It will be no eafy tafk for the obferver from Clerkenwell-Green 
 to afcend Mutton-Lane, and proceed to Baldwin’s Gardens, a de- 
 feated fpot, through the ruins of which, if he efcapes without 
 hurt, he may reach Gray s-Inn-Lane, one of the principal ave- 
 nues to this metropolis, which is defpicable beyond conception: 
 From thence he may hobble into Holborn, where" the firft objed 
 that prefects itfelf to view is Middle-Row, a nuifance univer- 
 fally detefted, and for that reafon, and the narrow confideration 
 of private property, fuffered to remain a publick difgrace to the 
 fineft ftreet in London. 
 
 Fie may proceed with fome fatisfadion until he arrives at Broad 
 St. Giles s, where, if he can bear to fee a fine fituation covered with 
 ruinous buildings, and inhabited by the moft deplorable objeds that 
 human nature can furnifh, he mav vifit the environs. From hence 
 he may proceed along Oxford-Road, and ftriking into the town on 
 which hand he pleaies, meet with places which (confidering the 
 fituation of the ground they ftand upon, the expenfivenefs of the 
 buildings ereded, the meannefs of the execution, and, above all, 
 die wretched difpofition of the whole for want of a well-regulated 
 
 C plan) 
 
IO 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 plan) deferve to be placed even below the meaneft of thofe already 
 mentioned, though almoft all of them were erected within the 
 memory of man. 
 
 He will not be better fatisfied when he has reached Weftminfter, 
 when he conliders what might have been done, and how little has 
 been done, when fo fine an opportunity prefented itfelf; certainly the 
 building of the new bridge, and the power with which the comrnif- 
 fioners were veiled, demanded much more, and had a general 
 plan of improvements been duly confidered, it is as certain that a 
 very different ufe would have been made of fo defirable a field for 
 the exertion of tafte, elegance and magnificence. If he proceeds 
 further than the new buildings, he will find only the fame defeats 
 repeated, wretched avenues, miferable buildings, and a continued 
 difplay of abfurdity and inconvenience. 
 
 From Weftminfter-Bridge he may eafily, though not fo agreeably 
 as he might have reafonably hoped (owing to the injudicious 
 formation of the road) conduct himfelf into St. George s-Fields, 
 the only fpot now left about London, which has not yet fallen a 
 facrifice to the depraved tafte of modern builders, here he may 
 indulge himfelf with the contemplation of what advantageous things 
 may yet be done for this hitherto neglected metropolis ; the bridge 
 now building at Black-Friars will undoubtedly be the means of 
 entirely altering the face of that part of the city, and certainly it 
 becomes neceffary to take particular care of the execution of a plan, 
 which, when once ill done, we cannot hope will hereafter be 
 remedied. 
 
 It was judged unneceffary to conduct the obferver to the palace 
 of St. James’s, for that is an objedt of reproach to the kingdom 
 in general, it is univerfally condemned, and the meaneft fubjedt 
 who has feen it, laments that his Prince refides in a houfe fo 
 ill-becoming the ftate and grandeur of the moft powerful and 
 refpedtable monarch in the univerfe ; a Prince whofe fupreme 
 happinefs confifts in promoting the good and welfare of his fub- 
 jedls, who is himfelf a lover of the arts, and under whofe happy 
 aufpices artifts of every denomination of real merit and ingenuity 
 can never doubt of obtaining patronage and encouragement in a 
 
 manner 
 
II 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 manner adequate to their refpedtive abilities. But bad as the palace 
 of St. James’s really is in its prefent ftate, the pride of the people of 
 England ought to exert itfelf in fuch a manner that nothing dero- 
 gatory to the Majefty of the King, or to the glory of the kingdom, 
 fhould be fuffered to take place with regard to it. No mean, defpi- 
 cable attempt to cover deformity by patch-work, which might aptly 
 be compared to the miferable artifice of a battered proftitute, who 
 endeavours by paint to hide the effects of debauchery, or conceal 
 the defedfs of nature ; no, the palace of the Sovereign of thefe 
 kingdoms ought not to be permitted even to be the fecond in the 
 world, and if it cannot be the firft, it is to be wifhed that it may 
 remain in its prefent ftate until this nation fhall have acquired more 
 tafte, and have attained more fpirit to put that tafte in execution. 
 
 The Queen’s palace is upon the whole elegantly defigned, and 
 the fituation extremely good, but it is to be wifhed it was difen- 
 cumbered by the removal of feveral of the furrounding buildings, 
 efpecially thofe which hinder the view into the Green-Park, and 
 deform the whole palace : Thefe, and fome others on the oppofite 
 fide ought to be taken away, but if thefe are not fuitable to the 
 palace, the mean houfes now eredling, called Queen’s-Row, near 
 the garden-wall, are intolerable nuifances, and it is great pity they 
 could not have been prevented, as they muft be offenfive to the 
 palace and gardens upon many accounts. The Chelfea water-engine 
 is alfo very inconveniently fituated, as the fmoke from it muft 
 unavoidably be poured into the palace whenever the wind blows 
 from that quarter, and the fmoke from the above-mentioned hovels 
 muft alfo in a great meafure affedtit in the fame manner. The brick 
 kilns and hofpitals are likewife intolerable nuifances which fhould 
 be removed ; the removal of the ftatues by the former poflefTor was 
 improper, and the houfe was deprived of a very great ornament, 
 as they broke the ftrait line upon the top of the building, and pro- 
 duced a noble effedt; nor was the removal of the fountain at the 
 fame time more judicious, as it contrbuted to fpoil the whole defign. 
 
 From what has, with the ftridteft regard to truth, been faid of 
 the city and fuburbs of London and Weftminfter, there cannot re- 
 main the leaft doubt but that their ftate, with regard to magnificence, 
 • C 2 elegance 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 elegance and convenience, is very defpicable, confequently the necef- 
 lity of rendering them otherwife is become a matter of ferious 
 concern to perfons in power, and is a demonftration that fome kind, 
 of general plan fhould be formed for their improvement. In the 
 cities of Paris, Edinburgh, Rotterdam and other places, the govern- 
 ment takes cognizance of all publick buildings both ufeful and orna- 
 mental, and where any thing abfurd or improper is propofed to be 
 done the legiflature feafonably prevents the intrufion of deformity 
 in their capital, which would undoubtedly find its way if the whim 
 and caprice of their builders was fuftered to go on without this 
 check. 
 
 In the city of Rome, when any great defign was conceived and 
 determined to be put in execution, whether it was to decorate the 
 church of St. Peter, or to eredt a ftatue or fountain, the firft artift 
 in that city was always fure to be preferred and employed ; in order 
 to this it was ufual to give notice that fuch an undertaking was in 
 agitation, and the aftiftance of the artifts required, in confequence 
 of this notice, defigns and models were immediately furnifhed, 
 and the fuperintendants of thofe works conftantly preferred fuch 
 as appeared to have the greateft degree of merit : This conduct 
 produced emulation, and gave rife to fuch performances as have 
 defervedly merited the approbation of the moil confummate judges, 
 and done honour to the artifts and their employers. 
 
 Happy would it have been for this great city, if authority had by 
 a timely interpofition prevented many of thofe intolerable nuifances 
 and deformities already complained of. It is certain that a good regular 
 plan is lefs expenfive than a bad irregular one. Had authority inter- 
 pofed, we fhould very probably have had the pleafure of feeing 
 buildings eredted with more convenient room, and at the fame time 
 occupying lefs ground; we fhould have been utter Grangers to the 
 terminating of tolerable good flreets with ftables and dunghills; nor 
 fhould we have feen the fronts of one pile of buildings oppofed to 
 the backs of another, which is undoubtedly one of the greateft errors 
 that can be committed, for in that cafe one fide of the ftreet muft be 
 encumbered with a melancholy dangerous dead wall, for which 
 there is not any other remedy than that of making dwarf walls 
 
 with 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 13 
 
 with iron rails, a method which occafions an unneceffary expence, 
 and when done becomes inconvenient and ungraceful. 
 
 Had a general plan been obferved in the new buildings about 
 Mary-le-Bone and the adjacent parts, fo many defpicable little 
 chapels would never have been fuffered, when there is fo manifeft 
 a want of noble obje&s in that quarter; had the parifh church of 
 Mary-le-Bone been rebuilt in a magnificent manner and well 
 placed, it would have anfwered the purpofes both of a com- 
 modious place for publick worfhip to the numerous families in that 
 parifh, and at the fame time in the view of the town from the 
 adjacent country, would have broken the line of the new build- 
 ings, which as they at prefent hand give no better idea to the 
 fpe&ator than that of a plain brick wall of prodigious length. 
 In proof of the confequence of objects of this kind, let it be fup- 
 pofed that the cupola of St. Paul’s was taken away, and it would 
 then be found that the lofs of that noble ornament would immedi- 
 ately reduce the appearance of the city to a level with that of any 
 other populous city in the kingdom. 
 
 In many parts of the new buildings another very great abfurdity 
 has been pracftifed, which is that of ere&ing fingle brick edifices 
 with hone fronts of a regular defign, the fides and backs of which 
 being entirely expofed prefent nothing but abfurdity and contradic- 
 tion, a motley compofition of flone and brick walls perforated with 
 holes in order to admit light. In the city of Bath, the fronts of the 
 houfes which compofe the celebrated circus there, are built of ftone 
 of the three Greek orders, three quarter columns in couplets with 
 their proper entablatures, and the doors and windows in character; 
 and fo far when finifhed will be the moft elegant ftru&ure in the 
 kingdom, though rather too fmall; but how is the fpedator offend- 
 ed when he comes to view the back part of this very circus, 
 which is entirely expofed, and finds that it has no kind of con- 
 nection with the front and exhibits only a heap of confufed irre- 
 gular buildings *. 
 
 As 
 
 * This could have been removed by building an outer circle, forming a double row 
 of houfes, or a fquare, which would have anfwered the fame purpofe. An ingenious 
 gentleman propofed fome years ago to the citizens of Bath, a fcheme for improving 
 
 and 
 
U 
 
 LONDON AN D 
 
 As the mention of Bath has led us into a digrefiion, it may 
 not be improper to obferve that in this age of miftaken refinement 
 there is not in the kingdom one city, town or village wherein any 
 regularity is obferved, or attempt made towards magnificence or 
 elegance, except the city of Bath. And the worft is, that immenfe 
 fums have been for many years paft laid out in feveral places, 
 which for want of tafte in thofe who had the direction of the 
 buildings, are perhaps much the worfe for their being eredted at 
 all. Whenever any buildings either in a city, town or village go 
 to decay the proprietor (if able) fhould be obliged to rebuild in a 
 regular uniform manner. The villages about London in parti- 
 cular, fuch as Chelfea, Kenfington, Knightfbridge, Paddington, 
 Iflington, &c. fhould be fubjedt to a law of this kind ; they are 
 all capable of vafl improvements, and might very eafily be made 
 delightful fpots, worthy the neighbourhood of fo rich and 
 opulent a city as London : But as magnificence and elegance are 
 fo little attended to in the capital itfelf, it can hardly be expedted 
 they fhould be found in its adjacencies. 
 
 The two umveifities of Oxford and Cambridge, are finking 
 examples of what might be done. If a little attention had been 
 given to propriety, elegance and regularity, if after the founda- 
 tion of the firfi: college in either of thofe places, the next fuc- 
 ceeding ones had been eredted from time to time with a view to 
 this great end, what noble places would thefe great feminaries 
 have been, what a variety of elegant uniform buildings, what grand 
 and regular fireets and fquares would have been formed, and 
 how totally different would their appearance have been at prefent ? 
 But no fuch principle having ever been attended to, thefe places 
 which ought to have been at lealL as elegant as any in the king- 
 dom, are with refpect to order and decorum the mofi confufed 
 fcenes that can be imagined. 
 
 and beautifying that city, and though it met with the g'reateft approbation from 
 people of tafte in general, and in particular from a nobleman who was pofie/Ted of 
 very gteat property there, yet from the ignorant prejudices of the majority of the 
 citizens, this ufeful fcheme was fuffered to be thrown afide, and though they are 
 now building in that city at a prodigious rate, no regard is paid to a general plan 
 which is alfo the cafe in leveral other places in this kingdom. 
 
 4 
 
 Before 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 15 
 
 Before this difcourfe is concluded, it becomes neceffary to 
 return to the city, and mention the great want of fpacious 
 elegant ftreets there. This has been done before in a general 
 way, in fpeaking of thofe dangerous inconvenient avenues Wat- 
 ling-ftreet and Thames-ftreet ; were thefe properly opened, what 
 an alteration would be produced in refpedt to grandeur and uti- 
 lity, how eafy, fafe and commodious would the conveyance of 
 goods and merchandize be rendered by it, and what a fine oppor- 
 tunity would thereby be given to eredt dwelling houfes for the 
 wealthy merchants, who for want of fuch conveniences are thruft 
 out of the way of their bufinefs, and obliged to live in a part of 
 the town entirely unfuitable to their interefls in every refpedt; the 
 body of merchants certainly are and ought to be, to the inferior 
 citizens, what the body of the nobility are to the whole ; the 
 merchants are the opulent people of the city, and the greateft part 
 of its inhabitants are entirely dependant upon them, indeed their 
 dependance is mutual, for which reafon it is plain their refidence 
 ought to be in the city, and confequently fome effectual method 
 fhould be purfued in order to accommodate them properly, and pre- 
 vent as much as poffible their mixing among perfons of quality, 
 whofe manner of living and purfuits are totally unfuitable to men 
 of bufinefs. 
 
 Two or three centuries ago indeed feveral of the principal of 
 the nobility relided within the walls of the city, and undoubtedly 
 the grandeur of thofe buildings muft have added much to the ap- 
 pearance the city then made, but fince that time the different mode 
 of living has produced prodigious changes, and it is to be wifhed, as 
 people of quality with great propriety withdrew themfelves from the 
 city, that the citizens with equal propriety would withdraw them- 
 felves to a fituation where they would meet with more refpedf, and 
 at the fame time attend their bufinefs j but this can never be 
 done unlefs fome effectual ftep is taken by the city to provide 
 the merchants with flreets fuitable to the affluence of that refpedtable 
 body of people, who are without doubt the mod: ufeful and bene- 
 ficial part of the community. 
 
 From 
 
16 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 From what has been already advanced in purfuing this difcourfe, 
 it appears there is abundant room for improving and embellifhing 
 feveral parts of the city and fuburbs of London; but, as individuals, 
 we are extremely expenfive, as a people mean and pitiful ; the 
 principal intention of the Author is to advife (what has by every 
 thinking perfon been long wifhed) that proper bounds may be fet 
 to that fury which feems to poflefs the fraternity of builders, and 
 to prevent them from extending the town in the enormous manner 
 they have done and hill continue to do, and this it is prefumed 
 can be no other way accomplished than by a plan of limitation, be- 
 yond which they fhould be prohibited from building under fevere 
 penalties ; lince if they are permitted to proceed at their accuftomed 
 rate, we may expert to find that the neighbouring hills of Hampffcead 
 and Highgate, will foon become confiderable parts of the fuburbs 
 of London ; and when the limbs extend themfelves too faft, and 
 grow out of proportion to the body which is to nourith and 
 fuftain them, it may very rationally be fuppofed, that a confump- 
 tion will be the confequence : And indeed if the expreffion may 
 be allowed, many parts of the body are already reduced to fkin 
 and bone •, by means therefore of a proper limitation this terrible 
 event may be prevented, and if thefe quacks in building can 
 be called in and made any way ferviceable towards reftoring and 
 repairing the decayed parts of the'body, they may then be allowed 
 to plead their having done fome fervice, and poflibly make attone- 
 ment for the wretched operations they have already performed upon 
 its mangled limbs. 
 
 To give any probable reafon why fuch a prodigious encreafe 
 of building has been encouraged in this metropolis, may perhaps 
 be efteemed no part of the Author’s bufinefs, but whether it 
 proceeds from the migration of foreigners, or from fo many 
 convenient roads being made from all parts of the kingdom, 
 whether it be owing to our own people’s deferting their native 
 homes and quitting their innocent country retreats for the fake 
 of tafting the pleafures of this great city *, whether the profits 
 
 of 
 
 * Perhaps it might not be difadvantageous to the kingdom in general if the royal 
 refidence*was not confined foleiy to London, if the court was occafionally held in 
 
 different 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. if 
 
 of a fuccefsful war has enabled fome to keep houfes who were for- 
 merly contented with lodgings ; whether it is owing to the arrival 
 of others, who, having acquired fortunes in the plantations, come 
 to fpend them here ; or to the monopolizing of farms, that is, 
 making one large farm out of three or four fmall ones, and there- 
 by compelling the farmers who are turned out of them to feek 
 their bread in this metropolis, are all confiderations well worth 
 enquiring into; as it is certain that notwithftanding the amazing 
 encreafe of buildings, houfes are fiill procured with difficulty, and 
 the rents of moll are perpetually encreafing; but thefe are quef- 
 tions which it is hoped fome more able perfons will think it worth 
 their while to anfwer. There is the greated probability that in time 
 the prodigious encreafe of buildings mud give relief to the tenants, 
 as it will be impoffible for them all to be inhabited, and at the fame 
 time that the landlords of old houfes fhould continue to raife their 
 rents , there is one circumdance which is pleafant enough, and 
 is now carrying on with great fuccefs by the landlords in thofe 
 dreets which are at this time new paving, which is, that although 
 the expence of paving and lighting the dreets in the manner pre- 
 fcribed by the adl falls entirely upon the tenant, yet the landlords, 
 taking advantage of a benefit they never intended or have in the 
 leaf; contributed to, fail not where-ever they are not prevented by 
 a leafe, to raife their rents in the mod arbitrary manner. 
 
 It becomes necefiary in this place to take particular notice of 
 the very elegant, ufeful and necefiary improvement of the city 
 of Weftminfter, and its liberties, by the prefent method of paving 
 and enlightening it ; an improvement which every one who is 
 doomed to walk feels in the mod fenfible manner ; to fay that the 
 dreets are thereby rendered fafe and commodious would be faying 
 too little, it may without exaggeration be afierted, that they are 
 not only made fafe and commodious, but elegant and magnificent ; 
 
 different places it might in fome meafure prevent many from coming to this city, 
 who have no bufinefs to vifit it at all, for it is poflible that too many people may be 
 brought to London, and thereby in time depopulate the country, as well as greatly 
 enhance the price of provifions and every other neceffary of life. 
 
 D 
 
 this 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 this can be no where pointed out with fo much propriety as in 
 the Strand, which from being dark, dirty and inconvenient, 
 is become fplendid, elegant, and in refpecl of what it was before, 
 magnificent ; upon the whole, there never was in any age or 
 country a publick fcheme adopted which reflects more gsoiy upon 
 a government, or does greater honour to the perfon who originally 
 propofed and (imported it; indeed it is to be wiilted that when this 
 improvement was concerted it had been earned a little nirther, 
 by removing all kinds of bufinefs which from their nature are 
 offenfive or dangerous, fuch as publick markets, into detached 
 places. 
 
 The intolerable practice of holding a market for the faie of live 
 cattle in the center of the metropolis has been loudly and juftly 
 complained of for many years pad, but no redrefs has yet been given, 
 nor indeed any attention paid to the repeated remonftrances made 
 againft a nuifance at once extremely dangerous as well as inelegant 
 and inconvenient, the almofl total inattention of the geneiality of 
 mankind to every thing which does not immediately concein 
 their own intereft, has hitherto prevented the citizens of London 
 from taking cognizance of a nuifance which it is undoubtedly both 
 their intereft and duty to remove ; the fame inattention, or fome- 
 thino- worfe, has likewife prevented them from considering that with 
 regard to this very circumftance their fore-fathers were much wifer 
 than their defeendants, for they may pleafe to recolledt, that when 
 London was a city, that is, had a regular wall and gates, this very 
 market was obliged to be kept in Smithfield, or Smith’s field, a 
 field without the walls, near enough to the center of the metropolis 
 to render it convenient, but at the fame time properly fituated to pre- 
 vent thofe inconveniences which at this time are fo juftly complained 
 of 5 at the fame time we find that the flaughter-houies were fituated 
 in and about Batcher-Hall-Lane, between Newgate and Alderf- 
 gate, and probably no where elfe ; which fituation from its vicinity 
 to Smithfield, was extremely proper, and prevented the cattle from 
 being driven througii the ftreets of the city j but as in fucceeding 
 times the fuhurbs began to be extended in a prodigious degree, 
 Smithfield became not only furrounded with houfes but with ftreets 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. i$> 
 
 alfo, and at length by the demolition of the city wall and gates, is 
 become much too nearly fituated in the heart of the metropolis, 
 a circumflance which was manifeftly never intended by our fore- 
 fathers. It is a great pity therefore that in regard to the lives and 
 fafeties of the people, as well as of elegance and decorum, this 
 market is not removed to fome convenient fpot near the Iflington 
 road ; either between that road and the fuburbs, or at the back part of 
 Iflington j this market might be formed into a regular and fpacious 
 fquare, furrounded with flaughter-houfes and other neceflary build- 
 ings adapted to the feveral purpofes of this kind of bufinefs, and the 
 whole might be fo contrived as not to be offenfi ve even in point of 
 appearance ; in fuch a place the beafts might be fold and killed by 
 the purchafers, and afterwards removed to the feveral markets; but 
 if any very material objection fliould be made to the removal of this 
 market, it may be worth confidering whether it would not be prac- 
 ticable to eredt flaugher-houfes in the neighbourhood of Smithfield, 
 fomewhere about Chick-Lane or fome fuch ruinous part, which 
 places would by this means be rendered valuable to the owners, and 
 in order to prevent the mifchiefs before complained of, a method 
 fhould be confidered to flop ail the avenues into Smithfield during 
 the hours of holding the market, (except that which led immedi- 
 ately to the flaughter-houfes) and the cattle, after they were pur- 
 chafed, fliould be driven diredly thither, and either killed the fame 
 day, or if proper places were built for their reception, be kept 
 there as long as convenience would require ; by this means the 
 great mifchief arifmg from driving the cattle through the fireets 
 would be prevented, accidents of this kind are chiefly owing to the 
 fpparating of thefe animals from each other, to which they have a 
 natural averfion ; when one of them is parted from the herd he 
 always endeavours to recover his fituation, but being prevented and 
 finding himielf alone, which he is unaccuftomed to be, he runs 
 wildly about, and as his terrors are too often encreafed by the cruelty 
 of the drivers and puriuitsof the rabble, becomes outragious, and at 
 length from the natural principle of feif-defence often does irrepar- 
 able mifchief. 
 
 D 2 
 
 Another 
 
20 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 Another expedient for preventing the dangers arifing from the 
 practice of driving cattle through the metropolis, would be to have 
 a market fomewhere near the Borough of Southwark, to which 
 the cattle from Kent, Surry and the other counties, might be 
 brought for fale, and this to be contrived in the fame manner as 
 that mentioned at or near Iflington, both thefe markets might be 
 immediately under the infpediion and regulation of the Lord Mayor 
 and citizens of London, and if even a third and fourth were thought 
 neceffary to be held in the Eafi: and Weft ends of the town, for the 
 convenience of the publick, they might be regulated in the fame 
 manner j but the nuifance complained of fhould by no means be any 
 longer tolerated, nor is it apprehended this very defirable event 
 can be any other way accomplifhed than by the methods 
 above-mentioned. If fuch a fcheme was to be put in execution, 
 the removal of the market would give a fine opportunity to the 
 city of London for converting Smithfield into a noble regular 
 fquare, which might be applied either for the purpofe of trade or 
 elfe as dwellings for merchants and people of opulence, as fhould 
 be found mod: convenient. 
 
 It would have been alfo advantageous for the publick if for the 
 convenience of watering the ftreets, water-cocks had been placed 
 at certain diflances, which fhould communicate from the pipes 
 and pafs under the pavement through the kirb, the fame thing 
 might be pradtifed in the New-Road, which forms the grand line 
 of limitation j as cefs-pools are found to be very ofFenfive and 
 inconvenient, it is a great pity that more attention is not given to 
 making publick drains or common-fewers, which fhould always be 
 made large enough for a man to walk upright, and at proper dis- 
 tances trap-doors fhould be contrived of fufficient flrength, in order 
 to cleanfe them without breaking up the pavement, which is the 
 common inconvenient method now pradtifed. 
 
 From what has been already urged, it muft be allowed that pub- 
 lick works of real magnificence, tafle,. elegance and utility, in a 
 commercial city, are of the utmoffc confequence ; they are not only 
 of real ufe in point of fplendor and convenience, but as neceflary 
 to the community as health and cloathing to the human body, 
 
 they 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 21 
 
 they are the great iources of invention and of ingenious employ- 
 ments, and are a means of (lamping real value upon materials 
 of every kind. It is entirely owing to the encouragement of works 
 of this fort that the kingdom of France has obtained a fuperiority 
 over the reft of the world in the polite arts, and it is by the 
 encouaragement of thefe alone that this nation, to the full as in- 
 genious as the French, can ever hope to make a figure in the arts 
 equal to what they now make in arms. 
 
 Upon the whole, the Author fubmits his work entirely to the 
 candour of the publick, that publick for whofe ufe and benefit it 
 was folely undertaken, and from whom the nature of the work will 
 not permit him to expedt any other reward than a timely and ferious 
 confideration of its utility. His chief aim has been folely directed to 
 enforce an attention to publick improvements, in order that every 
 communication may be rendered equally convenient, that property 
 may be made more valuable, and that by an elegant difpofition 
 of the whole it may become a matter of indifference in what 
 quarter of the town one would chufe to refide ; to conclude, 
 thus much he will venture to aifert, that if the whole or any part 
 of his propofed alterations are put into execution, he does not 
 believe any one would wifh to fee the old forms reftored. 
 
 
 Obfervatiom 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 
 Obfervations on the State of Arts and 
 Artifls in Great-Britain. 
 
 S the cultivation of the polite arts is beyond contradiction a 
 
 fource of wealth and honour to a nation, and as it has been 
 principally defigned ’in this work to recommend and promote the 
 care and ttudy of them, it may not be improper to give a 
 concife account of the rife and progreis of the feveral branches 
 of painting, fculpture, architecture and engraving, by which the 
 publick will be enabled to form a judgment of the former as well 
 as prefent ttate of the arts in this kingdom. 
 
 The art of painting in England, has, until very lately, been in 
 a fluctuating ftate. In the reign of Henry the Eighth Holbein 
 painted here, and was encouraged by that Monarch, and confe- 
 quently was employed by the Nobility of thofe times, but his works 
 were unknown to the publick, few perfons had the opportunity of 
 feeing them, confequently they excited no emulation among the in- 
 genious, and the fplendour of painting diiappeared with that matter, it 
 glimmered however again in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Iiaac Oliver 
 and Zuccaro painted in her time ; it afterwards grew more faint, or 
 rather was totally extinguifhed, in the reign of King James the 
 Firft, but blazed out in that of his fucceflor. Rubens and Vandyke 
 were employed by King Charles \he Firtt, they were indeed foreign 
 auxiliaries, but they laid the foundations of tafte and knowledge 
 in this art among the great, their works, efpecially thofe of Vandyke, 
 were not only more numerous but became alfo more the objects 
 of publick attention, than thofe of Holbein and the fucceeding 
 matters had been ; accordingly emulation was excited among the 
 ingenious part of this nation, and feveral painters were produced 
 who did vhonour to their country, but their genius, in compliance 
 
 with 
 
23 
 
 WESTMINSTER I M P R O V E D. 
 
 with the prevailing tafte of the kingdom, feldom reached further 
 than to portrait-painting, for encouragement was not given to any 
 other part of the art, ihip-painting excepted, in which the celebrated 
 Vandevelde was fuperior to every other matter; however portrait 
 painting fourittied and continued to fiourifh, Cooper, (in minia- 
 ture) Sir Peter Lely and Sir Godfrey Kneller kept up the national 
 pafilon with great fuccefs, and fome publick works which requir- 
 ed decorations, gave opportunity to Sir James Xhornmll and 
 others to fhew that hittorical painting, if properly encouraged, 
 was a held in which the Britifh nation might engage with their 
 competitors, not without advantage ; but notwithftandmg this 
 advancement of the art of painting, and the number of ingenious 
 profeffors who continually increaled in every branch, neither 
 painting nor the profeffors of painting were known, diftinguiftied 
 or encouraged. The few indeed who had tatte and difeern- 
 ment fought for thefe ingenious men, and purchafed their works, 
 but the publick knew them not, nor did they know each other ; 
 they had no fociety or intercourfe with their fellow artitts, conse- 
 quently had very little to fay in each others recommendation in the 
 different branches of painting, and he who bad the greateft acquaint- 
 ance, whatever were his abilities, was fure to get the mott money* 
 However, the natural good fenfe and ingenuity of the Britifh nation 
 continued ftill to furnitti very able matters, and thefe at length col- 
 lected their fcattered and difperfed brethren and formed a little 
 fociety, who wifely confidering their mutual intereft, by a volun- 
 tary fubfeription among themfelves, eftablifhed an academy, which 
 is at this time kept up in St. Martins-Lane. 
 
 The eftabliftiment of the Foundling-Hofpital, which was a nati- 
 onal concern, and attracted the notice of the publick in a very 
 particular manner, gave an opportunity, when finifhed, for difplay- 
 ing a feene entirely new to this nation ; the Hofpital was juft in its 
 infancy, and elegant decorations and every poffible means that 
 could allure or draw the attention of the publick towards its fupport 
 and maintenance were found neceffary ; but the expence of iuch 
 ornaments could not be afforded by a charity who>e utmoft aoilities 
 
 were demanded for the fuccour and fupport of dcierted peTftnng 
 . ’ infants. 
 
24 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 infants. In order to contribute to the fupport of this ufeful eftablifh- 
 ment, and to fhew at once that ingenuity and companion for the 
 diftrefies of human nature, are ufually found to refide in the fame 
 breaft, the mod confiderabie artifts in Qreat-Britain, nobly and 
 generouily united in bellowing a great number of excellent per- 
 formances in painting and fculpture, which mbellifned the Hof- 
 pital, entertained the publick, and, at the lame time, convinced 
 the world that painting was arrived to a degree of perfection in this 
 kingdom, of which, until this era, they had no conception. The 
 governors of the hofpital, convinced of the ufe o d benefit which 
 accrued to the charity from jthefe truly valuable donations, and de- 
 firous. of improving a connexion fo very advantageous to them, 
 encouraged the feveral contributors, and alio the whole, body of 
 tbofe who profeffed the polite arts, to have an annqal-mycdng^bthe 
 Hofpital, on the fifth of November 5 thefe meetings .drew together . 
 the mod: ingenious artifts from every quarter, ana, at one of them, it 
 was propofed to the whole body, to have an annual exhibition of fuch 
 performances as fhould be judged worthy the notice of the publick. 
 
 A propofal fo very advantageous to merit of every kind, could 
 not fail of being received with applauie, and was unanirnoutly 
 agreed to j in confequence of this refolution, application was made 
 to the fociety of arts, manufactures and, commerce, who. taking it 
 into confideration, rightly judged, that an exhibition of this nature 
 could not be carried into execution with fo much propriety as under, 
 their patronage; they complied therefore willingly with this requeft, 
 and, in the year 1760,* the firffc exhibition of the artifts of Great- 
 Britain was made, and another the year following 3 but as every 
 member of the fociety was at liberty to diftribute what number of 
 tickets for admittance he thought fit, that which was intended only 
 as a polite, entertaining and rational amufement for the publick, be- 
 came a feene of tumult and diforder ; and to fuch a height was 
 the rage of vifiting the exhibition carried, that, when the members 
 themfelves had fatisfied their own curiofity, the room was crowded, 
 during the hours allotted for the exhibition, with menial fervants 
 and their acquaintance ; this proftitution of the polite arts undoubt- 
 edly became extremely difagreeable to the profefTors themfelves, 
 
 who 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 
 who heard alike, with indignation, their works cenfured or ap- 
 proved by kitchen-maids and ftable-boys but the caufe of the final 
 reparation (for this abufe might have been remedied) of the artifts 
 of Great-Britain, from the fociety, was this : It had been and is 
 flill ufual for the fociety to give premiums for hiftorical and land- 
 fcape painting, thefe rewards were ufually adjudged among the 
 competitors fome little time before the exhibition began, and as 
 thofe who gained the premiums were obliged to leave their 
 pidures a limitted time with the fociety, they were of courfe fure to 
 be in the exhibition. The great inconvenience of this method of 
 proceeding was foon difcovered by feveral of the moft eminent 
 painters, whofe reputations were already fo eminently eftablifhed as 
 to prevent their becoming candidates for a trifling premium j thefe 
 therefore, as their charaders were fo nearly concerned, very juftly 
 objeded to the continuation of this cuftom, for the following ob- 
 vious reafon : It was generally known that the fociety had deter* 
 mined premiums for feveral pidures, and it was natural enough for 
 perfons, who knew nothing of the matter, to enquire, upon entering 
 the room, which of the pieces among that profufion of art were thofe 
 which had obtained the premium, and, being fatisfied in this par- 
 ticular, they very innocently concluded* for want of better judg* 
 ment, that thefe had obtained the prize from cdl the reft, and, 
 confequently, were the beji pidures. Had it been poffible to 
 have confined this injurious decifion to the vulgar fpedators, it 
 would have been a thing of no confequence ; but unfortunately 
 for the arts, many in a much higher fphere of life were liable to 
 be led away by the fame opinion ; and therefore, as the fociety 
 would not give up this point, a feparation enfued, and every fuc- 
 ceeding exhibition has been made at the room in Spring-Gardens. 
 The prodigious encouragement given to it, and the applaufe be- 
 llowed on the feveral performances, by perfons of the greatefi; tafle 
 and diflindion, evidently fhews, what a prodigious progrefs has 
 been made in the arts, as well as what great expedations may be 
 formed of what will probably be done by the concurring incite- 
 ments of applaufe and emulation, and the e fled s of fociety and 
 concord. The fu'ccefs of the exhibition, and the harmony which fub- 
 
 E filled 
 
2 4 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 Med among the exhibitors, naturally led them to the thoughts o£ 
 folsciting an eftablifhment, and forming themfelves into a body ; in. 
 confequence of which folicitation, his Majefty was moil gracioufly 
 pleafed to grant them his Royal Charter, incorporating them by 
 the name of The Society of Artifts of Great-Britain 5 which charter, 
 bears date the twenty-fixth day of January, 1765. 
 
 Having brought this hiflorical account of the Hate of painting in. 
 England, down to the prefent time ; it remains only to fay, that, in. 
 order to raife the art to the utmoft degree of perfection in England, 
 it is fincerely to be wifhed, that the narrow notion of banifh- 
 ing works of this nature from places of publick worfhip was 
 entirely exploded ; no folid reafon can be given, why fubjeds, pro- 
 perly chofen, ihould not be painted in Proteftant churches, nor can 
 it be argued, that becaufe thofe who profefs the Romiih religion, 
 pay adoration to wooden faints and pictures, that thole ol the 
 church of England would become guilty of a fin in looking upon 
 a picture, merely becaufe they found one in a place of worfhip, 
 which it was never intended they Ihould pay adoration to j nor can it 
 be conceived, that while any one is ferioufiy and attentively liftening 
 to the facred hiftory of our Saviour and his apofldes, that a noble and 
 lenfible reprelentation of the very action itfelf, would infpire. them 
 with any other thoughts than fuch as would tend to illufirate and 
 make permanent their ideas of the relation. Pofiibly the contem- 
 plation of fuch objects might prevent the thoughts of many from 
 wandering to others far lefs worthy of contemplation. The fabu- 
 lous fuperftitious legends of pretended faints, ought, without doubt, 
 to be for ever banifhed ; but the life and miracles of Chrift and his 
 apoftles, are finely fubjeds which are fuitable to the church,, and 
 can never with the lead: fhadow of reafon be objected to. 
 
 Thefe would certainly be much properer decorations than painted 
 or carved imitations of cherubims, &c. which are fcattered about 
 Vvfith the greatefi: profufion in almoft every church in London, and 
 particularly in St. Paul’s, in which cathedral, as the dome has 
 been fuffered to be painted already, and has been fo juftly admired, 
 there feems to be no reafon why the decorations fhould not be fi- 
 nished according to Sir Chriftopher Wren’s original intention, who 
 
 never* 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 'never dreamed of the ridiculous objections that would be made to 
 its being executed, as appears by the many compartments in that 
 jftruCture, which manifeftly point out that great architect’s inten- 
 tion. If this miferable mean-fpirited prejudice was once overcome, 
 England might in time, in its churches and painters, vie even with 
 Rome itfelf ; but, till that happens, hiftorical painting certainly never 
 will arrive to that pitch, to which fuch a glorious opportunity would 
 undoubtedly advance it. 
 
 We cannot wonder that hibory is filent in her account of the 
 bate of fculpture in this kingdom, during the Heptarchy, or footx 
 after the Roman conqueb; the fame reafon that forbad the progrefs 
 of painting, operated equally in the obftruCtion of her fiber art ; 
 the building of churches only excepted. The immenfe wealth and 
 power of the clergy induced them to raife and endow cathedrals, 
 monafleries and colleges, intending by fuch purpofes to fignalize 
 their zeal for religion, and to conbitute an indelible record of 
 the grandeur, riches and power of the church in thofe periods. As 
 the hiftorians of thefe ages were chiefly ecclefiaftics, they were 
 only zealoufly a&ive in commending facred foundations, and praif- 
 ing thofe religious Princes, or fuch of the clergy who had endowed 
 or bequeathed lands to their ufe. 
 
 Thefe buildings mub neceffarily have found employment for fculp- 
 tors, who were chiefly foreigners, procured by thofe itinerant priefts, 
 whole clofe connection and dependance on the papal power, occa- 
 fioned frequent journeys to Rome. As their employers were of this 
 fort, the poor pittance afforded to the artift, was an infufficient in- 
 ducement to men of abilities to leave their native country, where 
 the arts were, or had been, on a much better eftablifhment. Thefe 
 are the true reafons why the remains of fculpture of thofe early 
 times are fo very indifferent; the engravings^ of the dies for the coin 
 of our firb Monarchs, are little more than the (crawlings of an in- 
 fant, and the monbrous and obfcene productions on many of the 
 old gothic buildings, are indications of an imagination depraved, 
 rude and illiterate. There are indeed fome exceptions, where the 
 ornaments, in fome few bru&ures of that date, are executed with 
 judgment and precifion. 
 
 E 2 
 
 The 
 
The figure of King John on his tomb, in the cathedral of Wor- 
 cefter, is the oldeft work of ft at u ary that we can depend upon, and' 
 probably is the work of Peter Cavalini. 
 
 Henry the Third, was the firft royal Patron of the arts in Eng- 
 land, he employed the above-mentioned Peter Cavalini, a Roman 
 fculptor, recommended to him by Ware the abbot of Weftminfter ; 
 this artift executed, at the King’s charge, the tomb of Edward the 
 confeffor, a moft expenfive work ; and after Henry’s deceafe, that 
 Monarch’s monument in the fame ftile, upon which lies the firft 
 brazen figure made in this country. The four remaining ftatues on 
 the north fide, next the weft end of the Abbey, are probably the 
 works of this artift. 
 
 There is a great chafm in the hiftory of fculpture, between this 
 reign and that of Edward the Fourth. The continued ftruggles be- 
 tween the clergy, the pope, the barons, and the kings, and the 
 civil wars of the houfes of York and Lancafter, were inaufpicious to 
 the polite and liberal arts ; and nothing more is recorded of fculp- 
 ture in this reign, than that a magnificent altar-piece was ereded 
 at Briftol, by Cummings a fculptor, reprefenting the refurre&ion of 
 Chrift. 
 
 The great expence of a monument ereded for the Earl, of War- 
 wick, R dated between Henry the Sixth, and the King above-men- 
 tioned. Till the reign of Henry the Eighth, we have no accounts of 
 any work ofconiequence in this art ; the execution of his father’s tomb 
 demanded affiftance from thofe countries where the fciences were in 
 a more flourifhing ftate j. Torregiano, a Florentine fculptor, who 
 had refided here fome years, was difpatched to the place of his na- 
 tivity, to engage fome eminent artift s to his affiftance. Cellini and 
 others accompanied him, and t hey executed that great work, and 
 feveral other monuments in this kingdom, with reputation; this 
 Torregiano was a man of genius, and was extremely jealous of the 
 fame of Michael Angelo, with whom he was contemporary. 
 
 Cardinal Wolfey, beginning to execute his own monument in his 
 life-time at Wind for, invited Benedetto, a Florentine, into this coun- 
 try, whom he gratified very nobly and liberally ; upon the Cardi- 
 nal’s difgrace, the King feized the unfinifhed work, and employing 
 
 the 
 
39 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 the fame artifl to com pleat it, intended to be buried in that place; 
 but numbedefs accidents intervening prevented his defign, and his 
 fucceftors negledting it, it remains a ruin to this day, and is at 
 prefen t a workshop for the mafons at the caftle. 
 
 In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, nothing more is recorded than 
 the monument of the Earl of Suffex, erected in Suffolk, which is 
 ftill extant, (and was the work of Stephens, who was alfo a painter 
 and a medalift;) Dr. Caius’s tomb at Cambridge, fome others of 
 lefs note, the Queen’s own monument, which is very magnificently 
 executed in the ftile of that age, and that of Mary Queen of 
 Scotland ; the two laft were fet up at the charge of James the Firft. 
 
 Sculpture made a furprifing effort in the reign of King James, in 
 the perfon of Nicholas Stone, he was in great efteem, and his 
 works very numerous, fome ftatues in the Royal Exchange, Spen- 
 cer’s and other tombs ;n Weftminfter-Abbey, and monuments for 
 almoft all the great families in England, are proofs of the abilities 
 and alfo of the encouragement bellowed on this artifl. 
 
 Some fculptors of eminence flourifhed in the reign of Charles the 
 Firft, (that great admirer of the arts) among whom the mod 
 efteemed was Le Soeur, difciple of John de Boulogne ; the brafs 
 ftatue of the Earl of Pembroke at Oxford, and the equeftrian figure 
 at Charing-Crofs, are fufficient proofs of his extenfive genius and 
 mafterly execution. 
 
 The protector- fliip of Cromwell was no favorable sra for the 
 arts, fanaticifm beheld them as the vehicles of idolatry, and there- 
 fore deftroyed thofe few precious memorials, which the enthuft- 
 aftic zeal of the reformers had fuffered to remain. Statuary was an 
 abfolute breach of the divine ordinances to fedtaries whofe under- 
 flandings were confined, whofe ideas were gloomy, and whofe 
 proceedings were illiberal ; no wonder then that the fciences were 
 almoft annihilated under fuch a perfecution. 
 
 The reftoration of Charles the Second prefaged a happy reverie 
 to the former period. The King had learned to draw*, had fome 
 knowledge of mechanics, and was fond of fhip-building ; his 
 courtiers too profeffed the learned fciences, as well as the liberal 
 * There are defigns of his extant. 
 
 arts* 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 $o 
 
 arts, and the fpirit of encouragement feemed daily increafing. Un- 
 der fuch advantages fculpture fhone with unexpected luftre, Cibber 
 appeared without a rival, in that excellent bas-relief on the monu- 
 mental column and the two figures which defcribe the different 
 cffeds of madnefs on the gate at Bedlam : and Gibbons, the ad- 
 mired Gibbons ! the touches of whofe chifel are inconceivably 
 delicate, arofe the wonder of an admiring people 5 his productions 
 ■of the vegetable and animal creation are above defeription. St. Pauls, 
 Windfor, Petworth, Chatfworth, and the whole united kingdom, 
 confpire to make his character equal to any age or country, and the 
 ftatue of James the Second in Privy-Garden, may rank with the 
 productions of the Roman fchool. 
 
 The reign of James the Second produced one ftatuary, called 
 Quellin, whole work, the only piece which can \vith certainty be 
 aferibed to him, is the monument of Mr. Thynne, at Weftminfter- 
 Abbey. The crying boy in this performance is much admired. 
 
 In the reign of King William John Bufhnell flourifhed, he 
 had travelled to Italy, and executed a magnificent monument at 
 Venice: his works on his return to England, were Charles the Firff 
 and Second, on the front of the Royal-Exchange, and the ftatues 
 on Temple-Bar, Cowley’s monument at Weftminfter, and others 
 In different counties, which are all marks of his great proficiency in 
 this arts he was an humorifl in his difpofition, for having agreed 
 to furnifh the remaining ftatues in the Exchange, he was difgufted 
 with his employers and never compleated them. 
 
 Francis Bird lived in the reign of Queen Anne, he had ftudied 
 his profelfion in Flanders and Rome, he worked under Gibbons 
 and Cibber, and notwithftanding fuch advantages, the monuments 
 at V/ eftminfter, that bear his name, and the figures at St. Paul’s, 
 are a melanchoily inftance of the truth of a French author’s remark- 
 ,£ A legat'd de la fculpture,” fays he, ct le marbre gemit pour ainfi 
 “ dire fous de cifeaux aufi peu habiles, que ceux qui ont excecute 
 “ le group de la Retnne Anne, place devant l’Eglife de St. Paul, 
 £C & le tombeaux de 1’Abbaye de Weftminfter Yet Bufby’s 
 
 * The marble itfelf complains under the cruel chifels of fuch unfkilful pracTitx- 
 orers as thole who cut the group of Queen Anne, in the front of St. Paul’s, or the 
 ionibs at Weftminfter. 
 
 monument 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 monument has merit, and we owe him feme regard for bring- 
 ing to light one of the ablefl feulptors of this age; and could the 
 French author above-cited have beheld the rapid improvement 
 in fculpture in that very place, fence the time in which he wrote, 
 he would allow and confefs, that genius is of every nation, and only 
 wants to be drawn forth and cultivated by proper encouragement. 
 
 Thus far every endeavour has been ufed to trace out thole feu Ip- - 
 tors who were eminent at the different periods of our hi dory, 
 who were mod: of them patronized by the reigning Princes, and" 
 perfonally known, honoured and encouraged, by their refpedive 
 patrons. 
 
 How different is the Rate of this noble art at this time;, 
 when carpenters, mafons or upholfterers, whofe utmofl know- 
 ledge is the price of timber, the value of done, or the goodnefs 
 and quality of ticking and feathers, have the fuperintendancy of 
 thofe works in which- elegance of defign ought only to be con- 
 futed : Nor can we exped to form a great national charader for 
 tade and elegance under the diredion of fuch perfons, who are 
 furnifhed only with mean ideas and depraved taftes, the common 
 effeds of Illiberal education; and yet to fuch and fuch only our 
 employers delegate the trud of fupervidng works of elegance, and 
 call them by the borrowed title of furveyors. Thefe people are 
 fb very affuming at this time, that not content with infpeding the 
 goodnefs of bricks and timber, and giving orders to the inferior 
 workmen in the buildings, they pretend to didate to the man of 
 fcience, and would deprive him of that merit on which only he 
 can form his reputation, that is, his merit as a dedgner; feveral monu- 
 ments, chimney-pieces, &c. executed under fuch able diredors, 
 are proofs of this affertion, and fo far has this method of entruft- 
 ing the whole to fuch perfons care been complied with, that not, 
 long fence a perfon of didindion gave his upholderer orders to repair 
 and finifh his houfe, and alfo entruded him with furnifhing his li- 
 brary with what books he thought proper; accordingly the fagacious 
 tradefman, having am eye to his own profit, provided him with book- 
 
 cafes 
 
32 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 cafes furniffied with (ham hooks, declaring that thefe preffes would 
 contain many things more ufeful than any library in the kingdom. 
 We cannot wonder that foreigners are amazed at proceedings fo 
 different to their own, and how would they be aflonifhed if they 
 were told that the decorations of the mod confpicuous houfes in this 
 metropolis are the works of mafons, and that fculptors are feldom 
 confulted or employed in executing fuch ornaments. 
 
 Happy would it be for this country if we imitated the French 
 in that patriotic prejudice for their own productions, which has 
 rendered them the arbiters of tafte to Europe j the rewards and 
 honours paid to the artifts of their own nation, have been the great 
 incitement of every work of genius for which they are diftinguifhed. 
 
 The fituation in which the liberal arts are held at this time 
 is unfair, difcouraging and oppreffive, and while they can be ex- 
 ecuted by fubftitute*; will not eafily be removed. The noble 
 patron is feldom well enough informed or too indolent to feek 
 out the man of merit, whole talent is concealed, by neceffity, 
 by diffidence, and many calamitous circumftances, and whofe 
 fpirit is fubdued by the rapacious difpofition of his employer, 
 who enjoys in eafe and affluence the reputation of thofe works 
 which he cannot perform. This negledl of employing perfons 
 who are equal to the undertaking is our prefent misfortune, 
 when this bar is removed, the genius of this country will appear 
 no lefs elegant than vigorous. 
 
 * This word may pofiibly need explanation, it means therefore that the perfon 
 who receives orders, being often ignorant of defign, generally produces a drawing 
 made by another for his own performance ; this pra&ice was discovered by a noble- 
 man, who defired the perfon to alter the drawing in his prefence, and finding by his 
 evafions he was impofed upon by an ignorant pretender, he was irritated lb much, 
 that he kicked the impofior down flairs. Another infiance of making ufe of a 
 fubftitute happened when two candidates produced their models of Eall'o Re* 
 lievo’s, before a committee of citizens, who were to determine the preference for 
 a work of conference. One of the judges declared in favour of a particular 
 candidate, Recaufe, fays he, he always employs the very beji hands that can be 
 got. To which the rejected arlifi replied. Yes ! yes 1 he has I confds a great 
 advantage over me, who have employed no hand but my own. 
 
 2 
 
 The 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 33 
 
 From the great number of ancient buildings which are to be 
 met with in almoft every part of the kingdom, it appears at the firft 
 view to be no very difficult talk to trace the progrefs of architecture, 
 and at the fame time to learn fome account of the perfons who were 
 employed in their conftruCtion ; but experience has proved the con- 
 trary, of fome of them it is only conjectured they were built about 
 fuch an $ra, and of others, though the precife time is known when 
 they were erected, there remains not the lead: trace by which it can 
 be afcertained by whom they were defigned. Whether this defeCt 
 is owing to the carelefsnefs of employers, who gave themfelves no 
 trouble to record fuch tranfaCtions ; whether fuch records have exifted, 
 but are long fince loft; or whether on account of the extreme 
 ignorance of the times the very perfons employed were incapable 
 of tranfmitting any account of their works, is not to be difcovered : 
 but, certain it is, that very little more can be obtained than that 
 Gothick architecture like other fciences had its rife, its ftate of per- 
 fection, and its declenfion. 
 
 However, we learn that Gundulphus an architect, built the 
 Tower of London, and that he alfo built the cathedral of Rochefter; 
 that Peter of Colechurch a prieft, rebuilt London-Bridge of timber; 
 that William Puintell a furveyor, and one Elyas an architect, 
 were employed by King John, in building at Weftminfter; and 
 that Edward Fitz Odo was an architect in the reign of Henry the 
 Third. But the celebrated William of Wickham, whofe filename was 
 Perrot, was the great genius of his time, and the only man who- 
 ever rofe to fo great a height by the mere ftrength of his reputation 
 as an artift; he was born, fays Rapin, in 1324. “ After he had 
 
 “ been bred at Winchefter and Oxford he returned to his patron 
 «« Nicholas Wedal, who had been at the charge of his education. 
 “ He afterwards became known to Edward the Third, and having 
 “ a genius for architecture, was made furveyor of the King’s 
 •“ buildings. His direction for rebuilding Windfor Caftle gave 
 “ great fatisfaCtion, and occafioned his promotion at court, where 
 < c he pafted through the offices of Secretary of State, Privy-feal, 
 “ &c. he was preferred to the fee of Winchefter in 1367, and 
 
 F “ foon 
 
34 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 “ foon after made Lord Chancellor of England. It is faid, he- 
 “ ing reprefented to the King as a man of no learning, and not 
 “ fit for a bifhoprick, he told the King, that what he wanted in 
 « learning himfelf, he would fupply with being the founder of 
 “ learning ; accordingly he began the building of New College in 
 “ Oxford, and laid the firft ftone himfelf, March the fir ft, 1379. 
 <c It was finiftied in feven years. In 1387, on the twenty-fixth of 
 “ March, he likewife laid in perfon the firft ftone of his college 
 “ at Winchefter, which hedefigned as a nurfery for that at Oxford. 
 u Upon this foundation he fettled an eftate for a warden, ten fel- 
 “ lows, two fchoolmafters, and feventy fcholars. He died in the 
 “ fourth year of Henry the Fourth, aged eighty years, and lies 
 « buried in St. Swithin’s church in Winchefter, in a ftately monu- 
 1( ment of his own ere&ing in his life-time.” It is to be lamented 
 that this great man did not pay more regard to the fcience to 
 which he owed the greatnefs of his fortune, by eftablifhing a 
 foundation for the ftudy of his own art, and others that depend 
 upon it ; had he fortunately done this, there is no faying what 
 the confequence might have been ; pofiibly by this time it would 
 have been the fafhion for ingenious men to come from Rome 
 hither to perfect themfelves in the arts, and to have bartered Italian 
 for Englifh performances. 
 
 In the Reign of Edward the Third, thofe noble piles, York mi li- 
 fter, and the cathedral at Ely, were eredted j but by whom the 
 defigns were made we are ignorant. In the fame reign William 
 Rede, Bifhop of Chichefter, built the firft library of Merton college, 
 and alfo the caftle at Amberley, it has been aflerted that Sir Reginald 
 Bray, who was a Knight of the Garter in Henry the Sevenths 
 reign, and certainly afiifted at the ceremony of the laying the 
 firft ftone of the chapel built by that monarch at Weftminfter, 
 was architect of the chapel of St. George at Windfor *, but there 
 feems not to be fufficient authority for this aftertion, fince all the 
 ancient hiftorians are filent upon this head. 
 
 * Hiftory and Antiquities of Windfor Caftle, pag. 65. 
 
 It 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 It appears upon an examination of the moil celebrated Gothick 
 buildings, that the date of perfedion of this kind of architedure 
 was in the reigns-of Henry the Sixth and Seventh, and not in that 
 of Henry the Fourth, as by mibake it is fuppofed is printed in a late 
 work. But to whatever degree of perfedion architedure was 
 arrived in the preceding reign, it is evident that in Henry the 
 Eighth’s time it declined extremely fad; this undoubtedly was 
 owing to the encouragement given by that Prince to feveral Italian 
 architeds, who being utterly ignorant both of the Roman and Gothick 
 architedure, introduced a kind of mongrel compofition of their 
 own *, an innovation being once made, novelty fupplied the place of 
 tafte, and that wretched bile of building which abounds in every 
 part of the kingdom, and which univerfally prevailed in the Reign 
 of Elizabeth, took place of the more rational and elegant Gothick 
 ftile. It has been faid, that the celebrated painter Holbein, was 
 one of the firb who introduced this mixed kind of tabe in England, 
 in which he was followed (if not adided) by John of Padua and 
 others. Hidory makes mention of feveral other architeds, fuch as 
 Lawrence Bradbiaw, furveyor of the King’s w 7 orks, Sir Richard Lea 
 and Thomas Larke, who was alfo furveyor of King’s college, 
 Cambridge; Jerome de Trevefi an Italian painter, and John Shute, 
 of whom it is remarked, that, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, 
 the Duke of Northumberland fent him into Italy, and maintained 
 him there in his dudies, under the bed architeds ; to thefe are 
 added, Robert Adams, furveyor of the works, who was an archited 
 of reputation ; but, it is certain, that architedure made but a very 
 indifferent figure during thefe times, and remained in a dill worfe 
 fituation during the reign of James the Firb. 
 
 The reign of Charles the Fird, was propitious to the fine arts ; 
 painting has been already obferved to have flourifhed in a parti- 
 cular manner in it, nor was architedure in the lead behind her 
 fiber fcience ; indeed it was next to an impodibility the arts fhould 
 not gain ground under the King’s patronage, who was hot only an 
 extraordinary judge of fuch performances, but alfo pradifed him- 
 felf ; he therefore knew their value to the date, and accordingly 
 ereded a Royal Academy, where gentlemen were admitted for 
 
 F 2 their 
 
 to 
 
3 6 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 their education : They were intruded in the living and dead lan- 
 guages, mathematicks, painting, architedure, riding, fortification, 
 antiquities, and the fcience of medals. ProfefTors in every branch 
 were appointed, and Sir Francis Kingfton, in whofe houfe in Cc- 
 vent-Garden, the academy was held, was appointed regent ; but 
 this great defign fell with the reft of that Monarch’s noble plans, 
 and the French availed themfelves of it, under the patronage of 
 Lewis the Fourteenth. As a proof of the great tafte of King 
 Charles in architedure, it is fufficient to fay, that Inigo Jones was 
 his Majefty’s furveyor-general of the works ; this great man in- 
 troduced the noble ftile of building of the Ancients into England. 
 His works, which are executed in feveral parts of this city, are uni- 
 verfally allowed to be the ftandards of tafte and elegance, his defign 
 of a palace at Whitehall is a performance which would have done 
 honour to the age of Auguftus ; the Banquetting-Houfe is the only 
 part of that vaft defign which was executed, and may be confidered 
 as the fragment of a monument, which, had it been compleated, 
 would have ftood a memorial to fucceeding ages, of the tafte, genius 
 and capacity, of that great artift. Some people have affeded to find 
 fault with parts of this truly grand defign ; it is faid to be an imita- 
 tion of Palladio, not without a mixture of the Gothick in its tur- 
 rets ; if to imitate Palladio be a fault, it muft alfo be a fault to 
 imitate the Ancients, which Palladio honeftly confefifes he did ; and 
 why Inigo Jones, who had undoubtedly ftudied the Ancients, ftiould 
 be denied the fame liberty, cannot be very eafily accounted for. As 
 to the turrets of the palace, it feems to be equally difficult to prove 
 they are Gothick, as they are entirely compofed of the Roman ar- 
 chitedure j however, with all its faults, it is only to be wiftied, 
 that it was ereded without alteration, either in the place for which 
 it was originally intended, or elfe in the middle of Hyde-Park. If 
 Ini^o ever deferved cenfure, it was certainly for that monftrous ab- 
 furdity of mixing the Roman and Gothick architedure which he 
 did in ereding a portico of the Corinthian order to the weft-end of 
 the Gothick church of St. Paul, which was foon after deftroyed by 
 the fire. 
 
 Oliver 
 
37 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 Oliver Cromwell, if he had been poftefted of tafte, had too much 
 bufmefs upon his hands to give any attention to works of this kind j 
 it is no wonder, therefore, that no other architect is recorded in his 
 time than Francis Carter, who having been chief clerk to Inigo 
 Jones, was made Surveyor of the works. 
 
 If the misfortunes of Charles the Firft were the means of over- 
 turning the polite arts, the pleafures of the court of Chailes the 
 Second, were not much more favourable to them. The King had 
 no great tafte for the arts, and the countenance he gave to fome of the 
 profeffors, feems to have been partial and confined ; however, he, in 
 a particular manner, patronized the celebrated Vandevelde J, to whom 
 it is laid, he allowed a vefiel compleatly manned and victualled for 
 the purpofes of his ftudies, and even went fo far as to have feveral 
 fhips at times drawn out, in order to make mock-engagements for 
 the ufe of this artift. Notwithftanding the general inattention fhown 
 to the arts, this reign produced the celebrated Sir Chriftopher Wren, 
 who was unqueftionabty the greateft geometrical and mathematical 
 architect that ever exifted, and feveral of his buildings evidently prove 
 that he poftefted more extent of invention tha'n Inigo Jones, though, 
 in point of elegance, he fell fhort of that matter. The publick works 
 of Sir Chriftopher Wren are numerous and well-known, nor indeed 
 need any other than that of St. Paul’s be mentioned to eftablifti his 
 reputation. 
 
 As St. Paul’s church is the principal work of this mafter, and un- 
 doubtedly the only work of the fame magnitude that ever was 
 compleated by one man, it may not be altogether improper to 
 make a few obfervations upon this celebrated ftruCture. The divi- 
 fion of the building into two orders is undoubtedly a great fault, it 
 would have had a much nobler effeCt, had one only been ufed j as 
 it is, the lower part of the church feems to be the work of one 
 mafter, and the dome of another, the periftylum of which is very 
 fine, and perfectly adapted to finifh one fingle order, but, as it is, 
 appears too heavy ; the lower part of the church is extremely ele- 
 gant, but does not harmonize with the upper, the columns of the 
 periftylum being much larger, in proportion to their diftance, than 
 ^ Though few of his performances are extant in the Royal Palaces. 
 
 the 
 
3 « 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 the columns of the portico. Indeed one of the moft: capital errors 
 in the conftrudtion of this church is, the neglecting to drew the 
 proper dependency of one part upon the other, and a regular har- 
 monious gradation from the foundation to the fummit of the fuper- 
 ftrudture; perhaps, if the difproportion between the length and 
 breadth of the whole building had not been fo great, it might have 
 produced a more noble effect, a more elegant fhape, and an oppor- 
 tunity of forming the due connection between the dome and the 
 lower part of the building, which now feems to hand in need cf 
 fuch an union, by the former appearing to reft upon the roof. 
 
 It has been urged in excufe, for the choice of introducing two 
 orders, that the want of a proper fpace for viewing the building 
 compelled the architect to execute it in the manner he has done; 
 this may be a fact, but it is pity that fuch a trifling con (Iteration 
 had any weight at all with him. Had he purfued his own better 
 judgment as to the propriety of the building, it might have one 
 time proved the means of obtaining a proper point of view for this 
 vaft defign, and neceffity might have obliged the publick to do 
 that which nothing but neceffity can ever force them to do, for 
 as yec very little attention has been paid to publick magnificence. 
 With regard to the turrets, it mull be confeffed, they are light 
 and elegant, but with refpedt to grandeur, their upper parts 
 conftft of rather too many divifions, which produce fomething like 
 confufion, and, if they had been more fpread, or fet further 
 apart, it would have given a grace to the weft-front of the church, 
 and it would have prevented their falling in the view upon the pe- 
 riftylum of the dome. The figures upon the top of the building 
 alfo contribute towards diminifhing the grandeur of the lower parts ; 
 the human figure is the ftandard or fcale by which the proportions 
 of all bodies are determined, that is, whether they are large or 
 fmall, and, even at this vaft height, fhould not have exceeded feven 
 feet and an half, which is a very large proportion for life ; however 
 they are rather more than twelve feet high, and, upon being compared 
 with the upper and lower orders, prodigioufly decreafe the grandeur 
 of the columns. Had the church been compofed of one order, 
 4 thefe 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 39 
 
 thefe figures might have fuited tolerably well, but even in that 
 cafe they would have been too large; the niches on the outfide 
 of the church ought to be fupplied with ftatues ; the want of 
 which gives a character of meannefs, for they were certainly de- 
 figned as places for fuch ornaments; a group of figures is alfo 
 wanting at the eafb-end of the church, which at prefent abfolutely 
 Hands in need of a finifhing of fome kind or other; for the lame 
 reafon, the pedeftals upon the baluftrade, upon which there are no 
 figures, ought to be decorated with vafes or urns ; this was Sir 
 Chriftopher Wrens original intention, but, like many others of 
 the fame nature, was never complied with. 
 
 The church of St. Paul is, in fome refpedb, fuperior to that of 
 St. Peter’s at Rome; the weft- front is defigned more in character, 
 that is, it has more the appearance of a building defigned for pub- 
 lick worfhip. St. Peter’s rather gives the idea of a front of a palace, 
 and the pediment is mean and trifling ; the dome of St. Paul’s is 
 more elegantly fhaped, nor is there any comparifon between the 
 lanterns on the top ; that of St. Peter’s is heavy and clumfy, and 
 produces an ill effedt, but the body of the church, being compofed 
 of one order, is very grand and noble, though it fuffers by an in- 
 trodudtion of parts which are rather too minute. The interior parts 
 of St. Peter’s are many of them extremely noble, and the monu- 
 ments and decorations are grand, and introduced with a decorum 
 and propriety, which no way affedts or deforms the building, a 
 eonfideration hardly ever attended to in this country. The high 
 altar, which was defigned and executed by the celebrated Bernini, is 
 perhaps the nobleft work of its kind that ever was performed : This 
 truly magnificent decoration is moft judicioufly placed under the 
 center of the dome, and produces the fineft effedt imaginable ; in 
 fhort, nothing trifling or unbecoming the dignity of the church is 
 fuffered to be placed in it; but notwithftanding the profufion of 
 elegance and grandeur which are difplayed in this celebrated build- 
 ing, there are many defedts, and fome capital errors to be found in 
 the defign ; for inftance, the grand ifle of the church is one conti- 
 nued arched vault, without variety, the whole being compofed of 
 
 pannels 
 
4 ° 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 pannels and rofes, and the windows are broken into it, in fo aukward a 
 manner, that they appear rather to be after-thoughts, and are entirely 
 unconnected with the decorations of the cieling. Sir Chriftopher 
 Wren’s judgment pointed out this taftelefs deformity, and the fuperi- 
 ority of the grand ifle of St. Paul’s, in this refpedt, is very apparent, 
 in .which the windows are regularly introduced into the cieling, and 
 the architecture forms the mod: noble frames, which he defigned 
 for the reception of paintings ; and it is to be hoped, that one time 
 or other this part of his defign will be executed, which, if it 
 ever fhould be, and the frames elegantly gilt, will produce one of 
 the rich eft and mod: glorious roofs that can be conceived. However, 
 it is rather to be wifhed, that this church may remain in its prefent 
 date, than that any mean, tadelefs trifles fhould be permitted, 
 fuch as monuments of obfcure perfons, which could only deform, 
 inftead of becoming decorations to fo noble a pile. The cathedral 
 of St. Paul’s differs greatly for want of decorations both in painting 
 and fculpture, there cannot be a more convincing proof than the 
 example of the dome itfelf, which is painted and gilt, after view- 
 ing this noble objeCt, the fpeClator finds nothing worth attending 
 to, the red is a mere blank, nor can all the beauties of the mod: 
 noble and regular architecture, make amends for the defolate ap- 
 pearance of the naked pannels which every wheie piefent themfelves 
 to his notice; at the fame time reproaching in the mod dxiking 
 manner, that total want of national tafte, which can fufiei one oi 
 the fined: churches in the world to give no better an idea than that 
 of a carver’s fhop, in which there is ufually great choice of fine 
 frames, but not one pitture to be feen. 
 
 There is not perhaps a greater fault in the interior contrivance 
 of this church, than that of perforating the ead end of it. The pro- 
 digious glare of light produced by this means is ufelefs and often- 
 five, and totally deftroys the grandeur and efteCt of the church 
 in that part. Indeed this is a fault common in all our chuiches, 
 but it never fails of rendering the altar obfcure, which is an 
 obfervation of the truth of which every one may be convinced by 
 a little attention. In the prefent cafe however, it not only pro- 
 duces 
 
4 s 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 duces this difgufting effeCl, but it has alfo prevented the making 
 a proper ufe of this part, which undoubtedly fliould have been 
 decorated with an altar of the utmofl magnificence. The whole 
 church, for want of fuch an object, is deplorably deficient in a 
 part where decoration is undeniably neceffary ; the two middle 
 windows therefore, ought to be flopped up, and the altar defigned 
 fomething like that propofed in a leCtion of this church publifhed 
 by the Author in conjunction with Mr. Wale, in the year 1755. 
 
 As St. Paul’s is fuperior to St. Peter’s in fome refpe&s, fo it 
 ought to have been in the whole j and as St. Peter’s was ere&ed 
 long before it, the greatefl care and attention fliould have been 
 ufed to improve upon every part of that defign. where improve- 
 ment was poflible; otherwife, as it has been before urged in 
 the example of a palace, it is pity it was ereCted at all ; the fund 
 allowed for defraying the charge of building it was equal to any 
 expence that could have been bellowed, for which reafon, as well 
 as the honour of this nation, it fhould have been made, in point of 
 magnitude and elegance, the firft building of its kind in the 
 world, and not the fecond, for the whole length of St. Paul’s meafures 
 no more than the width of St. Peter’s, and the practice of building 
 by too fmall a fcale is almoft univerfal in this kingdom ; but even the 
 original defign was not well enough digefled, as appears by the many 
 alterations which Sir Chriflopher Wren made in the progrefs of this 
 work, for fome of which it is fuppofed he was obliged to Sir James 
 Thornhill, whofe tafle in architecture was very great nor was this 
 the favourite defign of the architect, there is a model now to be fe.cn 
 in St. Paul’s church compofed of one order, which he preferred, and 
 which is fuperior to the prefent in many refpeCts. 
 
 Bow fleeple and Wal brook church are examples which ought 
 by no means to be omitted, as they are perhaps as elegant as any 
 
 * It is to be obferved that fome of the beft architects have been produced frpm 
 among the profefTors of painting and fculpture RafFaelle, Michal Angelo, Bernini, 
 Peter da Cortona and others were great architects, and the three iirft were employed 
 in cempleating St. Peter’s church. In England, Holbein, Inigo Jones, Kent and Sir 
 James Thornhill were painters, this lait built the houfe in More Park in Hertfard- 
 ihire, which is etteemed a building of good taile, he alfo made a great many defigns in 
 architecture, and his decorations were extremely elegant and truly archileCtonick. 
 
 G thing 
 
42 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 thing of their kind in Europe. However, Sir Chriftopher was 
 guilty of the fame impropriety as Inigo, in mixing Gothick with 
 Roman archite&ure, as may be feen in Guild-Hall, the Court of 
 Requefts, and the palace of Hampton- Court, nor was his tafte in 
 fmaller buildings very good, as may be obferved by St. Paul’s 
 School and Marlborongh-Houfe : He lived to a great age, and 
 what is pretty extraordinary, compleated St. Paul’s church thirty- 
 feven years after he had himfelf laid the firft ftone. 
 
 It is greatly to be lamented that Sir Chriftopher did not give the 
 world his theory, and an ample account of his pra&ice in the 
 building of St. Paul’s, fuch a work would have been of infinite ufe 
 to fucceeding architects, and no man was more capable of giving fuch 
 an account than himfelf, nor would this work have been ufeful only 
 to architects, other profeffions would have been benefited by it, as 
 many ingenious contrivances made ufe of in the conftruCtion of that 
 vaft pile would have been of prodigious ufe in a great variety of 
 undertakings -f*. The 
 
 •J- The great injury the ingenious part of the world have fuftained by the lofs 
 of Sir Chriftopher W ren’s papers, and the account of the building Weftminfter 
 Bridge by Mr. Labelye, are ftriking inftances of the neceffity of preferving fuch me- 
 morials. In order therefore to prevent misfortunes of the like nature, it is to be 
 wifhed that when any confiderable work of this kind is began, the perfon under 
 whofe diredion it is carried on fhould be required to keep an accurate journal of the 
 proceedings, and alfo to give an ample defcription of the ufe (accompanied with a 
 draught) of every engine or machine made ufe of in the courfe of the work, for which 
 fervice he fhould be properly recompenced. And in order to render fuch records of 
 univerfal benefit ro mankind, if an hiftoriographical office, for mechanical works, &c. 
 was to be eftablifhed, it would be extremely ufeful, in which office thefe accounts 
 fhould be preferved from time to time, and after having been carefully corrected, 
 publifhed at the expence of the publick. For this purpofe a perfon properly qualified 
 as an hiftorian, and alfo defigners, engravers and painters might be employed by the 
 office, and confequently every thing valuable of this kind would be efteCtually fecured 
 to the world and to pofterity ; this office might alfo be further extended, for the benefit 
 of ingenious perfons who fhould by ftudy and application produce any ufeful work 
 which their circumitances might not permit them to publifh, at leaf!; not in a manner 
 worthy the attention of the publick, fuch perfons therefore upon making application, 
 and proving the utility of their performances, fhould receive affiftance, and the work be 
 publifhed at the expence of the office, who might reimburfe themfelves by the fale, and 
 the profit arlfing from it, be given to the author of the performance. An office of the like 
 kind might alfo be eftablifhed for geographical works, by which means his Majefty’s 
 engineers might be employed in times of peace to make furveys of every part 
 
43 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 The reign of James the Second produced nothing of confequence, 
 and architecture as well as every other ufeful art was negleCted. 
 
 In the reign of King William appeared William Talman, who 
 was a very ingenious architect ; he built Chatfworth, the feat of the 
 Duke of Devonfhire, and feveral houfes for many of the Nobility, 
 in different parts of the kingdom ; he had formed his tafle by 
 travelling, and had, with incredible labour and afliduity, defigned a 
 prodigious number of buildings and monuments, and indeed every 
 thing in architecture which he thought worth his attention in the 
 courle of his travels, all of which are finifhed with the greateft ex- 
 aCtnefs, and molt of them ftained in their proper colours. His collec- 
 tion was fold fome years ago in Covent-Garden. Sir William Wilfon, 
 was alfo an architect in this reign, but as his works are not known, 
 no judgment can be formed of his abilities. Marot was architect to the 
 King, but what were his productions, in this country, are uncertain, 
 his defigns which he etched and publifhed, are however a convinc- 
 ing proof that no man underftood decorations better than himfelf. 
 
 The reign of Queen Anne produced the moft lingular architect 
 that perhaps ever appeared in any age or country, Sir John Van- 
 brugh, a man of wit and genius, who as a writer, was excelled by 
 few, as an architect, condemned by every body ; perhaps it was 
 chiefly owing to his merit as an Author that he was lo ill treated 
 as an artift, the offence his wit gave to his contemporaries was 
 
 of the Britifh dominion, at the fame time giving an exa£t defcription of every city, 
 town and village, and alfo the courfe of every river, brook, &c. with their feCti- 
 ons, together with thofe of mountains, hills, Sic. w’hich would be of infinite ufe in 
 the joining of rivers, for the purpofe of making them navigable} to this might 
 be added, a natural hiftory of each country, and conjectures for the improve- 
 ment of different places ; it is needlefs to point out the advantages arifing to the 
 publick from fuch an eftabliOiment, not to mention that it would at once be pro- 
 fitable to our engineers, and at the fame time render them, by continual praCtice, fu- 
 perior to any others in Europe } perhaps, in time, the union of the I rent, Severn, 
 and Thames, a fcheme long fince talked of, might, in confequence of fuch a plan, be 
 put in execution, which would be both a noble and truly , ufeful work. To both 
 thefe eftablifhments, a third might be added, for the ftudy of naval architecture, 
 which is much wanted, in this the art of {hip-building fhould be fcientifically and 
 practically taupht, and, from this valuable refource, a continual iupply of expe- 
 rienced artifts might be taken, who fhould have the direction of the works in the 
 Royal Dock- Yards. 
 
 G 2 amply 
 
44 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 amply revenged by them in c'riticifms on his buildings, and as his 
 flile was fo extremely lingular, they never wanted materials to ex- 
 ercife their talents. As an architect he was indeed generally a roman- 
 tick caftle builder. What were his ideas of archite&ure, it is hard to 
 fay ; he undoubtedly had a fyflem of his own, and it is to be la- 
 mented, that fo able a writer has not left fome account of his 
 principles, and his reafons for building in the manner he did, they 
 would have proved entertaining at lead:, and, in fome refpe&s, 
 would certainly have been ufeful, for however juflly he may have 
 been cenfured in many things, yet it cannot be denied that his 
 ideas were great and noble, and he perfectly underflood that fub- 
 ordination of parts fo very neceflary in the conflru&ion of great 
 buildings J, though, at the fame time he was entirely deficient in 
 point of elegance and decorum ; an evident proof of which he 
 has given in the palace of Blenheim, which on account of this very 
 fubordination, its quantity and variety of parts never fails to flrike 
 us with the idea of a grandeur and magnificence rarely to be found 
 in any other building, notwithftanding which this very flrudlure 
 has, from the deficiences before-mentioned, undergone the mofl 
 fevere cenfure, and been univerfally condemned, becaufe it is not 
 in the common flile of building, and perhaps becaufe it was built 
 
 $ Grandeur and elegance are what is required, in publick buildings, to give fatif- 
 fadfion to the eye, the former furprifes, and the later, without a proper fubordina- 
 tion of parts, is only richnefs ; many Gothick buildings are examples of this kind, 
 the Chapel of Henry the Seventh, in particular, is a clufter of richnefs, the New 
 Church in the Strand, is not only an example of richnefs, but the parts are alfo 
 elegant, and the whole being divided into two orders, the parts of each are imall, 
 and the fubordination (without which there can be no greatnefs of manner) is de- 
 ftroyed. Had fuch a portico as that of St. Martin’s Church been placed there, 
 and the church been like that compofed only of one order, it is very eafy to con- 
 ceive what a different effect it would have had upon the fpedtator. Lord Spencer’s 
 houfe, in the Green- Park, is another example of this kind, that which ought to be 
 the fubordinate part (the bafement) is too large, and the ftate ftory, which fhould 
 be the principal, is too fmall, confequently the fubordination is deftroyed, and the 
 effect of that which ought to be the principal, is, by this equality of parts, rendered 
 otherwife, the fame error has been likewife committed in the defign or the front 
 of the Treafury. 
 
 b y 
 
45 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 by Sir John Vanbrugh. This gentleman’s productions are very nume- 
 rous, and it is fcmething extraordinary, that not with {landing has 
 defigns were almofl univerfally condemned, he fhould have been 
 employed in building fo many confiderable works, Caftle Howard 
 in Yorkfhirc; the Duke of Newcaftle’s houfe at Claremont, and a 
 great number of feats in this kingdom were built by him, and 
 the Opera-Houfe in the Hay-Market is no contemptible proof of 
 his genius and abilities, though it is certain that there are too many 
 examples of his defigns which appear to be the mere effects of 
 whim and caprice. 
 
 No architect, except Sir Chriflopher Wren, ever had abetter oppor- 
 tunity of difplaying his genius in the great ftile of archite&ure than 
 Gibbs, he was employed in building and repairing feveral of the 
 principal churches in London, and he has acquitted himfelf upon 
 the whole tolerably well. The church of St. Martin’s in the Fields 
 is elleemed one of the bell in this city, though far from being fo 
 fine as it is ufually reprefented to be, the abfurd ruftication of the 
 windows, and the heavy fills and trufles under them are unpar- 
 donable blemifties, and very improperly introduced into this com- 
 pofition of the Corinthian order, as it takes away the delicacy which 
 fhould be preferved in this kind of building. The fleeple itfelf is 
 good, but it is fo contrived that it feems to Hand upon the roof of 
 the church, there being no appearance of its continuation from the 
 foundation, and confequently it feems to want fupport, an error of 
 which he is not alone guilty, but which is very elegantly and judi- 
 cioully avoided in the turrets in the front of St. Paul’s, indeed the 
 fpire of the fleeple of St. Martin’s church being formed by in- 
 ternal fweeps makes the angles too acute, which always produces 
 an ill efteCt ; this has been judicioufly avoided in the fleeple of St. 
 Giles’s, which was a good improvement upon the other, but much 
 deformed by the abfurd ruftication of the fpire. The practice of rufti- 
 cating {hould never be carried higher than the bafement of a build- 
 ing. Upon the whole, St. Martin’s church is compofed in a grand 
 ftile of one order, the portico is truly noble, and wants nothing but 
 the advantage of being feen in the manner propofed in the annexed 
 plan. The New Church in the Strand is another of Mr. Gibbs’s 
 
 perfor- 
 
46 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 performances, but is an expenfive rich defign without the leaft ap- 
 pearance of grandeur, which is occafioned by its being divided into 
 too many parts, a building may be made in parts very elegant and 
 very rich, and yet very inelegant in the whole, which is the cafe of 
 this church, the divifion of the building into two orders has destroyed 
 its grandeur, the fteeple is a confufed jumble of rich parts piled 
 one upon another, without any regard to the fliape of the whole, 
 and has this additional fault, like that of St. Martin’s before- menti- 
 oned, it appears to ftand upon the roof of the church. Gibbs alfo 
 defigned St. Bartholomew’s Hofpital and a great number of houfes 
 for perfons of diftinCtion, but there appears nothing uncommon or 
 new in them, and he was rather a mannerift in things of this kind. 
 He likewife made defigns for rebuilding King’s College in Cam- 
 bridge, in which he made that elegant Gothick building, the 
 chapel, form one fide of the quadrangle, and the three other fides 
 he defigned in the modern ftile, without any regard to the part 
 already built, though he confefies that this chapel is the fineft Go- 
 thick pile he ever faw. This cuftom of mixing Gothick and Modem 
 architecture in the fame pile of buildings, has alfo been praCtifed in 
 the univerfity of Oxford, with great fuccefs, and ferves to fhew 
 that very little attention is paid to tafte and elegance in places where 
 one would expeCl to find hardly any thing elfe. If thefe things are 
 fufFered to be done merely becaufe they may produce variety, they 
 Ihould be told, that variety may be produced in Gothick archi- 
 tecture without changing the ftile, and that at the fame time a har- 
 mony may be produced without destroying the connection of what is 
 already built ; in fhort, very great, noble and elegant things may be 
 done in the Gothick tafte, and, with proper attention, not prove fo 
 expenfive as may be imagined. Gibbs has alfo given another in- 
 ftance of this erroneous praCtice at Derby, where he has to a fine rich 
 Gothick fteeple, added a church of the Tufcan order, which he ex- 
 prefly fays, in his account of that work, is fuitableto the old fteeple. J. 
 
 This 
 
 % There is an inftance of this abfurd mixture in the Gothick chapel at Eaton, 
 \vhere the fereen which fupports the organ-gallery is of the Doric order, and the 
 altar of the Corinthian; this laft is fo glaring an abfurdity, that it mult always 
 offend the eve of the judicious obferver. Sir Henry VVoctton, who wrote that 
 o ' excellent 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 4 7 
 
 This account of the progrefs of architecture in England, cannot 
 be concluded with more propriety than by the mention of a name 
 which would do honour to any age or nation, and though his rank 
 in life will not permit his being claffed among architects by profef- 
 fion, yet he undoubtedly merits, as a man of fcience, the greateft 
 honour as an architect. The late Earl of Burlington was not 
 only the Mecaenas of architecture, but was himfelf a great archi- 
 tect ; he not only protected and encouraged the moft ingenious 
 men of this profeffion, but condefcended to put in practice the 
 great tafte and knowledge he poffelfed in fo eminent a degree. 
 He defigned the affembly houfe at York, the weft front of General 
 Wade’s houfe in Burlington Gardens, the dormitory at Weftminfter- 
 fchool, and repaired the church of St. Paul Covent Garden at his 
 own expence, in honour to the memory of his admired Inigo 
 Jones j and as a further proof of his veneration for that great man, 
 he publifhed a moft noble collection of his defigns, a work that 
 does honour to his own tafte and to the Englifh nation. This No- 
 bleman patronized Kent, who lived in his houfe, nor was his 
 patronage denied to others, many of whom he eftablifhed and 
 favoured in a particular manner ; in fhort, it may be faid that he 
 not only encouraged architects, but that it is entirely owing to him 
 that architecture has any exiftence amongft us. 
 
 Engraving, is an invention which does incredible honour to the 
 moderns, and in point of utility, next to that of printing, is of 
 the utmoft confequence to mankind, fince by means of this art the 
 forms of many ufeful ingenious contrivances are preferved which 
 would otherwife be irrecoverably loft to pofterity, this art is the 
 only one that can be faid to be actually in a flourifhing ftate among 
 us, to affert the contrary would be an aCt of injuftice, but it muft 
 be remembered that it is entirely owing to the efforts of a few 
 
 excellent book, entitled, Elements of Architecture, was matter of Eaton college, 
 but it cannot be fuppofed this was executed in his time. The fchool alio is built in 
 the modern ftile, and laid to be the work of Inigo Jones, while the reft of the 
 buildings are entirely Gothiek. In our own times another of thefe abfurdities 
 has been introduced between the two palace yards at Weftminfter, clofe to the 
 Hall, which is entirely out of character, and proves that the prefent age are little 
 better than the Goths they affeft to defpife. 
 
 private 
 
/ 
 
 48 LONDON AND 
 
 private perfons, and not to any particular encouragement from 
 the great, that this branch of the polite arts is in a Hate fo 
 flourishing. It was, according to Mr. Walpole’s account, in- 
 troduced into this kindgom not long after its fir ft difcpvery, and 
 pradtifed with indifferent fuccefs, by a number of perfons whole chief 
 performances were commonly confined to frondfpieces for books. 
 The celebrated Faithorne, however, is very juftly ranked as the 
 foremoft of the engravers of this nation, and he certainly was a very 
 elegant and accurate artid, but as the gentleman who has honoured 
 his memory, (as well as many others who were not fo delerving) 
 judicioufly obferves, the Englifh engravers formerly had not the 
 opportunities they now have of copying the fined: pictures in the 
 univerfe; they very rarely engraved hiftorical fybjedts or landfcapes; 
 and it is to be lamented that Faithorne, who drew admirably, had 
 not been employed by fome lover of the art, in engraving fubjedls 
 of more confequence, h^ad this been done, it is impoffible to fay 
 what might have been produced by his labours, it is not to be 
 doubted but his works would have excelled or at lead: have 
 equalled the bed of the French engravers. The honourable au- 
 thor above-mentioned, to whom the arts will for ever dand in- 
 debted, for the care and pains he has taken on their account, 
 has however, (I fuppofe, by the vad difficulty of arranging and 
 digeding Mr. Vert^e’^ ^t^rjajs ^ qrqjt^l {c^cjp^a^ judice to feverai 
 Englifh artifts in this branch which they deferve, and which 
 he certainly would have done had it not been owing to want 
 of better information. Certainly no living artjd need wiffi to 
 have a more candid and faithful biographer, and it is to be feared 
 that fucceeding candidates for fame, will hardly find one of his 
 rank, abilities and candour, to record their lives and perform- 
 ances. He has, however, to mention two indances only, omitted to 
 give that due diare of praifc to the mezzotintos of George White, 
 which they undoubtedly ddervcd ; his head of Baptide the flower 
 painter, is luperior to old Smith, or to any thing of the kind that 
 ever was executed*. Du Guernier, who for want of a due con-^ 
 
 * ]f t hc Englifh have not yet come up to the French in hiftorical engraving, they 
 have excelled "the whole wo: Id in the branches of architecture and ni^zzotinto.. 
 
 fideration 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 fideration of his works, he has but flightly mentioned, was the 
 mod; extraordinary engraver of fmall figures that ever was in this 
 country, not to mention that he was a man of genius alfo, and 
 condantly worked after his own defigns j his plates to Hughes’s 
 edition of Spencer’s Fairy Queen are undoubted proofs of his 
 genius and execution, as indeed are his defigns and engravings in 
 general. 
 
 It having been before afiferted, that the art of engraving is at 
 this time in a flourifhing date, it is of confequence fincerely to be 
 wilhed that the engravers themfelves would ufe their utmofl efforts 
 to improve that degree of reputation they have already acquired, 
 in order to which they fhould perpetually keep in mind, that the 
 bed engravers have always been thofe who drew bed, that Faithorne 
 was an excellent draughtfman, that both the. Whites were good 
 defigners, that old Smith not only drew well, but was condantly 
 corrected by Sir Godfrey Kneller, and that Du Guernier was admir- 
 able in this great and effential branch of the art. Drawing 
 is the foul of engraving, and it is certain that he who can draw 
 well will execute better and with more facility than he who with 
 infinite labour and the mod perplexing uncertainty, drudges at that 
 which nothing but patience, and the mod fervile helps, can podibly 
 enable him to execute with any tolerable degree of reputation. 
 
 There is one dreadful evil attending the purfuits of this par- 
 ticular fet of artids, which is extremely difcouraging, and that is, 
 want of fecurity in their property ; for the penalty inflided by the ad 
 paffed in their favour is fo inconfiderable, that it is hardly any impe- 
 diment to piratical works. When one of tbefe perfons therefore has 
 with great ingenuity, care and application, produced a performance 
 which does his country and himfelf honour, and hopes to receive 
 the reward of his merit, iome wretch who is perpetually upon the 
 watch for fuch an opportunity, caufes his work to be copied and 
 indantly deprives him of every advantage he had hoped from its 
 publication ■f*; furely works of this kind ought to be fecured to the 
 artid and his heirs, or at lead for a term equal to that allowed for 
 
 f The circumftance is equally grievous with refped to copying models or original 
 cafts in plafler, which often prevents the publication of many ingenious productions 
 in that way. 
 
 H literary 
 
5 ° 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 literary produ&ions, for the a<ft of parliament is very infecure and 
 precarious by not decreeing cofts of fuits with damages. It would be 
 equally juftifiable, if after an honeft farmer had with infinite pains 
 and great expence manured and fown his land, fome rafcally 
 neighbour fhould wait the time of harveft and immediately cut 
 down his corn and put the produce into his own pocket, nor would 
 it be more juftifiable if through fear, this harpy waited until the tim« 
 of his deceafe, for in that cafe his heirs have an undoubted right to 
 the produce of his labour ; and fhall the property of ingenious men 
 alone be thus expofed to the ravages of fuch mifcreants without 
 hope of redrefs ? The man who is not pofleffed of a certain income 
 is exprefly forbid under fevere penalties, by the laws of this nation, 
 to deftroy the animal which has helped to confume his fubftance, 
 and in this cafe there is a near refemblance between the farmer and 
 engraver, the latter has no remedy, and muft be contented with 
 the gleanings of the field when he had an undoubted right to the 
 whole crop j that this is unhappily the cafe, is notoriously verified 
 in regard to the works of one of the greateft mafters that 
 this or any other nation has produced. Mr. Hogarth’s works 
 will be always valued and admired, and therefore ought to be 
 as much the property of his widow, as if their value had 
 been laid out in the purchafe of an eftate, of which it is 
 to be prefumed no one could poftibly have deprived her, and yet 
 this lady has been compelled to inform the world that her pro- 
 perty has been invaded, (fhe might have added herfelf infulted) 
 and that the publick are in perpetual danger of being impofed upon 
 by fpurious copies, and herfelf deprived of every advantage fhe 
 hoped would arife by the fale of the works of that inimitable mafter. 
 
 It is greatly to be regretted that fuitable incouragement is not 
 given to one very noble and ufeful branch of this art, which 
 is that of engraving medals. This it is confefied cannot be done 
 any other way than by particular appointments, as there could 
 not be a fufficient demand from the publick to render it worth 
 the while of any artift to dedicate his whole time to this parti- 
 cular part ; a part, however, which to attain to in any degree of per- 
 fection, would undoubtedly demand the entire attention of a life 
 
 if 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 if it were prolonged to double the number of years allotted 
 to mankind. The coins and medals of every country have 
 been looked upon as the diftinguifhing marks of their rife, per- 
 fection and declenfion, and are to be confidered as fo many brief 
 hiftories of the (late of the arts at the time they were executed. No 
 annals produce greater atchievements than thofe of Britain, nor 
 no nation has recorded in this manner fo inconfiderable a number. 
 
 It has been afierted by fome French authors, that the Englifh are 
 at lead a century behind their nation in the polite arts, perhaps 
 when a proper allowance has been made for the vanity of that 
 people, we may not be found altogether fo far behind them as 
 they would chufe to throw us, but at the fame time we muft ac- 
 knowledge there is too much truth in that part of the aftertion 
 which gives them the fuperiority in general over us. 
 
 This fad being allowed, it may be worth while to inquire into the 
 reafon of this fubordination, and to what caufe it is owing that we 
 have ever followed and ftill continue to follow, in this refpedt, a 
 nation which in many others we have an undoubted right to precede. 
 It cannot be owing to the want of genius or capacity, for genius 
 and capacity are alike diftributed to the inhabitants of the whole 
 earth, it muft therefore neceftarily proceed from the efFe&s of habit 
 or cuftom. It is an eftablifhed maxim that cuftom is fecond nature, 
 and education with us is ufually founded on cuftom. It has been 
 cuftomary therefore with the Englifh feldom to confider the inclina- 
 tion of their children, but indifcriminately to adopt the fame mode of 
 education without any kind of diftinCtion ; thus thofe whofe genius 
 leads them to the church, to the law, and to the arts, &c. and thofe 
 who have no genius at all, are educated in the fame manner, 
 and are frequently, through the inattention or caprice of their parents, 
 placed in the very filiations which fbould have been avoided, and 
 in which they confequently can never make any kind of figure. 
 Indeed it is greatly to be lamented that education is not made a 
 publick concern, that is, that fome effectual method is not taken 
 to prevent perfons who are not qualified, from undertaking to teach 
 children fuch things as they themfelves are totally ignorant of, or 
 but very flenderly acquainted with. There have been more than 
 
 H 2 one 
 
S 2 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 one inftance of fchool matters who could not read. It is utterly 
 impofiible that genius or capacity can be national, though there 
 have not been wanting fome who have attested this as a fad, and 
 who have been as liberal in the commendation of the genius of 
 the Italians and French, as they have been induftrious in decry- 
 ing that of their own countrymen j but thefe idolaters of foreign 
 genius ought to be informed that cuftom or the mode of education 
 has a greater fhare in the formation of this admired genius of 
 foreigners than they may perhaps be able to comprehend ; in order 
 to explain this matter more fully, let an infant be fuppofed to be 
 brought from China and educated in England, and it may be 
 eafiiy conceived that he will turn out as errant an Englifhman, as 
 if he had been born of Englifh parents, his purfuits of whatever 
 kind will be perfectly Englifh, nor can it be imagined that though 
 according to the fuppofition of the above-mentioned gentlemen, 
 fuch a perfon’s genius mutt be purely Chinefe, that the porcelain 
 manufacture in this kingdom would receive any confiderable im- 
 provement from the acquifition of this extraordinary foreigner. 
 
 It has been granted that the flate of the arts in France has the 
 fuperiority, but it has alfo been denied that the French pottefs any fu* 
 periority of genius. No one will pretend to fay that in refpeCt of learn- 
 ing or l’cientifical knowledge, this nation cannot produce their equals 
 if not fuperiors, for literature and fcience conftitute a Britifh educa- 
 tion : It will be found that England has produced men of extraor- 
 dinary erudition, and may with juttice boaft of the greatett names in 
 divinity, phyfick, law, mathematicks, &c. in poetry we have equalled 
 if not excelled other countries, and every Englifhman refle&s on it with 
 pleafure ; but unfortunately for painting, though we have painters in 
 every branch equal in all, and fuperior in fome, yet the general cry 
 is, there is no painting in England, this is not the foil for painting. 
 Yet numberlefs inftances may be produced, that painters are not 
 wanting notwithftanding the many difadvantages the art now labours 
 under. In France they enjoy the advantage of every neceftary publick 
 eftablifhment that can any way cultivate or improve the polite arts 
 which by cuftom or habit, are become a neceffary as well as 
 beneficial part of education. In England no fuch eftablifhment 
 
 exifts. 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 exifts, inftead of meeting with encouragement and cultivation, the 
 arts are left to ftruggle for themfelves (fome feeble efforts of the 
 fociety in the Strand excepted) and inftead of their being made a 
 part of education, the youth of this country are only drenched 
 with- the dead languages until their ftomachs loath and naufeate 
 every thing that wears the appearance of tafte and knowledge, and 
 confequently, inftead of encouragers of learning and arts, they in 
 time become only the patrons of buffoons, cheats and horfe-courfers. 
 
 To this effential defed therefore in point of education is entirely 
 owing that injurious circumftance fo often and fo juftly complained 
 of by the ingenious artifts of this country, namely, want of en- 
 couragement ; for how is 'it poffible, (let his rank in life be ever fo 
 much elevated) that any man fhould become a competent judge 
 of what it is utterly impoffible, from his want of education, he can 
 ever truly underftand ? He who can only read his mother tongue 
 will never be able to explain a paffage in a Latin author, nor 
 can it be expeded that the Nobleman who is utterly ignorant 
 of the polite arts can form a proper judgment of an ingenious 
 performance, or eftimate with propriety the reward he fhould beftow 
 on the artift who has laboured to give him pleafure, which he 
 knows not how to enjoy, and which for that very reafon, he will 
 be at a lofs how to recompence in a manner fuitable to his own 
 dignity and the merit of the artift. If it is indifpenfibly neceffary 
 that an artift fhould, by unwearied application and unremitted ftudy, 
 make himfelf a mafter of the art he profeffes in order to render 
 his works worthy the approbation of the great, is it not equally 
 neceffary that his employer, who ought to be fuppofed his fuperior 
 in every refped, fhould be furnifhed with at leaft as much 
 knowledge of the art he patronizes as will inable him to form a 
 judgment of the degree of excellence with which it is executed. 
 
 There is another confideration why it may be wifhed that tafte 
 and judgment was more cultivated among the great, it would 
 be the means, in ail probability, of refcuing numbers of ingenious 
 artifts in inferior branches from a mean dependance on the tyrrany 
 of mercenary tradefmen, who (though the very means of their 
 exiftence is owing to the labours of thefe artifts) treat them with 
 
 S3 
 
 a 
 
54 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 a rigour and contempt more unreafonable than that exercifed by 
 the Algerines over their flaves, becaufe this treatment is inflicted 
 upon thefe men in a land of liberty. 
 
 But in whatever degree of eftimation the genius of the people 
 of England may be held by fome who affedt to defpife it, 
 thus much is certain, that there is not a greater dearth of 
 genius among the artifts, than of tafte and judgment among thofe 
 upon whom they depend for encouragement, and it may be fafely 
 pronounced that whenever tafte and judgment gain ground among 
 the great, genius in its brighteft form will be found in the produce 
 tions of the artifts of this kingdom. When it is confidered in what 
 univerfal efteem the arts have been held in France for more 
 than a century paft, when it is confidered that the French nobility, 
 inftead of holding the ingenious men of their own nation in con- 
 tempt, have vied with each other in admiring and encouraging 
 every attempt towards the cultivation of the arts, and from a 
 national afFedtion have believed, and perfuaded others to believe, that 
 their own countrymen are more ingenious and more capable than 
 any other people in Europe it cannot be wondered that the arts 
 have made fo great a progrefs among them, indeed, confidering the 
 encouragement that has been given, it is more to be wondered 
 that they have not excelled in a greater degree, more efpecially 
 in painting, for in engraving no nation has yet equalled the 
 French. 
 
 From what has been faid relative to the encouragement given to 
 the French artifts by the nobility of that kingdom, it is natural 
 to turn our eyes towards our own country and confider how and 
 in what manner artifts and their works are treated among us. If it 
 fhould be faid that the arts are totally negledted in Great-Britain, 
 and that no encouragenment is given to the profeffors, it would be 
 doing an abfolute injuftice to many of the nobility and perfons of 
 fortune who are known to be men of tafte and judgment, and who have 
 not only abilities to difeover merit wherever merit is to to be found, 
 but have fpirit and generality to reward it equal to that of any 
 nation whatever; to point out thefe would be to expofe our country 
 by difeovering the deplorable inequality of number between thofe 
 3 who 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 55 
 
 who have real tafte and thoie who have none at all. Thofe among 
 the great who love and encourage the arts are, and ought to be admired, 
 thoie who neither love nor encourage them, becaufe nature or educa- 
 tion has denied them the happinei's of underhanding them, are to 
 be pitied, but thofe who are defirous of pofleffing works of inge- 
 nuity and at the fame time are mean fpirited enough to endeavour 
 at the gratification of their wifhes by debating the work and deftroy- 
 ing the artih, ought to be detefted; if there are any fuch, how 
 mean, how wretched and defpicable muft they appear, how infi- 
 nitely below the general charader of Engiifhmen, and to what pitiful 
 fhifts muft fuch as thefe be put in order to gratify their vanity and at 
 the fame time fpare their purfes; who, under thefpecious pretence of 
 becoming Mecaenas’s of the arts, fet forth, in the moft pompous man- 
 ner, that their doors fhould fly open at the approach of men of genius, 
 that their bufts, ftatues and pidures, fhould be fubfervient to the ufes 
 and ftudies of every one who was defirous of improvement but 
 was deflitute of fuch helps; it cannot be denied but fuch a propofal 
 would have a very plaufible appearance ; but how, if it fhould after- 
 wards be found, that all this parade of patronage fhould be direded 
 by mean felfifh views, with an intent of bringing up a number of 
 needy young perfons, who from the nature of their ftudies fhould 
 be enabled to gratify their vanity in the embeilifhment of their 
 houfes at under rates ; furely fuch a condud would be truly de- 
 fpicable; but there is no accounting for what vanity and avarice 
 might be tempted to do, and it is to be believed and hoped, that 
 no fuch pradice will ever be countenanced in a country where the 
 truly great pique themfelves upon their generofity and honour. 
 
 There is a certain fet of people who, to all outward appearance, 
 are prodigious lovers and encouragers of the arts, the number of in- 
 genious works of living artifls to be found in their coliedions befpeak 
 them to be no lefs ; but alas ! it is quite the reverfe, thefe men 
 inflxad of being encouragers are the greatefi; enemies an artifi can 
 pofflbly encounter, they value themfelves upon the pofleffion of 
 whatever is curious, but at the fame time they value themfelves 
 upon their art in making purchafes at a low rate; at the very 
 time they are extolling the merits of fuch a pidure, they cannot 
 help exulting and informing you how little it cofl. 
 
 One 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 One of thefe, when he meets with any thing he is defirous of poflef- 
 fing, will hang about the artift day after day, he will praife one part, 
 and find fault with all the reft, he will endeavour to prejudice him 
 againft his own performance, and when once he has lured him 
 into fueh a fituation, makes a merit of taking it off his hands 
 for little or nothing, at the fame time perhaps advifing him to 
 do fomething in this or that manner, in the execution of which, 
 if he is fuccefsful, he may probably have the ill-fortune to be 
 cajoled out of it by his pretended friend, by the fame method. 
 But furely thefe men, at- the very time they are thus meanly prac- 
 tifing every little art to undervalue the performances of ingenious 
 men, are defeating their own purpofes, they are defirous of become 
 ing the pofieffors of works of art, and they purchafe them to adorn 
 their houies, and at the fame time to gratify their vanity, but furely 
 no man of real tafte would like to have it faid that his cabinet was 
 filled with trifling decorations of little value, that he indeed made a 
 great, (how, but that his whole colledion coft him a mere trifle, and 
 was not worth any one’s conflderation y this would fting his vanity 
 and mortify him fufficiently, for the truth of the matter is, while 
 thefe works of art aye the property of the artifts who brought 
 them into being, they are worth but little, but when once they are 
 transferred to one of thefe the cafe is widely different, they then 
 become matchlefs, ineftimable, and are confidered in quite another 
 light than they had hitherto been, becaufe their prefent polTeflor 
 is a man of fortune. There is hardly a living artift to be found, 
 who, if he was called upon, could not produce fuffident vouchers 
 in proof of what has been advanced ; on the contrary, there are a 
 very few, who, to their eternal honour, are the reverfe of thefe, and 
 out of real love for the arts and artifts, have formed collections of 
 the works of living mafters at a great expence, and who may 
 therefore be juflly efteemed patrons and encouragers of the polite arts. 
 
 One gentleman of rank, in particular, whofe name cannot be men- 
 tioned with propriety, has appropriated a room in his houfe for the 
 reception of Englifh merit. Was this Angularly noble example to be 
 followed by the great, it is not to be doubted but the good effeds 
 that woukl he produced by fuch encouragement would foon become 
 yifible, and prove, the means of putting a flop to the inundation of 
 
 foreign 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 foreign trumpery which is continually pouring in upon this wealthy 
 ifland, and fweeping off in its torrent the manure which fhould 
 be applied for the nurture and cultivation of the more ingenious 
 part of its inhabitants. It is not here meant to infinuate, that good 
 pictures or good datues, becaufe they are foreign, ought to be de- 
 fpifed, on the contrary fuch are a valuable acquifition to this country 
 as recommend themfelves either for the goodnefs of the defign, 
 or for the mechanical part of their execution, the value of which 
 is perhaps bed underdood and admired by artids who have 
 made thofe parts their particular dudy ; but pictures which have 
 the fanction of coming from abroad daily fell at a prodigious rate, 
 without any other character of recommendation than that of un- 
 couth exoticks. Even the ancient Greeks and modern Romans 
 produced very indifferent as well as very great artids, and in our 
 times the works of the mod defpicable of thefe performers are 
 purchafed at exorbitant prices, only becaufe they were done by 
 a man who has .perhaps lain and mellowed a century or two in 
 his grave. 
 
 It has been faid that the fociety in the Strand, have made fome 
 feeble efforts towards the encouragement of the arts, and as fome 
 may pofflbly think this expreffion was meant as a reflection upon that 
 fociety, it becomes neceffary to explain its meaning. That the fociety 
 meant to encourage the polite arts, cannot admit of a doubt, but that 
 the method they took to bring about fo noble and defirable an event 
 was ill judged and badly conduded, will not perhaps be fo candidly 
 admitted. The great fource of complaint among the artids of this 
 kingdom has ever been the want of encouragement, not a de- 
 ficiency of numbers. There have always been ingenious men, but 
 there has not always been employments for them datable to their 
 genius and abilities. The great error of the fociety therefore was this, 
 they let out as if there really had been no artids at all exiding in 
 England, they (if the expreffion may be allowed) beat the drum 
 for recruits and immediately railed an army of raw unexperienced 
 foldiers, who like thofe raifed from the ferpents teeth fown by Cad- 
 mus, were to cut one another to pieces, and if any furvived, the 
 
 I plunder 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 plunder of the war (which was the premiums) being adjufted, they 
 were of courfe to be disbanded and left to fhift for themfelves. 
 The fociety inftead of giving pecuniary rewards for the ftudy of 
 hiftorical painting, fhould have bellowed honorary ones, and endea- 
 voured by fome method to have promoted the fale of the productions 
 of the prefent profeflbrs, who by being thus encouraged would 
 not have failed of bringing up a fufficient number of pupils to fuc- 
 ceed thern, of whofe abilities they would undoubtedly have beent 
 the bell judges. 
 
 What mull have been the confequence if hiftorical painting, (the 
 promoting of which feems to have been the chief aim of the fociety) 
 had been clofely purfued by thefe young artifts? What churches, what 
 publick buildings, what flair-cafes, are now painted, by which they 
 might have procured, employment ? Pictures are banifhed from the 
 former, and the two latter are filled with ftucco or covered with paper.. 
 It may be urged, that to purfue the ftudy of hiftorical compofition 
 is to become a mailer in every other branch of painting, as that 
 alone comprehends all the rell. But why fhould we multiply artifts? 
 If there was not encouragement for a few before, will the lludy alone 
 of hiftorical compofition prove the means of providing for ten 
 times their number? By the method the fociety took for the eii-. 
 couragement of the polite arts, it will appear that by the conflu- 
 ence of thofe who might be feduced, by the expedation of 
 pecuniary rewards from the fociety, the polite arts inftead 
 of being benefited would be only rendered fubfervient to the 
 mechanical *3 as thofe who could not poflibly fuhfift by the one 
 
 £0 
 
 * What melancholy confequences would follow from fucn a dependance, cannot- 
 perhaps be better illuftrated than by the following fad, relating to the ingenious pro- 
 feffors of coach-painting. It feems that the tyranny of the coach-makers, over 
 this body of artifts is infupportable. That fraternity, not content with a moderate pro- 
 fit upon a part they are unable to execute themfelves, make a common practice of 
 doubling and fometimes trebling the charge to their employers, and at the fame time 
 continue by all poftible methods to reduce and undervalue the produdions of thefe 
 ingenious people 3 who, exciufive of their labour, furnifh oil, gold and colours, for the 
 feveral purpofes of coach- painting, Nay fome of them have gone fo far as to employ 
 inferior artifts in their own houfes, and demand the fame exorbitant price for their 
 work as, they charged upon that of the abieft performers. That it may not be laid all 
 x this- 
 
W E S T M I N S TER I M P R 0 V E D. 
 
 to fly for relief to the other f . In fa<T the fociety in refped 
 to its prefent plan, fo far as it regards the polite arts, may be very 
 juftly compared to a green houfe, in which every plant thrives and 
 flourifhes, but upon being tranfplanted into the open air becomes 
 inftantly chilled, and is deftroyed by the feverity of the climate. 
 The Ladies of Great-Britain have alone done infinitely more for 
 the profeffors of miniature painting, than the fociety have done for 
 all the branches of painting together, becaufe, by wearing bracelets, 
 they have at once promoted the art and rewarded the labour of 
 the artiffc. This reflexion indeed naturally leads to another extremely 
 difpleafing, which is that whenever the fluctuation of fafhion re- 
 quires this ornamental part of drefs fhould belaid afide, though fome 
 may ftand their ground, many very ingenious perfons will be obliged 
 to feek other means for fubfiftance. 
 
 The French, whom we copy in their vices and follies , and 
 whofe virtues we rejeCt, have, as has been before obferved, a 
 
 this is mere aftertion, it is neceMary to give one inflance out of many, which is a 
 fail that cannot be invalidated. — A perfon of diftin&ion having given orders to his 
 coach-maker to make him a carriage, at the fame time directed him to employ a 
 perfon whom he named, the Coach-maker obeyed this command, and the work 
 being compleated, he ordered the painter to bring in his bill; which, upon being pro- 
 duced, amounted to twelve pounds. It is impoflible to defcribe the coach -maker’s rage; 
 he exclaimed bitterly againft the exorbitancy of the charge, and gave the painter to 
 underftand, that he would not have dared to make fuch a demand but upon the 
 preemption of his being a preferred man. But mark the end. The painter being 
 acquainted in the nobleman’s family, and rather curious to know what this moderate 
 man would demand for his labour, obtained a fight of the coachmaker’s bill j who 
 charged the nobleman, thirty pounds for painting and gilding. This was fome 
 fatisfa£lion to rile artift, however, as he thereby difcovered the motives which had 
 fo greatly difturbed the coach-maker, which amounted only to this, that he had 
 got fomething lefs by the job than he expe6led. Certainly the greatefl emolument 
 ought to arife to that profeflion where the greatefl abilities are required, if this was 
 but rightly confidered, it would be a great advantage to the public as well as to many 
 ingenious perfons who are now depreft, and whofe works would be more elegant 
 and better executed. 
 
 f So far had this pailion for raifing youth to the arts of defign been carried, that 
 it was propofed at a meeting of the artifts at the Foundling- Hofpital, that they fhould 
 inftru£l the children at that place, and infilled upon it even after the gentleman who 
 made the propofal was informed, that there were numbers chf ingenious men who 
 adlually at that time were <leflitute of employment. 
 
 I 2 
 
 laudable 
 
6q LONDON AND 
 
 laudable partiality for the works of their own artifts, and Lewis 
 the Fourteenth, by giving encouragement to the profeffors, not only 
 raifed painting and fculpture, but all the arts dependant thereon, 
 nor did he wait until the youth of his country were trained up, 
 but by employing the then prefent profeflors, he gave encourage- 
 ment to the young men, who might reafonably expert to find the 
 fame or greater if they excelled, and who in the mean time received, 
 honorary inftead of lucrative rewards. By this means he raifed the 
 arts to a height unknown in that nation before his reign, 
 which has been maintained with very little difference to the pre- 
 fent time. 
 
 Lewis the fourteenth’s patronage of the arts, at the head 
 of which he placed the celebrated Le Brun, was of the utmoft 
 importance to the French nation. It w r as next to an impossibility 
 that the royal countenance, feconded by the abilities of fo great a 
 mailer, Should fail of bringing the polite arts into eifeem and repu- 
 tation. And what was at firft, perhaps considered as a matter of no 
 moment, or at lead of no concern to the people, in the end was- 
 found to be of the utmoft utility. The immenfe fums that have fince 
 been drawn from all parts of Europe for the purchafe of paintings, 
 ftatues, prints and other works of art, is a convincing proof that 
 the encouragement of ingenious artifts is of vaft importance to a ftate, 
 as well as benefit to fuch individuals as are endowed with powers to 
 execute works fo interesting, pleafing and profitable. As a proof, 
 among innumerable others, of the encouragement given to painting 
 in France, in every particular branch of the art, and of the advan- 
 tage arifing from fuch encouragement to that nation, it need only 
 be mentioned that the celebrated Vernet, (undoubtedly in his way 
 one of the firft painters in the world), is at this time, by order of the 
 King, painting all the fea-ports in France, for which he is paid 
 three hundred pounds Sterling each pi&ure; from thefe paintings 
 are engraving a noble fet of prints by Le Bas, which do honour to 
 the French, and are eagerly bought up by our own and every 
 other nation in Europe. It is evident from this one inftance, that the. 
 cultivation of the arts is of prodigious advantage to a country, 
 
 Since 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 6 1 
 
 fince the profit accruing from works of this kind is very great, they 
 are the produce of mere induftry and application, not of expence, 
 and a fmgle fheet of paper, the manufacture alio of France, is by 
 this means encreafed perhaps to the value of half a guinea or more, 
 which, the expence of paper and printing excepted, is clear 
 gain to the publick. 
 
 The appointment of the mod ingenious artifts to the fuper- 
 intendancy of publick works carries more weight then the 
 generality of mankind may be willing to allow *. Le Brun was 
 not only the prelident of the Royal academy, but was alio chief 
 diredor of the King’s manufactures at the Gobelines, and it 
 will hardly be aflerted that thofe works were not carried into 
 execution with more tafte and elegance from his appointment, 
 than if an inferior perfon, with little or no knowledge in the 
 arts of d'efigning, had been employed to direct them. In Great- 
 Britain, the defigning and fuperintendancy of works originally in- 
 tended to be magnificent and elegant, is generally given to per- 
 ibns utterly unacquainted with the meaning even of the words ; 
 how is it poflible then that any work of that kind fhould be pro- 
 duced among us ? If a magnificent edifice is to be ereCted, a com 
 mon builder, little if any thing fuperior to a carpenter or bricklayer, 
 in point oF tafte or knowledge, is confulted, inftead of a regular 
 architect 3 if an elegant garden or pleafure ground is to be laid out, 
 a gardener whofe utmoft knowledge is confined to the nature of 
 the growth and culture of fhrubs, plants and trees, is called 
 in, inftead of confulting the landfcape painter, whofe. ftudies 
 
 * How much more valuable a manufactory would Birmingham be (as well as 
 many others) to this nation, if it was in the hands of people of tafte ! at prefent, 
 quantity not quality feems principally to be confidered, and every thing is loaded 
 with much confufed and fuperfi'uous work, which is falfly called ornament, when 
 lefs labour, guided by judgment, would be much better, and every article be rendered 
 more valuable by its elegant ftmplicity in fhape and form, and the expence of that 
 unneceflary labour might be added to the quality of the materials, as the making 
 things cheap and good is of infinite advantage to commerce, as cheap and bad 
 are certainly the contrary. It is not therefore to be wondered at if the French 
 Ihould fupplant us in moft manufactories, when it is fo well known that they make 
 elegance fo much their ftudy ; and that tafte is fo little regarded by us, the want 
 of which cannot but lead us into many ablurdities. 
 
 relate 
 
6s 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 relate immediately to the fubjed, and who is therefore the perfon 
 who thould be confulted Nor is the decoration of the interior 
 
 parts 
 
 + It is entirely owing to want of tafte among perfons of diftin&ion, that the dif- 
 pofition of their gardens is left to people utterly unfit for fuch employments. 
 A painter always confiders every objedl as a pidlure, and accuftoms himfelf to a 
 critical examen of the parts of fuch obje&s, by which means he acquires an habitual 
 method of adopting what he finds beautiful and rejecting every thing that appears 
 •abi'urd, inelegant or trifling. This practice of confidering objects it is apprehended is 
 very little attended to by any but painters, much lefs can it be expected from mere 
 gardeners, whofe ftudies are chiefly dire&ed to objects in which they are more imme- 
 diately concerned. The management of the kitchen garden, raifing of flowers, and 
 the care of nurferies, are things which generally demand all their attention, and 
 which if they underftand thoroughly is all that ought to be expected from them, but 
 tafte feems to be an affair very foreign to their bufinefs, and confequently not to be 
 looked for among people of their profeflion. Such a perfon can have no more idea of 
 what is by painters called effedi:, than a painter can have of the whole bufinefs of a gar- 
 dener. But as there are pretenders in mod branches of bufinefs who affedl to under- 
 ftand things quite foreign to their own, fo there are gardeners who pretend to be archi- 
 tects, but then their works generally difcover themfelves to be the productions of thefe 
 fons of earth. A good painter however will hardly ever fail, let the fttuation be ever 
 fo bad, to produce fomething piCturefque, and the beft difpofed pleafure grounds, 
 parks, &c. in this kingdom were defigned by the late Mr. Kent, who was a pain- 
 ter, and was the firft who ventured to attack and cut up the Dutch minced-pies of 
 Bridgman, and others of the fame fublime tafte and genius. 
 
 It is impoflible to lay down any particular rules for the difpofition of gardens, &c. 
 as fo much depends upon fttuation, however it may not be improper to point out 
 from two well known examples, w’hat appears in each of them to be either beauties 
 or defedls, and to which and upon what account the preference is due. Richmond 
 and Kenfington gardens are both flat fituations, the former is very much confined, 
 and confequently has very little variety, it has no command of the country, which 
 is fliut out on all Tides, except from the terrace, which gives a fine view of 
 the Thames, Sion-Houfe, See. and a very bad one of the backs of the miferable 
 houfes at Brentford, which ought to be hid, the extent of thefe gardens is very 
 great, and yet it no where conveys an idea of fpacioufnefs, nor is there one open- 
 ing from the garden to let in the leaft objeCI to entertain and divert the eye, and 
 the whole is a tirefome round of famenefs and infipidity. 
 
 Variety is the foul of defign, but it is not the afFe&ed twifting of ferpentine 
 walks that can alone produce it. The inequality of the ground is the great 
 affair, but where nature has denied that advantage, fpace judicioufly introduced 
 with variety may be fubftituted, and produce, if not a very ftriking, yet an 
 agreeable effedl. Richmond Park is a happy fpot in this refpedl, every ftep produces 
 a new feene, and greatly entertains and inftead of fatiguing the eye ; however this 
 cannot be obtained in Richmond garden, and confequently is not to be looked for. 
 
 2 Kenfington 
 
H 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED; 
 
 parts of buildings better confidered; the hiftorical painter is ftiil 
 lefs Attended to than either of thefe, the grandeur of whofe defigns 
 is certainly adapted to works of that kind. Inftead of being re- 
 quired to give his afiiftance, his part is ufually fupplied by a paper- 
 hanging maker and two or three workers in ftucco. 
 
 From what has been already faid it will appear, that the politer 
 arts are very far from being in that ffourifhing date with us, which 
 might naturally be expected in a country abounding in riches, and. 
 in which no expence is fpared in whatever is intended by periods- 
 ©f difti notion, either to fuit their convenience or gratify their vanity. 
 It might be imagined, that thefe motives alone would, be futfC- 
 cient to have raifed the arts, becaufe the arts, in every country 
 but our own, are considered as the means of gratifying every 
 
 Kenfington Garden, as was before obferved, is not better fituated than that 
 of Richmond, nor can boaft any thing like the terrace, it is alfo much confined 
 as to diftant views, but its interior parts are much better laid out, and have 
 a more airy appearance, there is a variety of fpacious openings, and the whole 
 together conveys no idea of confinement, which is the great fault of Richmond 
 Garden. This appearance of confinement in the country, is certainly wrong,, 
 where every thing fhould conduce to give an air of chearfulnefs and liberty. 
 Upon the whole therefore, this garden, in point of defign and difpofition, 
 is preferable to that of Richmond, and excepting the noble terrace, is in every 
 refpect vaftly fuperior. 
 
 If therefore the hand of art were fuffered to guide the progreffive improvements 
 ©f uncultivated fituations, we fhould foon fee the good effects of it in the multiplied 
 inftances of acquired beauties in every nobleman’s garden. Ingenuity will fupply 
 every deficiency of nature, will extend the profpedt, or encreafe the plantations, will 
 ereCt a temple, or variegate the parterre, will introduce a cafcade, or conceal any 
 thing difpleafing. The moft elegant villa will appear to the greateft advantage, when 
 the environs, whether park, garden, or pleafure-ground, are laid out with genius j I 
 mean where the afiiftances of art vifibly reduce the wild luxuriancies of uncultivated 
 barbarity to pleafing and agreeable forms j where you are equally furprifed at the 
 (kill of the artift and the aftonifhing contraft of its original appearance. For 
 a fituation thus improved, is as much the true image of nature in perfection, as 
 the Venus of Medicis is an exaCt reprefentation of the various graces that conftitute 
 the figure of perfeCt beauty, and a fkilful artift would no more deviate from this 
 principle, than he would prefer the moft low, abfurd or natty fubjedt that e’er 
 difgraced a Dutchman’s pencil, to the fublime choice of the divine Raphael. 
 
 defires 
 
6,d 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 defife of this nature ; unfortunately, however, painting is dis- 
 couraged in every branch, except that of portraits ; fculpture, from 
 a want of knowledge in thofe who fhould encourage it, feerns to 
 be in a very declining way, and architecture, inhead of gaining 
 ground, fee ms to be retreating backwards fo very fad, that, in a 
 few years it may be expected, when a nobleman wants a defign 
 for a palace, one may be offered him according to the primitive, 
 fimple and truly antique tafte, compofed of nothing but flicks and 
 dirt. In fupport of fuch a fuppofition, let the prefent tafte of archi- 
 tecture be confidered impartially, and it will be found that nothing 
 is left for invention, nothing for improvement ; the models of 
 Greece and Rome are the flandard of Englifh architecture, unalte- 
 rably fixed as fuch, and the inhabitants of this climate muff be 
 contented to peep out of fuch holes as were contrived by thofe 
 people to fcreen them from the influence of the fun, which in ours 
 is fcarcely feen half the year. However this method, and the orna- 
 ments dependant thereupon, are fimple , chafe and in the true 
 file , and it would be confidered by a perfon of virtu, as little lefs 
 than blafphemy, to propofe the leafl innovation, though conve- 
 nience and propriety are facrificed. It is true, the prefent age has re- 
 fined a little upon the matter; fome antiquities in Greece, of 
 which the more diilant ages were ignorant, or, which is full 
 as probable, did not think worth their notice, have been ran- 
 facked and adopted as the mofl perfeCt models of tafte in modem 
 architecture. 
 
 The powers of inventive genius are, at this time fo very little 
 attended to, and the examples of Greece and Rome fo firmly efla- 
 bliflied, that nothing more is required to model a youth of moderate 
 parts into a complete architect, than to put him apprentice either to 
 a bricklayer, mafon, or carpenter, under whofe tuition he will 
 acquire the great art of fcoring firait lines, and fetting off their pro- 
 portion by fcale and compafs. His fervitude being ended, thus 
 accomplifhed and furnifhed with the Rudiments of Architecture, 
 he may be fent to Rome, and after he has fpent the ufual time 
 allotted for travelling that city, he may caufe it to be inferted in the 
 
 London 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED- 6 5 
 
 London papers, that Mr. Trowel, the celebrated architect, on account 
 of his vaft abilities, has had prodigious honours conferred upon him, 
 and that he fhortly intends to re-vifit his native country, to which he 
 will no doubt do incredible honour. The trumpet having been thu® 
 properly founded, and the architect furnifhed in a fuitable manner 
 with a colle&ion of drawings of the beft Italian mailers in that fciencc, 
 he may venture to make his appearance in London. His next bufinefs 
 is to decorate his houfe with this borrowed plumage, and then get 
 fome friend to beat the drum, and llun the publick with encomiums 
 upon this prodigy of art. This naturally will induce fome perfon of 
 diftin&ion to take a peep at this phenomenon, and if he is pof- 
 fefied of the leaft fpark of virtu, he will become almoll petrified 
 with amazement, and, in the ardour of allonilhment, enquire where 
 this great creature has been hitherto buried ? The anfwer is obvi- 
 ous, Mr. Trowel is juft arrived from Rome! You fee every thing 
 is perfectly Italian, his drawings, his air, his cloaths, his fervants, 
 all Italian — Braviffimo ! he mull undoubtedly be a great genius, 
 
 Mr. Trowel’s name is up, and he may go to bed when he pleafes. 
 
 But, to be ierious, where is the neceffity of this parade of going 
 to Rome, is there a building, or even a fragment of a building in 
 Greece or Italy, of which we have not accurate draughts and mea- 
 fures? and is it not from thefe refources that every modern building 
 is compiled without variation, and without the leaft attempt at no- 
 velty or invention + ? It is very much to be queftioned, if fuch an 
 
 f It is not hereby meant to decry or explode the eftablifhed orders of Grecian and 
 Roman architecture, and introduce whim, caprice and gothicifm in their ftead, 
 it is only intended to inforce this known truth, that it certainly requires tafte and 
 genius in the combination of the different orders to produce grandeur and elegance, 
 and that with refpect to the ornamental parts of architecture they fhould be left 
 entirely to the judgment of the defigner, who ought always to confider the nature of 
 the building, and the purpofe for which it is intended, without perpetually fearching 
 for antique ornaments, which might with great propriety be adapted to the buildings 
 from which they are borrowed, hut are terribly mifapplied by fome modern architects. 
 
 ' How abfurd and ridiculous would it appear, if one of thefe was to adorn a church with 
 the heads of oxen, pateras and axes, fuitable decorations in a heathen temple, but 
 in a chriflian country, only to be employed with propriety in a butcher’s fhop or 
 (laughter houfe. 
 
 K 
 
 attempt 
 
66 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 attempt was to be made, whether a thorough bred connoifTeur 
 v/ould vouchfafe to beftow a fecond look upon fuch a defign ? 
 
 But this being the cafe, what becomes of genius and invention, 
 is the farce of an architect’s having been at Rome to fupply the 
 want of thefe, and to exclude every attempt of introducing no- 
 velty and elegance, becaufe it is not of foreign extraction? It fhould 
 feern that people of diltinCtion in England are come to a deter- 
 mination to admire nothing but copies either in painting or archi- 
 tecture, and therefore load the kingdom with the one, and their 
 cabinets with the other. In this view of the ftate of architecture, 
 it may not be improper to fuppofe a perfon of diftinction, who, 
 with every other requifite for forming a great character, fhould 
 alfo be pofleffed of a thorough knowledge in building, and that this 
 perfon fhould, in conformity to his own ideas of novelty and ele- 
 gance, require a defign for a fuperb edifice out of the common 
 method of practice 5 it is like wife to be fuppofed that he fhould be 
 recommended for this purpofe to two architects both eminent in 
 their profeflion, but, with this difference, that one had been in 
 Italy, and the other had not. The queflion is, from which of 
 thefe it is to be prefumed he would be mofl likely to obtain what 
 he wanted ; that is, a defign in which grandeur, elegance and 
 variety fhould unite to produce a whole which fhould be new, har- 
 monious and regular ? It may with the greateft reafon be pre- 
 fumed, that he whofe ideas had been leaf! confined and fhackled 
 with the prejudices of a foreign tafte would be the perfon pre- 
 ferred, for the infurmountable paffion for Greek and Roman ex- 
 amples, would prevent the one from ftriking out any thing which 
 was not flrictly conformable to them, and confequently he could 
 produce nothing which had not been feen before j the other, blinded 
 by no fuch prejudices, would give his imagination free fcope, and by 
 a bold attempt to foar upon his own wings, produce fomething 
 which if it did not perhaps quite reach the idea of his employer, 
 would at leaf! fatisfy him much better, and thefe trials by being often 
 repeated, muff unavoidably produce things new, great, noble and 
 fingular. 
 
 If 
 
6 / 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 If Shakefpeare had been fettered by the rules of the ancients, 
 his plays would have been more corred, but they would have 
 been proportionably infipid, and the poetical wanderings of that great 
 Author abundantly recompence the want of attention to the rules 
 of the ancient dramatick writers. 
 
 The qualifications of a perfed archited are very extenfive, ac- 
 cording to Vitruvius ; and certainly there is a great deal more re- 
 quired than the bare knowledge and capacity of a mere mechanick, 
 to make an able artift. William of Wickham, Inigo Jones, Sir 
 Chriftopher Wren, Sir James Thornhill, Sir John Vanbrugh, Lord 
 Burlington, it is well known, were all men of a liberal education, 
 well verfed in the elements of fcience, and therefore knew fomeihing 
 more than fcoring of ftrait lines; they had, if I may fo exprefs 
 it, the feeds of invention in them, and were not mere compilers 
 from books, like many of the prefent age, who are no more than 
 mere mechanical architeds, totally ignorant of every branch of 
 learning proper to lead them into the knowledge of defign. Almoft 
 every one now, who can but make ffiift to draw neat lines, and 
 is furnifhed with a few books to borrow from, fets up for an 
 archited, his produdions are dignified with the term invention, 
 and, with many, pafs current for fuch, though when examined by 
 the judicious and difcerning, they are found to be nothing elfe 
 than fervile imitations of what had been done before. 
 
 Nothing can fet the prefent ftate of architedure in a better 
 light and more explain the eftimation in which it is held by peo- 
 ple of fafhion, than a tranfadion which adually fell within the 
 obfervation of the Author, who having fome bufinefs to tranfad 
 for a gentleman of fortune, was by him direded to call at a par- 
 ticular part of the town and confult with his architect, about an affair 
 of fome confequence in a building which the gentleman was at 
 that time ereding. The Author according to the diredion given him 
 waited upon the archited, but it is eafier to guefs than defcribe 
 his aftonifhment, when upon his approaching the houfe of this 
 artift, he dilcovered that he not only built houfes for the living, 
 but was alfo employed in the conftrudion of thofe in which the 
 dead are ufually depofited j in fhort, he was a coffin-maker. And 
 
 K 2 indeed 
 
*8 LONDONAND 
 
 i 
 
 indeed when it is confidered in what a flight wretched manner the 
 greateft part of the new buildings are ere&ed, it may be very juftly 
 furmifed, that there are not an inconfiderable number of coffin- 
 makers who follow this profeffion, perhaps with a view to their 
 original bulinefs, hoping they may not only bury people in the ruins 
 of their own houfes, but alfo decently inter thofe whom they have 
 fo ingenioufly contrived to releafe from the troubles and difficulties 
 of this tranfitory life. The foregoing inftance ferves admirably 
 well to fhew the eftimation in which architecture is at prefent held, 
 but to defign a building is one thing, and merely to put that defign 
 in execution, another j however, to fave a trifling expence, he that 
 can only (and that too with difficulty) execute under the direction 
 of an artifl, is generally preferred to do that, of which he has no 
 comprehenfion, and confequently can never underftand, and which 
 will of courfe be executed accordingly. 
 
 If what has been before averted, in thefe reflexions on the ftate of 
 the arts, is allowed to be true, that cuftom or habit, or in other words, 
 the effects of different fyftems of education, produce what is called 
 a fuperiority of genius in one nation more than in another, and if 
 what has been alfo afferted is allowed that in the mode of education 
 purfued in Great-Britain, men of genius have been produced equal 
 at leaft, if not fuperior to thofe of other countries, it follows 
 in order to prove the equality of our genius in every refpeCt, and 
 to give free fcope to young minds, that the prefent fyftem of edu- 
 cation fhould be altered, not contracted but enlarged. In purfuit of 
 the attainments of learning and fcience no innovations fhould be 
 made. That genius of every kind fhould have free liberty of 
 exerting its powers is what every one who wifhes well to his 
 country muff certainly defire. Why then it may be afked, 
 are the polite arts negleCted, or rather banifhed from our uni- 
 verfities? Is the ftudy of a knowledge, which creates admiration 
 in every gentleman who poffeffes it, beneath the dignity of thofe 
 great feminaries of learning ? Is not every nobleman or perfon 
 of fortune who has acquired a competent degree of tafle in the 
 polite arts, efteemed and venerated in a particular degree, becaufe 
 he has rendered himfelf matter of fo delightful and ornamental a 
 
 part 
 
6 9 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 part of ufeful knowledge ? It cannot be doubted that if a foundation 
 was eftablifhed in each of the univerfities, for the ftudy of the 
 polite arts, to be conduced in the fame manner with thofe already 
 founded for the attainments of the greater branches of knowledge, 
 we fhouid in a very fhort time perceive the prodigious advantages 
 which would arife from fuch an eftablifhment. Our young No- 
 bility, by being fcientifically taught the theory of the arts, of which 
 they are in time to become the patrons and protestors, would be 
 thereby enabled to judge for themfelves inftead of being obliged to 
 truft to the judgment of others. It is not very common for perfons 
 of exalted rank to become authors, or to publifh fyftems, nor is it 
 expected they fhouid j their ftation in life and thu important con- 
 cerns of their country, ufually demand the greateft part of their at- 
 tention s but the tafte and knowledge they have acquired by a fupe- 
 rior education always enables them to judge of the works of others, 
 who are either impelled by their genius, or urged by their circum- 
 flances, to inftrudt or entertain mankind. In proportion as the 
 knowledge of the polite arts gains ground among perfons of rank, 
 in the fame proportion will the execution of them rife among the 
 fubordinate part of the people. No one would dare to offer a work 
 unworthy the attention of his patron, nor would a man of true tafle 
 and fcientifick knowledge deign to beftow a thought upon what 
 was beneath his notice. This therefore would truly excite emulation, 
 and in the fame degree that tafte and judgment was found among 
 the great, in the fame degree would excellence be produced among 
 the artifts. If a gentleman who had a liberal education and is natu- 
 rally endowed with a good underftanding, is fuppofed to be a judge 
 of a fine poem or other piece of writing, and to tafle the beauties 
 or difcover the defeats in fuch performances, why fhouid he not, 
 if his education had been properly directed, be equally qualified to 
 judge with propriety of works of art? And yet for want of this 
 very habit of confidering them in the early part of life it is not 
 unufual for fuch perfons to be extremely deficient in this parti- 
 cular, and though they can tafle and feel the beautiful deicrip- 
 tions and painting in a great poet, yet fhew this very perfon 
 an hiftorical pidture of Raphael or Pouffin, or a landfcape of 
 Claude Lorrain, and he is loft, his good fenfe tells him there 
 
7 ° 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 is a fomething which he approves, but for want of a little fcience, 
 he diftrufts his own judgment, and in the perturbation of his 
 diftrefs, flies for relief and advice to a pi&ure dealer, who has not, 
 nor’ ever can have a tithe of his underftanding. 
 
 The great advantages which muft neceflarily arife from this 
 valuable addition to the prefent mode of education, cannot per- 
 haps be better elucidated than in the inflance of fending young per- 
 fons of diftindtion to travel. It has hitherto been cuftomary to 
 flnifh their ftudies in this manner, and certainly the propriety of fo 
 doing is not to be called in queftion provided the perfon who is 
 thus fent to vifit foreign countries is naturally endowed with good 
 fenfe, heightened and improved by a proper education. Such, and 
 inch only, are the perfons who ought to be trufted abroad. There 
 is no occaflon to convince the world by ocular demonftration that 
 Great-Britain like other nations, produces weak men as well as 
 men of fenfe, foreigners will always be ready to give us credit for 
 fuch commodities, though undoubtedly there are thofe among 
 them who had much rather fee a fmall cargo of the former landed 
 in their ports, than a whole fleet of the latter; for in this inflance 
 there is a flmilarity between us and the reft of the world, neither 
 the one or the other are without a fhoal of fharks, who are per- 
 petually upon the watch, and voracioufly prey upon every fool who 
 has the misfortune to fall in their way. But the greateft unhappinels 
 is that men of fenfe who travel are liable fometimes to the fame 
 mifadventures, merely for want of thepropofed enlargement of their 
 education. There is for inflance, at Rome, (which is the Monmouth 
 Street of the arts,) a fet of fellows whofe profeliion is what we in 
 England call picture dealing. This buftnefs moft people know much 
 refembles that of dealing in old cloaths, their commodities are 
 always fecGnd hand and tarnifhed, but by floe- drawing and other 
 helps, every defedt is concealed as much as pofflble, in order to 
 deceive the ignorant and unwary, and fet off the goods to the 
 belt advantage. One of thefe leaches having fattened upon a 
 young traveller (poffibly a man of fine fenfe, but who makes the 
 grand tour before he has feen his own epuntry) is not to be fhakea 
 he oflipioufly becomes his fhadow, and teaphes him to admire. 
 
 alike 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 7 * 
 
 alike things which are defpicable as well as thofe which are worthy 
 of admiration. Indeed in this indance it may be faid, be (hews fome 
 degree of honedy, for his ignorance is commonly fo great that lie 
 really knows no didindion between the good and bad himfelf. 
 However, as this is the only guide our traveller has, he is, for want 
 of fcientifick knowledge to enable him to judge for himfelf, obliged 
 to fee with the other’s eyes ; and after having been for two or three 
 years extremely attentive to the monotony of the connoiffeur who 
 has parroted to him a jargon of unmeaning fluff, he at length arrives 
 in his own country with a depraved tafle and a thick cloud of 
 Italian prejudice diffufed over his undemanding, which naturally 
 produces a hearty contempt for the produdions of his own country; 
 he accordingly, with all the advantages of good fenfe, what is 
 efleemed a good education, and the additional acquifition of having 
 feen foreign climates, fets up for a connoiffeur and a colledor, and 
 credit is given him for all thefe requifites, his tafle is allowed and 
 confirmed by every body, but no one is fo forward to flatter him in 
 this particular as the EngLfh Proteus of a pidure dealer, who is 
 by turns, as bed fuits his interefl, a Fleming, a Frenchman or an 
 Italian, he is loud in his encomiums on the tafle of this prodigy of 
 virtu: In plain Englifh, he flatters his vanity that he may the more 
 eafily pick his pocket, by impoflng upon him the refufe of a foreign 
 ’colledion, or a fmoked copy manufadured in his own garret at 
 flarving wages, for the work of fome great mafter. 
 
 The arts in England have hitherto been deprefled by pidure 
 dealers, who in the mofl unfair manner never fail to oppofe to 
 rifing merit the works of fome dead mailer. An inflance of this 
 kind happened about fifteen years ago when a very great perfonage, 
 who died foon after, being (hewn a fine landfcape, the work of 
 an artid now living, was extremely pleafed with the performance 
 and expreifed fome defire of purchafing it, but unfortunately hap- 
 pening to afk one of thefe dealers his opinion of the pidure, he 
 had the wifdom and goodnefs to fay, “ That it was very well, but 
 “ it was not like Gaipar.” This had the defired effed, the ardor 
 of becoming the pofleffor of it, which was excited by the merit and ex- 
 cellence of the piece, was cooled becaufe it was not like Gafpar, the pie- 
 3 true 
 
7 2 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 ture though an excellent imitation of nature which, Gafpar hardly ever 
 confidered, was accordingly condemned to the hammer and difpofed of 
 by auQion at a much lefs price than it ought to have been. Thus 
 when a young genius makes his appearance and feems to threaten 
 the foundation of the venerable pile of antiquity, one of the perfons 
 whofe bufinefs it is to keep it in repair, rolls a great fragment of 
 a ruined column, commonly called a dead matter over him, and 
 inftantly crufhes the poor wretch to pieces. This whole fcene of 
 impofition, fo eafily and fo frequently put in practice, would certainly 
 be prevented was the ttudy of the polite arts made a part of 
 the exercifes of an university education ; a man of fenfe trained up 
 in this manner could never become the dupe either of an English or 
 foreign bubble-monger, and we fliould not only eftablifh our credit 
 as people of tatte abroad, but alfo fave a prodigious fum of money 
 from being fquandered away in the purchafe of many things 
 which every Italian of true tatte is heartily glad to fee removed 
 out of his native country, left they fhould one day be difcovered 
 to be a difgrace to it. 
 
 But there remains yet another motive which will perhaps be 
 allowed to have its weight in favour of fcientific, and even practical 
 knowledge in the arts of defign. It has happened, and may and 
 undoubtedly will again happen, that fome perfon of rank or for- 
 tune may determine to travel not only merely to fee foreign climes, 
 but to defcribe whatever he finds worthy his notice whether ancient 
 or modern, and if in fo doing he fhould befides the neceflary requi- 
 fites, which form a good writer, be alfo pofletted of tatte and the 
 power of delineating .fuch obje&s as ftrike his fancy with pleafure, 
 or which ttimulate the defire of introducing fome ufeful invention 
 (to which we are yet ttrangers.) What a treafure will the works 
 of fuch a man, thus accomplithed, become to the learned world, 
 what an honour to himfelf and to his country! 
 
 The arts being in themfelves fcientific, it is imagined they might 
 eafily and with great propriety be introduced into our univerfities, 
 and connected with the more fcientific ttudies, for painting is in 
 fact an univerfal language. It has with great injuttice however 
 been urged that the ttudy of defign is neceflary only to a few par- 
 ticular 
 
W £ S T MINS T E R I M P R O VT£ D. 
 
 71 
 
 idcular profeflions, and that it is beneath the attention of a gentle- 
 man ; but from what has been already faid on that fubjeft and the 
 concurrent fentiments of fom-e of the ablefl men this kingdom 
 has produced, it is prefumed that this is a vulgar error, and that 
 fuch a fuppofition mult have arifen from the low ellimation 
 in which the arts have hitherto been held among us; certain it 
 ds, if a foundation in each of the Univerlities could be once ob- 
 tained, in which the theory and pra&ice of defign, civil, military 
 and naval architecture, geography, furveying, &c. and the me** 
 chanick arts, Ihould be taught and properly explained by real 
 models, there would be no neeeffity for fending young gentlemen of 
 fortune to foreign univerfities in order to attain thefe necelfary 
 -qualifications to compleat their lludies. 
 
 The encouragement which has been given to learning in thefe 
 kingdoms is prodigious, the revenues of the two univerfities are im- 
 menfe, and the number of ftudents who have received their educa- 
 tion in thefe two great feminaries innumerable, and yet perhaps a 
 catalogue of perfons of real eminence who have made any kind of 
 figure in the world, will be found to be very inconfiderable in pro- 
 portion to the number of thofe who have made none at all. Cer*- 
 tainly the education of youth ought to be one of the firft cares of 
 the date, as the very genius of government depends upon it, and 
 often the rife and fall of kingdoms. If it is confidered in this light 
 it demands the utmofl attention and regard ; all poflible means 
 Ihould be ufed to enlarge and extend it for the benefit of mankind, 
 and perhaps a more proper dep towards attaining this defirable end 
 oould not be taken, than by making the dudies of the polite arts 
 a part of a liberal education. It is not a little to the credit of our 
 Univerfities, that fome of the Kings of England have received their 
 educations in them-, and if a due attention was paid to the dignity of 
 thefe great feminaries, by making the dudies more univerfal, it is not 
 impofiible but they might again be honoured with the prefence of 
 Royal Students, which would undoubtedly prove both honourable and 
 beneficial, as fuch an acquifition mud of courfe draw a great num* 
 ber of perfons from all parts of Europe, who would be ambitious 
 of receiving their ducation in fuch company j nor would the 
 
 L advantages 
 
74 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 advantages arifing from fuch conduct be confined to the univetv 
 fities alone, as the whole kingdom would be benefited by it. 
 
 In Scotland there feems to have been an enthufiafm with regard 
 to learning. They have no lefs than four univerfities, all of them 
 confiderable, and confequently the great number of perfuns of the 
 lower clafs 3 who receive education from them, tends to the impoverifli- 
 ing of the country j.there cannot furely be a greater miflake committed 
 than that of endeavouring to fpread univerfal knowledge in a king-* 
 dom where every effort of induftry is required to make it refpeCtable* 
 It cannot be fuppofed that a man who has been brought up to the. 
 ftudy of polite literature, will ever turn his thoughts towards the 
 improvement of manufactures, or lend his hand to the plough. 
 It is owing to this learned phrenzy, and to this only, that the 
 natives of Scotland are difperfed over the face of the whole 
 globe, their native country has furnifhed them with learning, and 
 confequently with a contempt for labour^ their ideas are enlarged, 
 and their hopes in confequence of that enlargement, are not to be 
 gratified in the place of their birth, they are therefore conftrained 
 to feek preferment in countries where learning is not fo common, 
 or where indolence gives them an opportunity of making advan- 
 tage of their fuperior qualifications. But how grievoufly does this, 
 at the fame time hurt the country ! Would it not be infinitely more 
 to their advantage to have fewer men of learning and more in-, 
 duftrious individuals ? Would it not be much better if the cultivation 
 of the polite arts and of induflrious ingenuity was attended to, and 
 the people kept together ? The introduction of the ftudy of the 
 polite arts among the more fevere ftudies of literature, mufl by the 
 very practice of the arts when acquired, prove the means of 
 employing innumerable hands in profeffions where the other branches, 
 of learning would naturally fall in with them, and by their mutual 
 afliftance concur to render thofe who adopted fuch a plan 
 a moft refpeCfable and flourifhing people. If this was to be, 
 timely attended to, in a few years Scotland w'ould wear quite ano-. 
 ther appearance, and if the good fenfe of that people was rightly 
 directed and encouraged, they would no longer be fiigmatized for 
 their poverty, nor upbraided for deferring their country. 
 
 If 
 
WEST M -J N S T E R IMPROVE D. 
 
 If the kingdom of Scotland is over-run with learned men, and 
 aim oft deftituteof laborious people, the principality of Wales is ift 
 fome refpeds in a much worfe fituation. The Welch are an indus- 
 trious people, but they are more than proportionably ignorant, 
 there is no fuch thing as an univerlity in the country, and if the 
 common people in Scotland have too much learning, the men of 
 property in Wales have in general no learning at all; in fhort, igno- 
 rance is the charadteriftic of the Welch, as learning is that of 
 the Scotch, and if thefe will not on that account ftoop to laborious 
 or ingenious employments for the benefit of their country, thofe 
 of the fuperior fort among the Welch have not abilities to direct 
 the laborious induftrious part in fuch purfuits as would infallibly 
 contribute to their mutual advantage. 
 
 As it will appear from the general intent of thefe reflexions, that 
 an union of learning and the polite arts is fincerely to be wi(hed 
 by every one who has the leaft affedlion for his country, fo it 
 is to be deplored that no ftep has yet been taken to promote 
 fuch an union. The noble foundations already eftablifhed for 
 the cultivation of learning, it is apprehended, are fully fufficient 
 for that purpofe, and therefore it is greatly to be lamented that 
 the late Sir Jacob Gerard Downing, inftead of appropriating his 
 vaft fortune to the purpofes of endowing a needlefs foundation, 
 had not turned his thoughts towards the real improvement of his 
 country, by eftablifhing one for the ftudy of the polite arts, an 
 eftablifliment which would have immortalized his name, and 
 have proved of the utmoft benefit and confequence to this king- 
 dom, in this and future ages. 
 
 75 
 
 L i 
 
 EX PL A- 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 EXPLANATION of the PLATES. 
 
 Fiate the First contains Hyde-Park 3 with the City: 
 and Liberties of Westminster*. 
 
 T. T PON the fuppofition of building a royal palace, it is propofed-, 
 ^ in this plate that Kenfington -Garden and Hyde - Park, 
 fliould be laid together, and the prefent houfe and buildings en- 
 tirely taken away. The ground within the circle defcribed in the 
 plan, in the center of the park, to be raifed with an eafy afcent* 
 to the height of twenty feet, upon which the- palace fbould be 
 ereded. The railing of the ground would produce this advantage* 
 the whole heighth of the building would be feen at a great dif- 
 tance, and this elevation would give it a mod: elegant appearance, 
 and at the fame time command a beautiful and extenlive view of 
 the city and country from the lower apartments, the vafh area in 
 which this palace is propofed to be built would undoubtedly 
 render it healthy, and at the fame time preferve the beauty of the 
 materials, as from its detached fituation it would not be affeded 
 by the fmpke of the town, which is an utter enemy to Hone, alw r ays- 
 changing its colour andfpoiling the exterior decorations, as is evidently- 
 feen in St. Paul’s and other Hone buildings in this metropolis* 
 For the fame reafon.that it is propofed to elevate the ground on 
 which the palace fhpuld be ereded, it is objeded againfi: having- 
 high brick, walls round the Park to intercept the. view, for 
 which either iron rails ora Ha-ha fhpuld be fubftituted ; . and if 
 the buildings at Kenfington and thofe on the oppofite fide next 
 to Grofvenor-Square are regularly formed upon the lines defcribed. 
 in the plan, a finer fituation for perfons of diftindion can hardly, 
 be conceived, nor would fuch buildings as might be ereded in 
 
 thofe 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 77 
 
 tfeofe places fail of producing a ftriking effedt from the palace itfelf, 
 (were their fronts compofed of hone or ftucco) and the whole 
 together would make the fineit fcene in the univerfe. The fides of 
 the Park are formed by right lines, one from Hyde-Park-Corner, 
 which might be continued and form a ftrait road to Brent-ford j. 
 on the oppofite fide the line falls diredtly in with Oxford-Road ; 
 by taking off part of the Park, at the fouth-eaft: corner, it will 
 give an opportunity of making a diredt line from the New- 
 Road on the one hand quite down to the Thames, and on the 
 other, from the corner of the Park at Oxford-Road, to Hamp- 
 ftead-Church;. this line from the New-Road down to the Thames 
 is propofed as the great boundary, beyond which no build- 
 ings fihould be permitted to be eredted on any pretence what- 
 ever. The line within the propofed plan, formed with long dots, 
 defcribes the plan of Hyde-Park and Kenfington-Garden, by which 
 it appears that in order to render the propofed plan as regular as 
 poffible, the road to Kenfington has been taken in, and confequently 
 all Knightfbridge* Kenfington-Gore and the greateft part of Ken* 
 fington, which on account of the expence attending the purchafe 
 of fo large a tradt, may be accounted an infuperable. objedtion to- 
 its ever being put in execution, but it was laid down in that manner 
 to fhew what ought to be done, rather than what is expedted to- 
 be done; for that part of the plan which falls within the park-wall 
 would have a noble effiedt, and perhaps nearly anfwer the fame 
 purpofes as if the whole was executed, as the center of the defign^ 
 by being fet a little farther back, would allow for the original in- 
 tention of preferving a free uninterrupted ride or road quite round 
 the park, not to mention that the park might, with much lefs dif- 
 ficulty, be extended backward in a line parallel to the weftern. 
 road. 
 
 2. If a range of fquares had been formed, each of the fame 
 fize with Grofvenor-Square, with ftreets correfponding from the 
 new road to Piccadilly one way, and others at right angles with* 
 them, inftead of that heap of abfurdity and confufion, defcribed 
 by the dotted lines in that part of the plan, it would certainly 
 bav.e been more profitable, as well as more elegant and convenient. 
 
 3. As-, 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 3. As the New Road is propofed to be the great boundary for 
 retraining the ruinous practice of building, on the north fide of 
 the town, fo it is to be wifhed, that no building might be eredted 
 nearer than one hundred and twenty feet from the outermoft line 
 of it, and that this fpace fhould be divided by polls and chains, 
 allowing fifty-two feet for the Road, eight feet for a common foot- 
 path, next the fields, and the remaining fixty feet next the houfes, 
 to be made equal in heigbth to the common path, and laid out with 
 grafs-plots, with a convenient fpace to be gravelled for a foot-path 
 next the front of the houfes *. This method might be obferved 
 entirely round the whole city, to be compofed of regular fronts 
 only, and the line might be finely broken and varied by elevated 
 obje&s at proper diilances; and would be profitable to the owmers 
 of fuch buildings, as well as pleafant to the inhabitants of Lon- 
 don, who might, in that cafe, boad the moil beautiful environ 
 in Europe. It is to be wifhed the New-Road had been made 
 quite ftrait, which might have been very eafily done, as nothing 
 could pofiibly have been loft by it, at prelent the difpofition 
 is extremely aukward. At Battle-Bridge, it deviates on account 
 of the old road, but in its dire&ion from the Yorklbire-Stingo 
 to Padington it is made wretchedly inconvenient; it ought certainly 
 to have been continued in a dired line eroding the Edgeware- 
 Road to . Wellborn- Green, as laid down in the plan. 
 
 4. Nothirjg can be more ablurd or ridiculous than the difpo- 
 fition of Queen Anne’s-Street, which runs parallel with Mortimer- 
 Street, Cavendilh-Square, the undertakers of which mull certainly 
 have loft their fenfes when they contrived an avenue fo broken 
 and disjointed, Lord Foley’s garden-wall entirely Hops the commu- 
 nication between the two ends of it, and by that means renders 
 both parts melancholly, inelegant and inconvenient to the greatell 
 degree. This was a notorious blunder, which no excufe can palliate, 
 jor it is utterly impoffible to fuppofe the/e ftreets were built before 
 the garden-wall was raifed , if that had been the cafe, no private 
 genJeman, much Icfs a nobleman, (notwithdanding the ground was 
 his own property,) would have done fo ungenerous and ungenteel 
 
 w!th d []!ift nce fr0m the road woulci S rea dy prevent the houfes from being an- 
 
 a 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVE D. 
 
 7$ 
 
 a thing, as to build a garden-wall diredtly through the center of fo 
 fine a ftreet merely for the fake of extending a London garden, a 
 thing in itfelf rather unneceffary, as the houfe commands an unin^ 
 terrupted view to Hampftead and Highgate, and undoubtedly had 
 the ftreet been then built, the line of it would have been kept, 
 and have given opening enough for an elegant terrace,, but no fuch 
 ftreet exifting at that time, his Lordfhip was undoubtedly juftifiabla 
 in extending his garden to what length he pleated, upon his 
 own property, on this confideration, that as he had no neighbours 
 he could not poffibly prejudice or annoy them ; neither his Lord- 
 fhip nor any one elfe could ever imagine that any fet of men, 
 would take it in their heads to throw away their money in build- 
 ing two ftreets (for, fo in fa£t they are) and call them one,,, 
 which fhould each terminate againft a brick-wall, and, indeed this 
 teems to be that Nobleman's opinion, in a plan publifhed under, 
 his own dire&ion of a defign for a new fquare, in which he very, 
 judicioufly diftinguifhes them by the names of Great Queen Anne’s- 
 Street, and Little Queen Anne’s-Street. This whole plan is marked iix 
 its proper place by dotted lines, and at the firft view fhews that. 
 Nobleman’s intention could never be to obftrucft any ftreet or open- 
 ing whatever, as in order to keep the views of Hampftead and High- 
 gate he has facrificed fo much valuable ground, and indeed has- 
 given fuch a plan, as, were it not for that very confideration, muft 
 appear to be a very injudicious, inelegant and trifling performance. 
 This noble folicitude therefore for the prefer vation of an uninterrupted, 
 view and freedom of communication fo much to be admired,, 
 has alone been the true reafon why fo many very inconvenient 
 accute angles are feen in that difpofltion, by which it appears that, 
 the houfes (if it was poffible to build any upon thole angles) muft 
 be extremely inconvenient and ungraceful, and evidently fhews 
 that his Lordfhip, waving all defign oj profit , dire died his attention: 
 only to the accommodation of the publick , with a /pint truly laudable • 
 and commendable ; however, for the fake of variety and the con ft— 
 deration of the great value of the ground i 4 that part of the: 
 tswn-, another defign is with the greateft humility fubftituted in its 
 place. 
 
 5. Near. 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 5. Near the Tabernacle in Tottenham-Court Road, a circular 
 are^, by way of variety is propofed, of feven hundred feet in diame- 
 ter, the curvature of which in a houfe of thirty feet in front, is no 
 more than three inches and three quarters, whereas the Circus at 
 Bath is only three hundred eighteen feet in diameter, which produces 
 a curvature of eight inches and an half in a front of thirty feet-. 
 It is a little furprizing that among the great number of fquares 
 in London, not one is to be found that is regularly built, on the 
 contrary it is hardly poffible to conceive any thing more confuted 
 and irregular than the generality of them are *, with a view there- 
 fore to this great defeat, the circular plan now offered was defigned, 
 and although eight flreets are given, yet, as fo many avenues 
 produce a multiplicity of angles, it would be better to have no 
 more than four openings. In the center of each quarter, a grand 
 principal building fhould be ereded, the front of which fhould be 
 made to projed moderately and be regularly defigned in harmony 
 with the reft of the buildings. In the midfl of the area a large bafon 
 with a fountain or fome other objed fhould be made, fuitable to the 
 magnificence of the whole j this bafon might be furrounded with 
 verdure encompafTed with a gravel walk, the whole inclofed with 
 iron rails, and no innovation whatever in the defign of the buildings 
 fhould be fuffered to be made, in order to preferve the grandeur 
 of the whole. It cannot be denied that a work of this kind would 
 have a noble effed, and become one of the principal ornaments of 
 this city. Nor is this defign at all improbable, there is no doubt 
 but more buildings will be ereded, and if this idea was executed, it 
 muft neceffarily prove advantageous to the undertakers j the novelty 
 of the defign, the elegance and fpacioufnefs of the area itfelf, and 
 above all, its magnificent appearance, would combine to render it 
 the moff defirable fituation for perfons of rank and diftindion, that 
 can poffibly be imagined. 
 
 6. On the other fide of Tottenham-Court Road an opening of 
 an Odagon form is laid down, and if the fquare between that and 
 
 * The durnfy bride piers in Grofvenor-Square, which are incumbrances, fhould 
 be removed, and the whole new modelled in the manner hereafter mentioned in the 
 defign of a circular area. 
 
 2 
 
 the 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 8 * 
 
 the Britifh-Mufeum fhould be thought too near it, this laft might 
 be eafily thrown into flreets. 
 
 7. As it may be readily fuppofed that all the ground between 
 the town and the New-Road will be built upon, it may not be im- 
 proper to difpofe of that contiguous to the Foundling-Hofpital in 
 the manner defcribed in the plan. 
 
 8. Grays- Inn-Lane might be improved, hy the method laid 
 down in the plan. 
 
 9. Great Ormond-Street is continued to Southampton-Row 
 one way, and to Grays-Inn-’Lane the other. 
 
 10. Theobald’s-Row is continued into King-Street, and the 
 King’s-Way widened. The wall of Gray s-Inn-Gardens fhou’d be 
 taken down, and iron rails fubftituted. 
 
 11. Bedrord-Row is opened into Holborn, and the line continued 
 to Lincoio’s-Inn Gardens, to be terminated with an iron gate. 
 
 12. Red-Lion-Street is widened at the end next to Holborii. 
 
 13. North-Street is continued into Great Ormond-Street. 
 
 14. New-Street is opened into Red Lion-Square. 
 
 1 5. One end of Southampton-Row and King-Street is widened, 
 
 ^and likewife Queen-Street. 
 
 16. St. George’s-Church Bloomfbury is detached and difencum- 
 hered from the buildings j and flreets opened north and fouth. 
 
 17. Hart-Street is continued into Soho-Square, and widened 
 next Red-Lion-Square. 
 
 18. Two fpacious flreets are opened into Broad St. Gileses, and 
 one of them continued to Hanover-Street, Long-Acre. 
 
 19. Suppofing the flreets near Bedford-Houfe, and the Britifb- 
 Mufeutn to be built as in the plan, the gardens to thofe houfes will 
 form fpacious fquares, that would be pleafant to the neighbourhood 
 if there were iron rails indead of a coop’d up brick-wall. 
 
 20. Holborn is widened at the upper part next Drury-Lane. 
 
 21. St. Giles’s-Church is difencumbered, and according to the 
 plan may be feen from five different fiations. 
 
 22. Tire buildings in Oxford-Road, at the end of David-Street, 
 
 -are taken away, and that end of the fireet widened and continued 
 4 n a line through Mary-le-Bone to the New-Road, infiead of 
 
 M following 
 
LONDON AN D 
 
 following the aukward twilling of the old way, as it does at pre- 
 fent, which is fhewn by the dotted lines in the plan. 
 
 23. Tenderdown-Street, Hanover-Square, is continued into Bond- 
 Street. 
 
 24. Marlborough-Street is continued into Swallow- Street. 
 
 25. Grofvenor-Street is continued to St.. George’s- Church. 
 
 26. St. George’s-Church, Hanover-Square, is difencumbered 
 from buildings in order that it may be properly feen. 
 
 27. Stretton-Street is opened from Piccadilly into Berkely-Square, 
 and from thence the communication is continued through David* 
 Street to the New-Road, and the whole is. interfered by a great 
 number of regular ftreets. 
 
 28. Evans’s-Row is continued into Berkley-Square. 
 
 29. Vigo-Lane is continued into Curzon-Street. 
 
 30. Old-Bond-Street is widened. 
 
 31. A great line of communication is formed from ClifFord-Street* 
 through Silver- Street, Queen-Street, and from thence continued to 
 St. Giles’s. 
 
 32. Bruton-Street is widened at the end next to Bond-Street, 
 
 33. The ground on which Burlington-Houfe ftands is laid out 
 into elegant ftreets, which form the following communications, viz, 
 from Burlington-Street to Pall-Mall, from Piccadilly through 
 Saville-Row into Conduit-Street, and from Piccadilly through Cork- 
 Street to Conduit-Street-Chapel, (which chapel is difencumbered') 
 the demolition of Burlington-Houfe may be thought an extraor- 
 dinary proportion, but when it is confidered what a prodigious im«- 
 provement will be made in thofe ftreets about Burlington-Gardens, 
 which are at prefent very inconveniently fituated, that the rents of 
 thofe very ftreets will be confiderably augmented, and that the pub- 
 lick will lofe nothing in point of elegance but the removal of tire 
 dead- wall in Piccadilly, every objedion that may be made to this 
 alteration it is imagined will entirely vanifh. 
 
 34. Swallow- Street is widened and terminated by St. James V- 
 Churcb, it is great pity this church, which has been lately repaired, 
 had not been ftucco’d. In fad no publick edifice ought to be built 
 with brick unlefs it is afterwards ftucco’d, for a mere brick-face in 
 
 iuch, 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 ‘fueh buildings always makes a mean appearance, and for the fame 
 reafon the deeples of done-churches which are covered with lead 
 and intended by their form to imitate done, ought to be kept painted 
 of done-colour; the dome of St. Peter’s-Church at Rome is com- 
 pofed of the fame materials with the reft of the building, and 
 confequently has a much grander effedt than that of St. Paul, which 
 is covered with lead ; for which reafon the dome of St. Paul’s- Church 
 ought to be painted of a done- colour, which would bring the 
 turret and the body of the church into harmony, and produce an 
 effedt in the whole that would greatly contribute to the grandeur 
 of its appearance in every point of view ; as the building with done 
 is fo very expenfive in this metropolis, it is to be lamented that en- 
 couragement is not given to fome ingenious perfon to find out a 
 ducco or compofition refembling done, more durable than the com- 
 mon fort, and in which exterior ornaments might be eafily wrought 
 at a very eafy expence. 
 
 35. A dreet is opened from the top of the Hay-Market of the 
 fame width, and continued to Oxford-Road, oppofite to Window- 
 Street, which is alfo continued of the fame width to the dreet now 
 building at the back of the Middlefex-Hofpital, and a dreet fixty 
 feet wide is carried on dire&ly oppofite to Window-Street, to the 
 New-Road. 
 
 36. Marlborough-Street is continued to Hanover-Square. 
 
 'ij. King-Street, Soho, is continued into the New-Street propofed 
 to be oppofite the end of the Hay-Market. 
 
 38. Broad-Street is continued into Dean-Street one way, and 
 into King-Street on the other. 
 
 39. Glafs-Houle-jStreet and Brewer-Street are widened, and 
 continued into Dean-Street. 
 
 40. Mary-le-Bone-Street and Shug-Lane are widened, and laid 
 down on parallel lines. 
 
 41.. Cadle-Street is continued to Swallow-Street and Shug-Lane. 
 
 42. Gerrard-Street is continued crofs Princes-Street, and comes at 
 right angles into the New-Street propofed to face the Play-Market. 
 
 43. Lide-Street is made fifty feet wide, and continued through 
 Leicefter-Gardens to Great Newport-Street, this would render Little 
 
 M 2 Newport- 
 
84 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 Newport-Street ufelefs, which might therefore be built upon 3; and 
 the bad fituation of this ftreet at prefent renders the property of 
 very little value; Lille- Street is alfo continued through Princes- 
 Street until it falls'into the New-Street propofed oppofite the Hay- 
 Market, at right angles. Dean-Street is continued into Lille-Street, 
 and Gre.ek-Street through Hayes’ s-Court*. RiderVC.ourt is opened,, 
 and continued into the New-Street propofed from Leicefter-Fields, 
 to Long-Acre, &c. 
 
 44. An opening of fixty feet wide is made through Leicefter- 
 Square from Piccadilly and continued into Long-Acre, the weft end, 
 of Queen-Street, called the Devil’s- Gap, is here opened equal to the., 
 breadth of that ftreet, obliquely from Long-Acre, which, is more 
 convenient for carriages than it is at prefent. 
 
 45. From the opening at the north-eaft corner of Leicefter- 
 fields before-mentioned, a ftreet of fifty feet in breadth, making 
 an acute angle with Long-Acre, is carried through St. Martin’s-. 
 Court, crofting St. Martin’s-Lane into New-Street, which is kept 
 of the fame breadth to the end of King-Street. It may not be- 
 improper to obferve, that a carriage from. Coventry-Street before it 
 comes into Long- Acre, makes fix right angles, and from the fame 
 place into Covent-Garden, no lefs than, eight, which, exclufive of 
 the length of the way, is on account of the hazard and difficulty 
 in making fhort turnings very dangerous in the night *. 
 
 46. Hedge-Lane, Whitcombe-Street, Prince’s-Street, Old-Soho* 
 and Wardour-Street, are made fixty feet wide, and form one 
 noble ftreet from Cockfpur-Street to Oxford-Street, airedtly facing 
 a new-ftreet now building of the fame dimenfions leading to the 
 Middlefex-HofpitaL 
 
 47. An opening is made from the upper end of Great Suffolk- 
 Street, which is nearly on a line with Rupert-Street, which is con- 
 tinued by removing fome few houfes at the upper end, and open- 
 ing Walker’s-Court into Berwick- Street. 
 
 48. The narrow end of Compton-Street is widened, and the angle 
 taken off, to eafe the dangerous turning into Knave’s-Acre. 
 
 * A lefs expenfive fcheme might be put in practice on this fpot, but not fo con- 
 venient for the publick as the above. 
 
 49. The 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 8$ 
 
 49. The upper end of Jermain-Street is opened into the Hay- 
 Market, and Market-Street is carried crofs Piccadilly into Caftle-Street, 
 continued to Mary-le-Bon e-Street, and Norris- Street is widened. 
 
 50. The Royal Stables at the Meufe being inconveniently fitu- 
 ated, it is fuppofed a more fuitable fpot might be found for that 
 purpofe, and a fquare of elegant houfes is laid down in. the plan in 
 its place, which might, with great propriety, be called King’s- Square* 
 and a flatue of his Majefty be eredted in the center * a flreet of feventy 
 feet in width is opened oppofite to St. Martin’s-Church (which is the 
 width of the Portico) giving a noble view of the front, and on the 
 weft fide of the Square another ftreet of the fame dimenfions which 
 runs into Whitcomb-Street, and is continued a little obliquely into the, 
 Hay-Market, and dire&ly oppofite by removing the Bell-Inn, a fine 
 ftreet is carried into St. James’s-Square, the end of King-Street is 
 opened, and an uninterrupted communication is made from St. Mar- 
 tins* Church to St James’s-Street. Four ftreets are opened from the 
 angles of this fquare, one of thofe on the north fide communicates 
 with Leiceiher-Fields, and by removing the Stable- Yard belonging- 
 to Leicefter-Houfe is continued and comes in a line with Frith- 
 Street, which would leave fufficient width for two houfes between 
 that and Nal'au-Street and prevent both a nuifance and the melan- 
 choly appearance of a dead wall ; the other falls into Hemings’s- 
 Row, which is widened, the two ffreets on the fouth fide fall 
 one into Cockfpur- Street, oppofite to Spring-Garden, making an> 
 entire communication from thence to Soho-Square, and the other 
 points to Charing-Crofs oppofite to White-Half j it is apprehended 
 this fquare, if executed with the furrounding improvements, 
 would be of very great advantage to the publick as well as bene- 
 ficial to private property. 
 
 51. The Hay-Market is continued to St. James’s-Park,. where 
 a triumphal arch may be ere&ed as a termination to the view, and. 
 make a noble entrance. 
 
 5,2. The end of Pall-Mall next the Hay-Market is widened, and 
 from the propofed opening from the Hay-Market into the Park, 
 all that fide of Pall-Mall next the Park is thrown into one regular 
 grand range of buildings, with a central principal elevation, which' 
 fhould be made to anfwer the center of St. James’s-Square, and all, 
 
 2 the 
 
L OND 0 N AND 
 
 S'6 
 
 the houfes between Pall-Mall and the prefent entrances from thence 
 into the fquare are taken away, the center building would make a 
 magnificent palace for fome of the Royal Family, and the reft of 
 the buildings would be fuitable to perfons of the firft diftindlion, 
 and the whole together produce a fcene hardly to be parallelled. 
 
 53. Whenever it fit all be determined to eredt a Royal Palace, 
 if the preference of fituation Ihould be given to St. James’s inftead 
 of Hyde-Park, it is pretumed the defign laid down in the plan would 
 be at leaft as advantageous an one as can be contrived in that 
 place, though far inferior to that defigned for Hyde-Park, in this 
 cafe particular attention mu ft be given in order to obtain fpace, and 
 for that purpofe all the buildings in the line on both fides St. James’s- 
 Street to Old Bond-Street are taken down. This removal would give 
 opportunity for railing the ground twenty feet, at St. James’s next 
 the Park, which would form a noble and fpacious terrace, from 
 which his Majefty might occafionally review his troops in the Green- 
 Park, or at particular times be feen by his fubjedts without incon- 
 venience, the terrace raifed in this manner would bring the ground 
 on which the palace ftands nearly on a level with Piccadilly. Upon 
 this fpot the plan of a magnificent palace is given, fronting Eaft 
 and Weft, compofed of three quadrangles, the entrance to each of 
 which are oppofed to three great ftreets, the center to King-Street, 
 and the two others to Pall-Mall, and a new ftreet of the fame width 
 as Pall-Mall that runs into York-Street, by this difpofition every 
 pofhble and deferable advantage would arife. If this liruation 
 could be obtained, the Eaft front might be viewed from three very 
 confiderable avenues, and there can be nothing finer than the South 
 and Weft fronts, which are furrounded with verdure; this laft and 
 principal front has a fine view into the country, to preferve which no 
 Puddings fhould be fuffered to be erebied or to continue oppofite 
 to it, and inftead of the prefent wall in the Green-Park, iron rails 
 or a Ha-ha, fhould be fubftituted as propofed in Hyde-Park. A 
 line is drawn from St. James’s-Street to Hyde-Park-Corner, with- 
 out break or proje&ion, which would have a fine effedt, and the 
 fituation of the buildings on the other fide of Piccadilly would be 
 rendered extremely pleafant, and improve the view, efpecially if they 
 were .to be all regularly defigned and built with Hone or ftucco’d ; 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. I? 
 
 the Green-Park might be made a hanging level, and planted in a 
 proper manner ; in the great boundary line a fmall part of the Green- 
 Park is taken off in one place and added in another, as may be Teen 
 by the flrong dotted li-ne which marks the boundary of the Park *f\ 
 
 If the foregoing defign was to take place, Hyde-Park- Corner would 
 neceffarily require fome improvements to give it a correfponding 
 character with the whole, and therefore it would be proper to eredt 
 a grand triumphal arch between the two Parks which would be 
 a fine objebt from the palace, and mark with the greatefl propriety, 
 the principal entrance into this great and opulent city. Indeed lbme- 
 thing of this kind fhould be erebted at every principal entrance to 
 the city of London. 
 
 54. The Royal palace being fituated as above, it may be pre.- 
 fumed that the Queen’s-Palace would be rendered ufelefs, and 
 accordingly in the plan it is taken down, as are ail the adjacent 
 buildings that incumber the Park, which is propofed to be railed 
 entirely round, the Wildernefs is taken away, and the whole is 
 propofed to be railed ; divided and planted in the manner defcribed 
 in the plate. The railing of the ground will be of infinite fervice to 
 the Park, as it will prevent damps, the clearing away the Wilder- 
 nefs will give it chearfulnefs and add greatly to its appearance 5 and 
 if an Equeftrian ftatue or group of figures was ere&ed in the center 
 of the Parade it would have a fine effect, a fpacious ffreet is carried 
 round the Park which would be of infinite fervice to the publick, 
 and the Park would be thereby rendered a more confiderable objedt 
 than it is at prefent. This delightful fpot being, fo extremely ufeful 
 and pleafant, every part of it fhould be kept facred, for which reafon 
 it is rather enlarged in the plan, nor fhould encroachments ever be 
 differed to be made upon it on any account ; if the propofal for 
 the alteration of Pall-Mall was to take place, the rails fhould be 
 continued in a ftrait line to Spring-Garden, which would confe- 
 quently take a flip off from the garden belonging to Carlton-Houfe, 
 which might be well fpared, as it is at prefent of no real ufe. It is greatly 
 
 + In this pofition of a palace it would not in the leaf! interrupt St. James’s-Park, 
 and the Green-Park would give fufficient garden-room (without being overlook’d) 
 which St. James’s very much wants.- 
 
 tO; 
 
m LONDON AND 
 
 to be lamented that the Royal indulgence is fo much abufed as it is* 
 with refped to the Park, it feems at prefent to be in a fair way of 
 becoming entirely deprived of its verdure by the unaccountable li- 
 berties which the common people take of trampling upon every 
 part which their caprice and infolence fuggeds. This, together with 
 the ufual pra&ice of training recruits in feveral parts of it, will if not 
 timely flopped prove the utter ruin of the mod: delightful fpot about 
 the metropolis. To this may be added, the fhameful negledt of the 
 Park in general, of which not the lead care feems to be taken 
 in any one part of the publick walks, but every thing is going to 
 ruin as fad as poflible. The abufe of the Park is not a hide aggra- 
 vated by the great number of private doors which are buffered, and 
 are at once a reproach and a difgrace to it. When the Old Mall 
 was altered and gave place to the prefent form, all didin&ion 
 between the publick walks was deflroyed, for this reafon the people of 
 Quality, who had hitherto uninterruptedly podeffed that place while 
 it was kept in order, defected the Park in difguft, and the mid- 
 dling people, who could not hope to have refpeft enough fhewn 
 them by the inferior fort, were compelled to retreat to the Green- 
 Park, which by this practice is alfo in imminent danger of being 
 deprived of every fin gle blade of grafs, becaule no limitation is fet 
 to the inclinations of thole who ufually walk there. The JVfall in 
 a fummer’s evening was formerly one of the bigheft entertainments 
 that can well be conceived, it was here that the people at a refpec- 
 table diftance could behold to advantage fome of the greateft 
 perfonages and molt beautiful objects in the kingdom, and the order 
 and decorum in which it was kept at that time, was fufhcient to 
 deter the meaner part of the people from intruding into a place 
 which feemed by no means fuited to pcrfons or their appeal ance. 
 For this reafon it is to be wifhed that the old form was reinftated, 
 with the addition of a done kirb in preference to the wooden one 
 formerly ufed, and that it might be once more laid with cockle-fhells . 
 •in dead of the miferable coarfe gravel with which it is fo defpicably 
 covered at this time. If this was done, the Park might probably 
 recover its confequence, and again become the theatre where beauty 
 and nobility might be rendered confpicuous and familiarized to the 
 
 publick, 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. t 9 
 
 publick, who at this time are in general acquainted only with mere 
 'names and titles. 
 
 55. A fpacious opening is made at Spring-Gardens from the 
 Park, and continued to Charing-Crofs, oppofite to the Strand. 
 
 56. A ftrait line from Northumberland-Houfe is drawn to White- 
 Hall, and two confiderable ftreets are formed which run down to the 
 Thames, one of them dire&ly fronts the Admiralty, which, fuppofing 
 it to have been a good building, would have had a fine efFedt 
 from the River. There is no doubt but the execution of theie ftreets 
 would be both ufeful and elegant, as well as profitable, the fituation 
 is a very defirable one, but Scotland- Yard as it now Hands is no- 
 thing more than a fcene of defolation and deformity. 
 
 57. A center-piece and a fimilar building to the Banqueting- 
 Houfe is added, the entrance to which falls diredtly oppofite to the 
 PJorfe-Guards, the inner court forms a fquare of three fides next 
 the Thames, two of which are compofed of colonades, and the 
 fourth fide is open to the Thames. The center and additional build- 
 ing might with the greateft propriety be appropriated for the ufe 
 of feveral offices appertaining to the government ; the whole 
 would have a very noble effedt, and be a means of introducing 
 a publick ornament truly elegant and ufeful. 
 
 58. Privy-Garden is formed into a fquare, and on the north 
 and fouth fides openings are made to the Thames, which Jaft is 
 continued to the Park. The prefen t form of this advantageous fpot is 
 by no means equal to its fituation, and exhibits at bell; but an indi- 
 gefied heap of whims and abfurdity. 
 
 59. The fhadowed part between the ends of Parliament- 
 Street and King-Street next to White-Hall, is defigned as one 
 of two places propofed to be converted into a town-hall, or inferior 
 court of jufiice for the city and immenfe liberties of Wefiminfter, 
 a convenience which is extremely wanted and which will make 
 a fine termination. The mean obfcure fpot in King- Street, where 
 the courts are at prefent held, is an infuperable objection to the 
 attendance of many of the gentlemen who are in the commif- 
 fion of the peace for the city of Wefiminfter, by which means 
 every tranfadtion of that court falls into the hands of certain dealers 
 
 N ufually 
 
9 ° 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 ufually diftinguifhed by the appellation cf trading juftices, who will 
 give their attendance in a place where others, who love decency and 
 decorum, cannot prevail upon themlelves to be feen ; and the refult 
 of this inconvenience is, that juftice is no doubt ufually admini- 
 ftered as it may. Certainly a refpedtable building, conveniently fituated 
 for the adminiftration of publick juftice, ought to be erected, and 
 it is to be lamented fo great and opulent a city as Weftminfter 
 is not under better regulation, and governed in the fame manner as 
 its filler city, whofe laws and privileges are falutary and extenfive, 
 and render it an objeft of refpeft and dignity; why the city of 
 Weftminfter fhould fo long have retained only the name without 
 the privileges of a city, when it is nearly as large as that of 
 London, and confequently requires to be as well governed, is a 
 queftion that deferves to be anfwered, but muft be left to thofe 
 who are more immediately concerned in an affair of fo much 
 moment. 
 
 60. King-Street in its prefent form is entirely deftroyed, and a 
 new ftreet opened to the north door of the Abbey, one fide of 
 which is in a line with the fquare propofed to front the Abbey ; 
 the propofed improvement of a fquare oppofite to the Cathedral 
 will not only have a fine effedt in point of view, but will alfo 
 be the means of removing that intolerable nuifance of a green- 
 market, which according to the unaccountable tafteleffnefs of 
 modern undertakers, is almoft thruft: under the very walls of 
 the church, when it was impoftible to turn round without obferv- 
 ing a number of fituations much better adapted for that purpofe. 
 It is hardly poflible to imagine that fo fine a building as the Abbey 
 was originally intended to be crouded up with little paultry hovels. 
 Dr. Wilcox, the late Bifhop of Rochefter, who was a gentleman 
 of tafte and judgment, fwept away all thofe houfes which flood 
 clofe to the church, between the north door and weft end of it, 
 and had he lived, in all probability, would have demolifhed the 
 remainder, as they damage the building as well as hide it ; it is 
 pity his original intention is not now put in execution, but above all 
 things that difmal horrid goal the gate-houfe ought to be pulled 
 down, and accordingly in the plan it is thrown open, and Tothill 
 
 Street 
 
9 * 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 Street widened, which gives a fine view of that part of the Abbey 
 hitherto blocked up, and upon the repairs of which fo much money 
 appears to have been thrown away, becaufe it never could be feen 
 properly, and confequently a much lefs expence would have anfwered 
 the purpofe. 
 
 61. Charles-Street is continued crofs King-Street and Parliament- 
 Street to the Thames. 
 
 62. A new ftreet is made between King-Street and Duke-Street. 
 
 63. Duke-Street is continued into the Park at one end, and at 
 the other into a new fquare, formed in St. Margaret’s Church- 
 yard, and from thence to Dean’s-Square, the Church is difencum- 
 bered, and Dean’s-Square is made larger than it is at prefent propofed 
 to be ; Smith-Street is made to open in the center oppofite to the 
 continuation of Duke-Street, and another Street at the weft end 
 of this fquare runs from the Park to the Thames ; the reafon for 
 enlarging this fquare and making the laft mentioned ftreet is, that 
 the communication will be greatly improved, and the ground to be 
 made ufe of on this occafion now lies in ruins. 
 
 64. The part fhadowedon the plan oppofite to St. Margaret’s- Church 
 between the end of King-Street and New-Palace-Yard, is intended 
 to point out another fituation for a Court-Houfe or Guild-Hall for 
 the city of Weftminfter, which perhaps is a better fituation than 
 that at N° 59. as it is much larger, and has the further advantage 
 of being infulated. 
 
 65. The Houfe of Lords and Commons, Weftminfter-Hall, 
 and all the furrounding buildings are entirely taken away, and a 
 new grand defign, occupying in the whole, exadlly the fame 
 ground, is propofed ; this pile of building {lands in one noble 
 area, the ground to be raifed about twelve feet, on account of 
 the rifing of the tides, and a large ftreet is opened running 
 fouth to the Thames, and another at right-angles, crofting Dean’s- 
 Square to the chapel in the Broadway. The general received opi- 
 nion, that Weftminfter-Hall is a fine ancient Gothic building, will 
 no doubt be objected in oppofition to this defign ; it is true, that 
 Weftminfter-Hall is a large ancient Gothic building, but that is all 
 that ought to be faid of it, neither elegance or beauty is to be found 
 
 N 2 in 
 
$2 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 in it 5 and if the feveral courts of judicature were held in fo many 
 ieparate rooms in Palace-Yard, provided they were only roofed to 
 keep out the rain, they would in winter, perhaps, be equally warm 
 and convenient 3 if the ideas of gloominefs and horror are confidered 
 as neceffary to grandeur and elegance, then indeed Weftminfter- 
 Hall is grand and elegant. It is commonly urged that the roof 
 is remarkably fine, and it is at the fame time faid to be the 
 larged: in England, perhaps in Europe, that is fupported only by 
 walls, but this is nothing more than a vulgar obfervation, when the 
 prodigious high pitch of the roof, the thicknefs of the wails, and the 
 advantage of the trufs is confidered, this wonder ceafes j and there 
 are many barns in England which fupport larger roofs, in proportion 
 to the flrength of their fides, than this boafled Gothick edifice, 
 which is fo much admired and applauded on this account. In the 
 plan the terrace of the front next the River is fwelled in order 
 to give room, and at the fame time will have a fine effed both 
 from the Thames and the bridge, and preferve a character and 
 decorum fuitable to a building in which the laws of this great 
 Kingdom are formed and executed. 
 
 66. The College-Garden might very eafily be improved and 
 made more chearful, by throwing it into a regular fquare, and 
 taking down the dead wall and ereding a dwarf one with iron 
 rails i St. John’s Church is opened to the Thames, and indeed if 
 the whole of that wretched part of Weflminfler was improved and 
 difpofed in the manner pointed out in the plan, it would be better 
 for the publick, more advantageous to the proprietors, and convenient 
 to the inhabitants in general. 
 
 67. Having proceeded to the extremity of Weftmifter, it becomes 
 neceffary to return back to that end of the Strand which is next to St. 
 Martin’s-Lane and oppofite to Northumberland-Houfe, the projedion 
 made in that part is in the plan taken off, and Cockfpur- Street in 
 feme places is made ffrait. 
 
 68. The lower part of St. Martin’s-Lane is widened, efpecially 
 that fronting the Church, in order to give room for coaches to turn, 
 and the buildings which are about the church are detached, form- 
 ing a regular paved fquare, from which carriages are excluded 5 fome 
 
 of 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 93 
 
 of the houfes are alfo thrown back in a line with the body of the 
 church, by which means the portico will project and have a fine 
 effed: from Northumberland-Houfe 5 at prefent the expence be- 
 llowed on the -exterior part of that church anfwers very little pur- 
 pofe, there being no one point from whence it can poffibly be feen to 
 advantage, which is greatly to be lamented, as this is undoubtedly 
 one of the mod: magnificent in London*. To finifh the improvement 
 in this quarter Little St. Martin’s-Lane is likewife widened, and 
 continued in a right line to St. Andrew’s-Street at the Seven-Dials. 
 
 69. Caftle- Street, Leicefter-Fields, and Porter-Street are widened, 
 and continued into Litchfield-Street, by which means the dangerous 
 turning at the corner of Bear-Street is taken away. 
 
 70. Hog-Lane is widened and continued in a right line to Ox- 
 ford-Road, the corner of Tottenham-Court-Road is taken off 
 for the convenience of carriages, and if the lines of Tottenham- 
 Court-Road were continued as in the plan, it would give a fine 
 view of St. Giles’s-Church, the flrong dotted lines continued from 
 Oxford-Road to High-Holborn fhew what a prodigious improve- 
 ment might be made by joining thofe two ftreets in that manner, 
 inftead of the aukward curve made at Broad St. Giles’s, which an- 
 fwers no end but that of obliging paffengers of all kinds to go 
 out of their way; and this would make one of the nobleft ftreets 
 in Europe if well built. 
 
 7 1. A ftreet is formed out of the ruins behind Monmouth-Street 
 from the end of Compton-Street, into Broad St. Giles’s. 
 
 72. Queen’s-Street at the Seven-Dials, and Short’s-Gardens are 
 widened and carried to a new ftreet propofed, at right angles from 
 Hide-Street into Great-Queen’s-Street fronting the chapel, and 
 another ftreet is propofed to run from Litchfield-Street Soho, into 
 Little Queen’s-Street ; all which improvements, if properly attended 
 to, muft occafion a prodigious alteration in the value of property 
 in thefe parts. It is faid that an eftate which formerly brought in 
 
 * Can any thing be more indecent, abfurd and taftelefs, than the placing a paltry 
 brick watch-houfe dire&!y in front of the New-Church in the Strand ? Where is 
 the ufe of beftowing expence on the outfide of buildings, if thefe nuifances are 
 fuffered to be erected"? This, in particular, not only hides the ftrudure, but fpoils 
 the ftreet. 
 
 four 
 
94 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 four thoufand pounds^,** Annum , does not at this time produce four 
 hundred. The fituation of this part of the town is unexceptionable, 
 but the difpolition is extremely bad, and is the true reafon that the 
 buildings are either wholly delerted or wretchedly inhabited. 
 
 73. James-Street in the Hay-Market, Blue-Crofs- Street, Orange- 
 Street, Hemmings’s-Row, Chandois-Street and Maiden-Lane, are 
 widened, in order to render the way more commodious from the 
 Hay-Market to Southampton- Street, and from the bottom of Chan- 
 dois-Street a convenient outlet is made into the Strand. Thefe im- 
 provements will make a very convenient communication to the 
 theatres and other parts. 
 
 74. An opening is made from Southampton-Street into Den- 
 mark-Court, which communicates with Exeter-Street, and makes a 
 convenient paflage from thence into Bridges-Street. 
 
 75. A fpacious ftreet is carried down to Hungerford-Stairs from 
 the fouth-eaft angle of St. Martin’s-Church, in which cafe the 
 church will be feen from the Thames, and by this means the 
 ground occupied by the market, which is of little or no ufe, will 
 be much more profitably employed, as it is extremely well fituated, 
 and houfes never fail of letting well in any of the flreets leading 
 to the river. 
 
 76. Bedford-Street is continued at one end through Half-Moon- 
 Street and Durham- Yard to the Thames, and at the other end 
 into Long-Acre, from whence it opens in two directions, one to 
 the Seven-Dials, the other to Tower-Street, &c. 
 
 77. Durham-Yard is divided into flreets leading to the Thames, 
 which will anfwer the ends of the proprietors better than if it was 
 formed into a fquare, as lefs room will be loft. York-Buildings might 
 be alfo greatly improved, as will appear by infpedting the plan and 
 comparing the prefent defign with the old one. But fuppofing the 
 market which is at prefent kept in Covent-Garden was to be re- 
 moved, it could be carried no where with more propriety than to 
 Durham-Yard, the fituation of which is moft conveniently adapted 
 for the purpofe of fuch a market j this alteration would prove a 
 double advantage, that ruinous place would be made both uleful 
 ppd profitable, Covent-Garden would be rendered one of the moft 
 
 elegant; 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 95 
 
 elegant fquares in Europe, and on account of this improvement, and 
 its advantageous fituation, would, by the increafe of the value of 
 property, amply recompence the lofs occafioned by the removal of 
 the market. If this very defirable alteration was to be made it would 
 become neceffary to rebuild the Piazzas, which are in a ruinous* 
 condition, this fhould by all means be done with a ftridt adherence 
 to the pr^fent plan, than which nothing can be more noble and 
 convenient, and if at the fame time the houfes on the fouth fide 
 were taken down and rebuilt with Piazzas, and the buildings on 
 each fide of the church built in chara&er with the reft, and the 
 roof of that elegant ftrudture covered with Hates inftead of thofe 
 wretched mean looking tiles, the whole together would form one 
 of the nobleft and pidturefque feenes in the Univerfe. 
 
 78. A ftreet about thirty feet wide is carried from Henrietta- 
 Street, oppofite the paffage into the Church-Yard, to the Thames, 
 and another from King-Street into Long-Acre, oppofite Mercer- 
 Street, which will be of much greater advantage than the mean in- 
 convenient courts which are at prefent built on that fpot. 
 
 79. The upper end of James-Street, Covent-Garden, is widened, 
 and made equal to the lower, and Crofs-Lane and King-Street 
 are continued of the fame width to Broad St. Giles’s. 
 
 80. Southampton- Street is widened at the end next the Strand, 
 and continued to the Thames. 
 
 81. Henrietta-Street is continued in a (trait line through May’s- 
 Buildings and Bedford-Bury, into St. Martin’s-Lane. 
 
 82. A fireet is formed from the fouth-eaft corner of Leicefter- 
 Fields and continued acrofs Caftle-Street and St Martin’s-Lane 
 to Bedfordbury, which is widened, and making an angle through 
 Chandois-Street comes oppofite to Buckingham-Street in the Strand, 
 
 83. A new-bridge is defigned from the Savoy acrofs the 
 river Thames, which is nearly the center between thofe of Black- 
 Fryers and Weftminfter, a bridge in this place would be extremely 
 ufeful for the more eafy communication of the two Tides of the 
 rivet*; accordingly, upon this fuppofition, three diredt lines have been 
 formed on the Surry fide from this bridge, viz. one to Black-Fryers- 
 Bridge, another to Newington-Church, and a third to Weftminfter- 
 
 Bridge, 
 

 
 96 LONDON AlD 
 
 Bridge. Quays are alfo formed from bridge to bridge on both fldes 
 the Thames, and by this means the communication of the banks of 
 the river is kept open, fo that carriages and foot-paffengers may 
 proceed on their bufinefs fafely without interruption ; the breadth 
 from the bread: of the quay to the houfes is not lefs than one hun- 
 dred feet 5 but if one hundred and twenty feet was allowed it 
 would be better, and this fpace fhould be divided bv pods and 
 chains, fixty feet fhould be allowed for carriages and foot-paffen- 
 gers, and the other fixty for landing of goods, &c. The houfes 
 fhould be elegantly built, with large court-yards and ware-houfes 
 behind them, they diould alfo be kept in a line, and not differed 
 to project one before the other, for this reafon there are no docks 
 in the plan, but the bread of the quay runs as regularly as the 
 current of the river will permit. The quays, wharfs and dreets, 
 ought to be under the infpeCfion of proper perfons, who fhould 
 keep them in repair, and take every poffible method to prevent 
 rubbidi and filth from being thrown into the river, the fh ores of 
 which ought, if practicable, to be covered with water. By this 
 means the banks of the river will be rendered of fervice to the 
 publick, great part of which is now ufelefs and in ruins ; certainly 
 no part of London is better adapted by nature for bufinefs, nor is 
 any part of the town more negleCted, .efpecially on the Surry fidej 
 or, confidering the advantage that might be made of it, in a more 
 wretched condition. 
 
 84. A femi-circular opening is made at the entrance of the bridge 
 above-mentioned, from which three dreets are made, the fird in a 
 direCt line to the Strand, oppofite Exeter-Exchange, which is re- 
 moved, and a dreet opened from thence to Charles-Street, this and 
 Bow-Street are widened, and at the top branch into two dreets, 
 one of which comes into Long-Acre, oppofite Hanover-Street, 
 which is widened from thence to Broad St. Giles’s, and the other 
 into Drury-Lane to the end of Great Queen- Street. One of the 
 oblique dreets opened from the bridge runs to Catherine-Street, 
 and the other to Southampton-Street. It has been propofed to 
 form the Savoy, which lies in ruins, into fquaresj but if this fcheme 
 of a new bridge was put into execution, the proprietors would not 
 3 * find 
 
97 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED, 
 
 find their account in fo doing, as the laying it into ftreets would be 
 more advantageous. Indeed, if no bridge is built from the Savoy, 
 then a fquare or fquares Gf three fides, the fourth to be open next 
 the water, would be extremely proper, and produce a fine effect 
 In this cafe, as the fituation of the Savoy is low, which would 
 be inconvenient, and rather damp for dwelling-houfes, a bafe- 
 ment-ftory might be erefted, which fhould be vaulted, and might 
 be formed into very extenfive ware-houfes, which being made to 
 projed: confiderably before the dwelling-houfes, would form a fine ter- 
 race round the fquare, upon which the buildings for dwelling fliould 
 be ereded ; thefe ware-houfes might be accommodated with a piazza, 
 which would be extremely convenient for the feverai purpofes of 
 thofe who rented them, as their fervants might work fecurely under 
 them in all weathers ; this might be elegantly, as well as ufefully, 
 adorned with flights of fteps, and a baluftrade round the whole, 
 and a grand entrance for carriages, made from the Strand through 
 a large arch in the center of the fquare, and alfo a convenient and 
 elegant landing place (or places) from the river; the fituation 
 being nearly in the center of the two cities, and commanding 
 one of the nobleft views upon the river, would be extremely 
 convenient for bufinefs, which might be here carried on without 
 interruption to the dwelling-houfes, and would not only be very 
 ufeful, but perhaps the only thing of its kind in Europe. Several 
 other places between the Strand and the Thames, might be ad- 
 vantageoufly laid out in the fame manner, and as variety would 
 add greatly to the beauty of the appearance of fuch obje&s from 
 the river, the plans might be alternately changed into fegments of 
 circles. 
 
 85. The Strand is widened from Southampton-Street to Exeter- 
 Exchange, the meafure at the corner of Burleigh-Street being only 
 thirty feet fix inches. 
 
 86. Anew ftreet is formed from Catherine-Street to Drury-Lane, 
 cppofite Exeter-Street, 
 
 87. A ftreet of the fame width with York-Street is made from 
 Bridges-Street into Drury-Lane, and continued through White-Horfe 
 Yard to Vere-Street. Little Bridges-Street is carried on in a ftrait 
 line, and Drury-Lane Theatre is detached in fuch a manner as to 
 
 O render 
 
9 8 LONDONAND 
 
 render the paflages commodious, and prevent confufion in going irr 
 or coming out. 
 
 88. Rufiel- Street is continued into Drury-Lane of an equal 
 breadth, Princes-Street and Duke-Street are continued alfo of the 
 fame width to Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields, and Great Wild-Street, Stan- 
 hope-Street, and Vere-Street, are like wife widened. 
 
 89. The narrow parts of Drury-Lane are widened, efpecially 
 that next the New-Church, which at prefent meafures only fifteen 
 feet, this and the feveral improvements before propofed, will be- 
 come ufeful to the publick, as they all tend towards rendering the. 
 avenues to both the Theatres fafe and commodious.. 
 
 90. A line is formed from Arundel-Street to Temple-Bar, which; 
 falls back from the fmall arch of that gate eight feet, if this defign 
 was put in execution, the ftreet would be fufficiently widened for 
 Carriages and foot-paffengers, and be thereby rendered extremely 
 commodious; an improvement which every one is fenfible is much 
 wanted. As this is the great thorough-fare between the two cities, 
 the houfes, which at prefent lie behind thofe in the Strand', will be 
 hereby rendered of more value, and the fhops in that part of the. 
 Strand become of much more confequence than they are at pre- 
 fent ; the extreme narrownefs and inconvenience of the way being* 
 an infuperable hindrance to bufinefs in that part. This fituation, if 
 regulated in the manner propofed, would become perhaps of as 
 much confequence as any in London, and therefore no apology 
 need be made for propofing fuch an alteration, but can never be- 
 come fo, unlefs a fpirit of improvement among the owners of the 
 ground in that neighbourhood fhould prevail. 
 
 91. Holywell-Street is widened in fuch a manner as to give 
 convenient room for carriages and foot-paflengers to pafs and re— 
 pafs, and that and the narrow ftreet by the fide of the New- 
 Church are laid on a line, and meafure forty feet in breadth ; the 
 fpace at the eaft-end is alfo enlarged, fo as to admit of carriages. 
 <*oing quite round the church. 
 
 ^ 92. Wych-Street is widened and made to come in a ftraitline 
 to Temple-Bar, in the fame manner as that on the other fide of 
 the way, that is eight feet back from the fmall archway, the houfes 
 
 are 
 
99 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 are taken away that incumber St. Clement’s-Church, which is de- 
 fcribed by dotted lines, and if the whole of the houfes are not taken 
 away from the church to the Bar, there ought to be fo many re- 
 moved at the eafl-end as will give room to the church, and it is of 
 very great confequence to the publick, to keep this vaft thorough- 
 fare free from incumbrances. 
 
 93. Haughton-Street is continued into Drury-Lane. 
 
 94. Carey-Street is continued into Vere-Street, and widened at 
 that end next to Chancery-Lane. 
 
 95. Portugal-Street is continued in a flrait line, till it meets that 
 flreet which comes from the angle of Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields, which 
 is widened and carried down into York-Street, Covent-Garden. 
 This will be a very ufeful communication from that part of Lin- 
 coln’s-Inn-Fields, and it would have been better for the fquare if 
 the opening had been made from Duke-Street into the angle, in- 
 flead of making it at the arch. 
 
 96. Searle- Street is widened and continued quite down to the 
 Thames, and the oppofite angle is opened into Holborn. This will 
 make one of the mod convenient communications in the whole 
 town, nor is there any thing of confequence to prevent its being 
 put in execution, the fituation being a very fine one; the under- 
 takers would find themfelves extremely well rewarded, as the rents 
 would be vaflly improved by making this avenue to Lincoln’s-Inn- 
 Fields, which has. not one good or proper entrance into it : Indeed 
 mofl of the fquares are very deficient in this refpedt, it would be 
 no inconfiderable advantage to Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields, if, inflead of 
 the terrace-wall, there was only a dwarf one with iron-rails, in 
 which cafe the gardens would make an elegant boundary on that 
 fide of the fquare, which would then be the mofl pleafant, as 
 well as the moft fpacious fquare in Europe. 
 
 97. Chancery-lane, at the end next Holborn, is widened, and 
 Fullwood’s-Rent oppofite to it is alfo widened, and if a dwarf-wall, 
 with iron-rails, was made, inflead of the garden-wall in Chancery- 
 Lane, it would have a very good effedt, indeed, both this and 
 Cray’s-Inn-Gardens might be then viewed from the fame Ration. 
 
 O 2 98. If 
 
100 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 98. If the utility of another bridge at the Savoy is allowed, and 
 fhould ever be put in execution, it is apprehended, that the com- 
 munications propofed in the plan, at the feveral bridges, would be 
 found to be very convenient, and at Weflminfter in particular, 
 where a more aukward difpofition can hardly be imagined, as evi- 
 dently appears by the dotted lines which reprefent the communi- 
 cations as they ftand at this time * why they were originally formed 
 in this manner is hard to fay, but certainly had they been difpofed 
 in the manner now offered, they would have been more elegant as 
 well as more convenient. It appears from the plan, that a direct 
 line is made from the Bridge to Newington-Church, another to 
 St. George’s-Church, and a third to London-Bridge, all which 
 might have been originally made by the Commiffioners of Weft- 
 minfter-Bridge, and fince the building Black-Fryers Bridge has 
 given an opportunity, another communication is given to that.. 
 Whenever an occafion offers, every advantage fhould be taken, 
 and every approach to a publick ftru&ure, like the bridge at Weft- 
 minder, ought to be made as regular as pofliblej however, upon 
 an after-thought, the difpofition of the area at the foot of Weft, 
 minfter Bridge as defcribed by the dotted lines, which cut off the 
 angular projections, is preferred, as thereby the grand communi- 
 cation from the propofed New-Bridge to Vauxhali is made more 
 regular and convenient. This avenue is defigned as a communi- 
 cation for fuch perfons as may not chufe to pafs by the wharfs 
 which are defcribed upon the banks of the river. 
 
 PLATE 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED, 
 
 IQ I 
 
 PLATE the SECOND. 
 
 Contains on a larger fcale the improved parts about Leicester- 
 Fields, Coven t-G arden, the Meuse, &c, in which the 
 meafures of the principal flreets are figured.. 
 
 PLATE the THIRD. 
 
 Contains improvements in the City of L o n d o n about the 
 Mansion-House, Royal-Exchange, Moor-Fields, &c. 
 
 i. A large area or fquare is formed in the front of the Manfion- 
 Houfe, which may be compofed of houfes as elegantly built as the 
 interfe&ion of fo many flreets will permit, from one angle of 
 which a large commodious ftreet feventy feet wide may be con- 
 tinued to Moorgate, and from thence to the city road. It muft be 
 confeffed there is very little hope that this or any one of the im- 
 provements propofed in or about the city will ever be put in execu- 
 tion, however beneficial or convenient they may appear to be, fince 
 a propofal of a fimilar Kind was Dy the ignorance and fclfifhnefs, to 
 call it no worfe, of fome individuals, entirely defeated, though it was 
 manifefHy calculated to do effential fervice to the city. It has 
 been the fafhion ever fince the Manfion-Houfe was erefted to con- 
 demn and abufe it as a miferable performance, but it by no means 
 deferves fuch treatment; the truth is, that the architect has given the 
 city an elegant defign in the flile of that great mailer Palladio, 
 and it is as true that the miferable circumfcribed area upon which, 
 he was obliged to build it, is the caufe why it makes no better 
 an appearance, and the neceffity impofed upon him of putting an 
 Egyptian-Hall in an Englifh houfe is the reafon why thole heavy 
 loads of flone appear upon the roof, which co-operating with the 
 bole it Hands in, feem to have prefTed the whole building into 
 £he earth. When this edifice was ere&ed, the oppofite houfes in 
 Walbrook poured the fmoke of their chimneys into the Lord 
 ^ Mayor’s. 
 
102 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 Mayor’s apartments, and the citizens had not fpirit enough, until 
 a long time afterwards, to remove this intolerable nuifance. The 
 truth is, if when they had determined to eredt a Manfion-Houfe 
 they had refolved to do it fuitably to the importance of fo 
 great a city, they fhould have purchafed and taken down all that 
 range of houfes between Bucklers-Bury and the Poultry, and built 
 the front of the Manfion-Houfe dire&ly facing Cheapfide, and at 
 the fame time have raifed the ground on which it now ftands; 
 this would have given it a fine elevation, and in that cafe the front 
 might have been brought forward in a line with the fteeple of 
 Wal brook- Church, which would have given the building a fufficient 
 depth if it had been wanted j thofe incumbrances on the top 
 would have been omitted, and the very building which has 
 been fo unjuftly cenfured, would have appeared extremely noble and 
 magnificent, as the front by being extended would have given a 
 more elegant proportion to the portico, add to all this that by raifing 
 the ground, the water would have been effectually prevented from 
 running into the houfe, which it has always done whenever a ftoppage 
 was produced by a fevere froft or fudden fhower. 
 
 2. Two fine fquares are formed in Moorfields, by means of a 
 double row of good houfes marked A. which divides the upper 
 from the lower fquare, taking off from, the Artillery Ground as much 
 as would make a fmgle row of houfes marked B. to compleat the 
 weft fide of the upper fquare. This, befides the addition of regula- 
 rity, would render it fafe and convenient, and if new ftreets were 
 built as laid down in the plan, inftead of the wretched narrow ones 
 now in being, it would certainly raife the value of property, not 
 only to the city, but to a great number of individuals, by improv- 
 ing this part of the town fo convenient for its neighbourhood to 
 the Royal-Exchange and the publick offices. A new ftreet is laid 
 down oppofite to Chifweil-Street into White-Chapel, which would 
 make a fine ufeful communication between that and Shoreditch- 
 Road. 
 
 3. A convenient ftreet is opened from Moorfields to Throg- 
 morton-Street through Auftin-Fryars. A vaft number of alleys are 
 deftroyed, and a fquare of handfome houfes in their ftead are made 
 
 to 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVE Et 
 
 to furround Draper’s-Gardens, ftreets of communication are made 
 from hence into Broad-Street and Coleman- Street, the new dreet 
 fronting the Manfion-Houfe, two to Throgmorton-Street, and one 
 to Audin-Fryars. If Bethlehem Hofpital, which is a mod deted- 
 able nuifance to the neighbourhood, was removed to fome more 
 convenient place out of the town, one of the nobled fquares ima- 
 ginable might be built. The place on- which the hofpital. (lands- 
 is accordingly formed into a double range of buildings *, one of 
 which fronts Moorfields, and the other a range of houfes to be 
 erected in the room of thofe defpicable ones which now front 
 London Wall. By this means a part of the city which is at pre- 
 fent not only ufelefs in a great degree but inconvenient and dam- 
 gerous, is at once made elegant and commodious, and if the pro- 
 pofed alteration of Draper’s-Gardens, &c. fhould ever take place, 
 a grand line of communication will be made from the bank 
 ahd fquare through the center of Moorfields, interfeding a 
 number of other ftreets and continued into Old Street - Road 
 at Hoxton^ Thefe alterations will be the means of dedroying a 
 vad number of courts and alleys, and make the proprietors of 
 thofe places ample amends by rendering their eflates of prodigious 
 value, which at prefent are worth little or nothing; if the citizens 
 of London were inclined to remove Bethlehem-Hofpital, they have 
 undoubtedly the fined opportunity imaginable of making the mod 
 noble and magnificent fquare in the Univerfe. This might be done 
 by intirely taking down all thofe mean buildings which are called 
 Brokers- Row, and laying the whole fquare entirely open upon a 
 line with Old Bethlehem. It is eafy to conceive what a noble 
 ufe might be made of this defign, it would at once become an 
 elegant and convenient fituation for the wealthier citizens, and 
 at the fame time be rendered one of the mod entertaining and 
 pleafant places in-the kingdom. In the middof this vad area a bafon 
 might be made capable of holding a prodigious quantity of water 
 which would ferve as a refervoir in caie of fire, which fo frequently 
 does immenfe damage in this metropolis for want of fuch a i’upply, 
 
 * There is fufficient room here for fpacious openings behind the houfes, which is 
 of very great confequence, not only in cafe of fire, but in refpe£i to air and light. 
 
 and; 
 
and the earth thrown out of the bafon would be made ufeful in 
 railing the ground. 
 
 4. Coleman-Street is continued into Chifwell-Street facjng the 
 Artillery-Ground, and the ftreet at London-Wall is made wider, 
 and the new fireets on each fide iVIoorfields are made regular 
 and correfponding, as appears by the plan. 
 
 5. Lothbury and Throgmorton-Street are widened. 
 
 6. Caftle- Alley and Swithin’s- Alley are widened in fuch a man- 
 ner that carriages may pafs freely round the Royal-Exchange*, and 
 the former is made to ferve as an avenue to the Bank, the trifling 
 fhops which furround the columns of the Exchange, and intirely 
 fpoil the whole building, fhould be taken away, and the eaft and 
 weft Tides finifhed to fuit with the front. Exchange-Alley is laid 
 out in a regular manner, and made much more convenient than 
 it is at prefent. 
 
 7. The Bank of England is formed into a regular fquare, with 
 four entrances, by this means the buildings are enlightened and 
 detached fo as to prevent any accident which might happen from 
 fire in the neighbourhood. The narrow end of Threadneedle- Street 
 is widened, which is now only fourteen feet nine inches. The 
 front building of the Bank, and all the buildings from thence to 
 Bartholomew-Lane, are taken down, and one grand front is formed, 
 the center of which comes diredtly oppofite the opening propofed 
 in Caftle-Alley j but the above defign is entirely defeated by the 
 method purluing at this time oppofite the Bank, which by univerfal 
 content is allowed to be a piece or deformity. The Bank only wanted 
 one convenient fpacicus opening into Cornhill, for the purpofe of giv- 
 ing room for carriages to pafs and repafs to and from their publick 
 office, and confequently there was nooccafton for that pitiful blind alley 
 which is now made between their buildings and the Exchange 5 had 
 fhe opening been made as in the plan, the oblique line the Bank 
 makes with the Exchange would hardly have been perceived, but as 
 the affair is now managed, the Exchange is fpoiled, theBank is fpoiled, 
 and Cornhill is fpoiled j the truth is, that if the fpirit of building, which 
 
 . * ^ was nct Ior ipoiljng corner houfes, it would be moft .convenient for car- 
 riages if the angles were taken off, efpecially where the fireets are very narrow. 
 
 fee ms 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 feems to have pofi'efted the directors of the Bank, had been rightly 
 directed, they fhould have done more, they ought to have purchafed 
 the whole pile of buildings between them and CornhiU, from the 
 Maniion-Houfe to the Exchange, and have pulled them down and 
 left the whole fpace open. This would have been a deferable and a 
 noble work, and poftibly in time the General Poll-Office would 
 have been removed to a more convenient building, which might 
 have been ere&ed oppofite to and correfpondent with the Bank, 
 in that cafe the Exchange being finifhed as before- mentioned, 
 a noble and convenient area might have been formed which 
 would have produced one of the mod confiderable ornaments of 
 the city. The irregular pofition of the churches prevents the plac- 
 ing of the Bank at right angles with the Exchange. 
 
 8. Pig-Street is widened, and a new one opened at right angles 
 from thence into Threadneedle-Street fronting Merchant Taylor’s Hal!. 
 
 9. The Poultry Compter being a nuifance that ought to be re- 
 moved to a more fuitable place, a ftreet has been made from the 
 fquare before the Maniion-Houfe, which runs into the Old Jewry ; 
 this ftreet was defigned in order to make the area of the fquare 
 more regular, and would make a good ufeful avenue. 
 
 10. The ftreets about the Maniion-Houfe are widened, in order 
 to procure convenient room on publick days for coaches and other 
 carriages to pafs and repafs without interruption or danger to foot 
 paftcngers. 
 
 PLATE the FOURTH. 
 
 Contains improvements about London-Bridge, the Custom- 
 House, Tower, &c. 
 
 The alterations in this plate appear at the firft view to be fo very 
 conliderable, that an apology for not giving a minute explanation of 
 every particular is needlefs, as it would be both tedious and trouble- 
 fome, it has been thought fufficient therefore to mention only 
 fome of the mod remarkable parts, and to fay in general that 
 this part of the city is laid out in fo inconvenient a manner 
 that there was an abfolute neceffity to new model the whole, 
 or leave it in the ftate it now (lands. This as it is a part fo 
 
 P extremely 
 
1Q 6 LONDONAND 
 
 extremely well fituated and fo immediately con netted with the 
 mercantile part of the nation could not poffibly be omitted, and 
 therefore care has been taken to make every poffible improve- 
 ment, and to give fuch hints as might fhew that no attention to 
 this fpot has been fpared which might render it commodious, elegant 
 and ufeful. The prefent Cuftom-Houfe-Quay meafures only forty- 
 four feet three inches, and the ftreet behind it twenty-nine feet, 
 which is figured in the plan ; it is aftoniffiing how fo much bufinefs 
 can poffibly be carried on in a place which is fo extremely crouded, 
 and confequently perpetually confufed. Thofe only can form an idea 
 of it whofe bufinefs or curiofity prompt them to become fpettators 
 of this fcene of hurry and confufion. There is no doubt but that the 
 tranfattions of the greatefi: trading port in the world are here carried 
 on notwithftanding thefe inconveniences ; but certainly thofe who 
 have any thing to do at the Cuftom-HoufeQuay muft find it extremely 
 troublefome as well as dangerous, and furely if more fpace was 
 allowed much time might be faved by the facility with which the 
 ufual kinds of bufinefs would be tranfa&ed there. In order therefore 
 to give ample room, the breaft-work of the quay is defigned by the 
 fegment of a circle from Fifhmongers-Hall to the Tower, and the 
 whole range of buildings is thrown back to the upper fides of Thames- 
 Street, parallel to the line of the quay *; the whole is formed in 
 a regular defign, an elegant new front is propofed for Fifhmongers- 
 Hall at one end of the quay, and a new entrance to the Tower at 
 the other, the church of St. Magnus is removed to the angle 
 marked C *f*, and another church is propofed fimilar to that at D, the 
 
 whole 
 
 * An obje&ion may poffibly be made to the propofal of keeping the quays open, 
 which is the neceffity of having ware-houfes built clofe upon the breaft of the 
 wharfs, without - any intermediate fpace between them and the river, but though 
 this difpofition might fuit fome few individuals extremely well, yet it would be very 
 inconvenient to the publick in general, befides deftroying the grandeur and effeA 
 of the whole ; the banks of the river on each fide, as fpecified in the plans, ought 
 to be the property of the publick, to prevent impediments in bufinefs, and the 
 wharfs fhould be maintained and kept in order by the merchants, who fhould pay a 
 certain annual fum for that purpofe. 
 
 f Whilft London-Bridge was repairing, the church received confiderable damage by 
 fire. This circumftance made moft of the inhabitants of the parifh (who were reduced 
 by the removal of the houfes upon it to a very inconfiderable number) defirous of 
 having the church taken down, and to unite ihemfelves to another parifh, as the ex- 
 pence 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 whole building of the Cuftom-Houfe is detached, the ftreet and 
 end fronts of the building are defigned with arcades, and alfo a 
 grand range of arcades on each fide the Cuftom-Houfe next the 
 river is made in order to fhelter thofe whofe bufinefs obliges them 
 to attend that place in bad weather: thefe arcades are propofed to be 
 raifed a ftep or two, and to have feats and iron rails between the 
 piers to keep them from being encumbered with goods. The openings 
 about the two churches are intended only as foot-paths to commu- 
 nicate with the arcades, a fufficient number of fpacious ftreets are 
 defigned from the quay to accommodate the bufinefs tranfa&ed 
 there, and the buildings between them and over the arcades are 
 intended for a noble range of ware-houfes, the utility of which 
 need not be pointed out. Upon the bread of the Cuftem-Houfe- 
 Quay, in the front of the building, a large fweep or fwell is 
 formed into the river, and is defigned for a landing place ; but 
 if this fhould be thought too great an encroachment upon the river, 
 or liable to caufe any obftrudlion, an internal fegment might be 
 formed within the quay in its ftead, but this would rather interrupt 
 the bufinefs, and in point of elegance would be far inferior to the 
 defign given in the plan. It is likewife propofed in the plan to 
 fill up Billinfgate-Dock, and the whole market is flung into the 
 quay, which in its prefent ftate it would entirely interrupt. A defign 
 however is not given for a fifti-market, but one might be very eafily 
 fupplied in that part of the quay next London-Bridge, there being 
 room enough for a much more commodious market than the prefent. 
 
 2. Tower-Hill is attempted to be laid out with fome kind of 
 regularity, by opening the whole into one great fpace, a part of 
 the ground for the fake of variety is inclofed with iron rails, and is 
 fuppofed to be covered with verdure, which would make it at once 
 pleafant and ufeful to the inhabitants, as the buildings which 
 divide the great from little Tower-Hill are but of fmall value they 
 have been taken away. The Navy-Office is placed oppofite to 
 the Vi&ualling-Office, which it is apprehended is in a more con- 
 
 pence of repairing it amounted to a confiderable fum; but this ufeful fcheme was en- 
 tirely defeated by the ignorance of fome and wilfulnefs of others who oppofed it, and 
 the church was confequently fuffered to remain an incumbrance, and to occupy a 
 fpa.ee which might be employed to the greateft advantage to the publick in general. 
 
 P 2 venient 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 venient fituation than the prefent. The Vidu ailing- Office is made 
 extremely fpacious and commodious; the buildings (haded in the center 
 of Tower-Hill, might be applied for the ufe of fome publick office or 
 hall, and would have a good eflfed; the line of houfes on each fide of the 
 Tower are kept at equal didances, the Tower-Wharf is widened, 
 and confequently fome alterations made in that place, as appears by 
 the plan. It is great pity that the Tower itfelf is not kept in better 
 repair, there are feveral parts of it which might be improved and 
 made decent at lead, the outer wall in particular wants a thorough 
 repair, and fome offensive objects ffiould be removed. Many trifling 
 buildings ereded by the inhabitants ought to be taken away, and 
 although the Tower is a place incapable of being defended, yet the 
 appearance at lead of a place of defence fhould be preferved as much 
 as poffible. In ffiort for want of a proper attention to decorum this 
 great arfenal is differed to appear in a manner very ill becoming 
 the character and dignity of this great capital, when a very trifling 
 expence would render it an objed worthy of notice and make it 
 as ornamental as it is ufeful. It is not doubted that mod people 
 will be druck with the expence attending this and many other im- 
 provements propofed in this work, but however impertinent or foreign 
 to the prefent defign it may appear, it may not be improper to 
 remind them, that it becomes the indifpenflble duty of every nation, 
 as well as of every private man, to take care of the repairs of their 
 own houfes before they think of refitting thofe of their neighbours, 
 the expence of th'efe improvements may be murmured againd as 
 unneceflary, by fome who would make no fcruple of giving their 
 aflent to the expending of millions for the fupport of the colonies 
 and fettlements in North America, a thing perhaps more dedrudive 
 in its confequences to this nation than they may be aware of; the 
 example of the kingdom of Spain is a glaring proof of the ablurdity 
 of fuch a condud, the Spaniards, as well as the Enghfh, have been 
 colony mad, Spain has been undone by this infatuation, and it is to 
 be feared from the prefent temper of our own colonies, that we are 
 not likely to be in a much better fituation. If w 7 e have too many 
 poor people among us, employ them at home in works of fupere- 
 rpgation, if any one pleafes to call them fo, -rather than fend them 
 to the colonies, where they no fooner arive than they fet up for 
 
 themfelves, 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 109 
 
 themfclves, and like the fnake in the fable, wound the very hand 
 that has revived, nouriffied and lupported them. The French have 
 been compelled to do, what in policy they ought to have done with- 
 out compuifion, that is, they have given up their interefl in a part 
 of the world which would one day have proved the ruin of 
 that nation in Europe : The number of inhabitants in London, at 
 this time may perfuade fome people to imagine that the kingdom 
 is encreafed in numbers, but this is a miferable miftake, the towns 
 and villages in England decreafe inftead of increafmg their inhabi- 
 tants, London and the Britifh colonies fwallow them all up, nor 
 has there been one new city, town or village formed in the king- 
 dom in the preient century, Birmingham, Manchefter and Sheffield 
 indeed have encreafed prod igiou fly, but they, like the Americans, 
 have only drained other places for fupplies, with this difference 
 however that thole people do not quit their native country, whereas 
 thofe fent to the colonies very rarely return again. 
 
 •2. In that part of the Borough of Southwark which is laid down 
 in this plate the wharfs are made of the fame dimenfions with thofe 
 on the London fide, the bridge is made to open in a fpacious circular 
 form, and as the houles that compofe the avenues are fuppoled to be 
 regulaily built, the whole would produce a fine effect, and be at once 
 ufeful and elegant. The ftreets are widened, and new ones are de- 
 ferred which would make this part of the town extremely conveni- 
 ent and certainly is infinitely preferable to its prefent confufed difpo- 
 fifdn which, like too many other places in this metropolis is utterly 
 deftitute of form and convenience, though extremely well lituated 
 for bufinefs, and fo circumftanced as to be very eafily improved. 
 
 a. The breaft-work of all the wharfs on this fide of the river 
 ought to be raifed fo as to prevent the higheft tides from overflowing 
 them. The expence of doing this would not be very great, as the 
 materials for raifing the earth are on the fpot, the ground w ich 
 might be taken out of the river would not only feive to raife the 
 wharfs but would alfo improve it by deepening the water near its 
 edges, which in places of this kind is much wanted. Be.oie 11s 
 explanation of the plates is concluded it becomes neceffaiy to 
 apologize for fuch particular parts of the firft plate ^jeern^o 
 
 3 
 
i 10 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 contradict the authors fentiments in regard to extending the build- 
 ings of this city as it appears upon infpeCting the plate, that notwith- 
 ftanding what has been urged againft the increafe of buildings in 
 this metropolis, a great number of new ftreets are propofed and 
 laid down between the new buildings and the great boundary line or 
 new road. Of thefe therefore it is neceftary to fay that they are 
 only to be confidered as examples or directions in cafe no restraint 
 is to be laid upon builders, and that hereafter if any man takes 
 upon him to build in an aukward, inelegant manner, he may 
 not even have the common excufe to urge, that he really knew 
 no better. Another confideration is, that in cafe any of the in- 
 terior alterations fhould be put in execution, and by that means 
 houfes fhould be pulled down to make room for new avenues, 
 it would occafion the perfons who are obliged to quit their habi- 
 tations to feek for other places of abode, and accordingly ftreets 
 have been planned which maybe applied for thefe purpofes ; in 
 this cafe buildings will not be multiplied but extended, and as air 
 and convenience is thereby given to the interior parts, no one would 
 be againft building within a limited fpace for the accommoda- 
 tion of fuch perfons as were obliged to quit their former fituations. 
 
 The author flatters himfelf it will be allowed, that in this 
 undertaking he has fpared no pains to improve what he thought 
 wanted improvement, and he is very ready to acknowledge on his 
 part, that probably his zeal in the execution of his deflgn may have 
 led him into fome errors and abfurdities, of which for want of in- 
 formation in regard to particular circumftances, he could not pof- 
 fibly have any idea; but where reafonable objections can be made 
 he is ready to give up fuch parts of his deflgn, and only lament 
 the exiftence of impediments of any kind. However he hopes that 
 if much muft unnavoidably be rejected, that much alfo maybe put 
 in execution, and that if fome parts of his work are liable to cen- 
 iure, from whatever caufe, that others will be found not to deferve 
 it, and confequently that upon the whole his attempt will meet 
 with the approbation of the publick, for whofe ufe and advan- 
 tage it was undertaken. 
 
 Seme 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 in 
 
 Some Observations upon, and Proposals relating to, 
 Places which are not laid down in the Plans. 
 
 It may not be improper or difagreeable to the reader, to con- 
 fider the feveral Royal Palaces of Windfor and Hampton-Court, 
 Richmond-Gardens and Richmond-Park, and their fituations $ 
 Windfor-Caftle is perhaps, in point of fituation and effed, one of 
 the nobleft objeds in the univerfe, though the parts of which it is 
 compofed are far from being elegant ; however, many confiderable 
 improvements might be made, which would be of great advantage 
 and make it a much more pleafing object than it is at prefent ; 
 for inftance, all the houfes between the Caftle and the Thames might 
 be taken away quite to the bridge, and a grand flight of fleps made 
 to lead up to the center of the building on the north-fide next the 
 river. This would have a noble effed from the oppoflte fhore, and 
 if a fine ftone-bridge was ereded diredly oppolite to thefe fleps, 
 inftead of the prefent mean wooden one, it would give a truly 
 magnificent appearance to the whole. The caftle itfelf is very irre- 
 gular, and this irregularity is heightened by the great number of 
 mean hovels and brick-walls with which the courts are crowded, 
 and which by no means anfwer the charadter of a Royal Palace. All 
 the ofFenfive fmoaky houfes, which join to the caftle, fhould likewife 
 be removed, as well as many others which might be taken away, in 
 order to make a fpacious and regular approach to the caftle from the 
 town *. Indeed it is a great pity the terrace had not been continued 
 round that part of the caftle next to the buildings, which would 
 have effcdually detached them from it, and made all that part much 
 more convenient and pleafant. The whole building fhould be faftied, 
 which would give chearfulnefs to the apartments, and have a 
 better e fifed; in the exterior view of the caftle. The grand court 
 ought to be laid with gravel, inftead of being paved, which, if it 
 was well kept, would prevent the difagreeable melancholly effed 
 
 * If the town was regularly laid out and well built, fo as to correfpond with the 
 whole, it would be a very confiderable advantage to its inhabitants : from the great 
 refort of vifitors, not only to view the caftle, but for the fake of the country round it. 
 
 occafioned 
 
112 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 occasioned by the grafs growing in the interfaces of the pavementc 
 The Chapel, which contains the tomb of the celebrated Cardinal 
 Wolfey, is employed at prefent as a mafon’s workfhop. It is much 
 to be lamented that this building, which is an elegant piece of 
 Gothick architecture, is not thoroughly repaired, in the doing 
 which, however, particular care Should be taken to preferve the 
 original defign, and no innovations Should be Suffered to be made. 
 That elegant Gothick pile of St. George V Chapel is moft miferably 
 encumbered on the north-fide with defpicable buildings, which 
 entirely deftroy the effed of the whole fabrick, thefe Should be im- 
 mediately removed i the finishing of that whole chapel is exquifite, 
 and undoubtedly this part of the building has an equal title to be 
 feen with its oppofite fide. The weft-end of the chapel is particu- 
 lar^ fine, an d yet is fo furrounded and choaked up with buildings, 
 that few people, who go to view the caftle, know any thing of 
 this part of the chapel, though it unfortunately happens to be 
 the principal entrance ; if (as there Seems to have been provifion 
 made for Some Such defign), an elegant Gothick dome, Suitable 
 to the whole, was raifed in the center of this building, it would 
 greatly add to the dignity of the chapel, and take off from the 
 length of the line which the roof makes at prefent ; fuch an ele- 
 vation would greatly enrich the appearance of that part of the 
 caftle, and produce a fine effedt in the difkant view of the whole. 
 The infide of this chapel is extremely fine, and the greateft atten- 
 tion Should be given, in order that it may not be deformed : The 
 common abfurd practice of placing trophies againft the columns, 
 and of erecting monuments up and down this elegant pile, is an 
 execrable cuftom, unlefs it was done with more propriety ; indeed 
 this is an abufe too frequently intruded into all places of publick 
 worfhip, and mud be entirely owing to the want of tafke in thofe 
 who have the management of church- affairs, and permit fuch 
 things to be carried into execution. If the defign of a church is 
 good for any thing, it is fare to be ruined by this practice, which 
 never fails of deflroying its regularity j whenever a monument is 
 propofed to be eredled, the utmoft care fhould be taken that the 
 defign fhould Suit the place, and by that means Serve as an ornament 
 to the whole. There is but one infiance where any attention Seems 
 
 to 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 to have been paid to this kind of decorum, and this is to be feen in 
 the two monuments erected to the memory of Sir Ifaac Newton 
 and General Stanhope in Weftminfter- Abbey, thefe are happily 
 placed, and make a fine finifh upon the fcreen in that Cathedral, 
 which would otherwife have made a miferable appearance. The 
 cuftom of erecting monuments in churches at all is an abfurdity, 
 but the pradice of deforming churches merely becaufe people can 
 afford to pay a large tax upon vanity, is intolerable, and if the real 
 worth of fome, who figure it in holy places, was ftridly enquired 
 into, many a heap of beautiful marble, and exquifite art, would 
 be unanimoufly thru ft out of them as publick nuifances. 
 
 Publick memorials of truly great and deferving perfons ought 
 undoubtedly to be ereded, and as the love of fame is an univerfal 
 paffion, every incitement for promoting it fhould be encouraged 
 and attended to. With this view therefore, publick maufoleums 
 fhould be ereded to honour publick virtue and learning j in 
 thefe the great and good fhould alone find places, and as a 
 fubordination ought to be obferved in thefe kind of edifices, it 
 might not be improper to ered one for the foie ufe of fuch as had 
 no other pretence for perpetuating their memories, than that they 
 exifted a certain number of years, and died worth a certain fum of 
 money. This laft propofition is the more to be attended to, as the 
 exclufion of this kind of people would be of infinite prejudice to a 
 great number of ingenious artifts, who, without fuch affiftance, 
 would have little or nothing to do, and it certainly would be no 
 very great burden to the publick, if they were to be at the foie 
 expence of ereding fuch teftimonies of regard for the memories of 
 thofe who really merited places in the principal maufoleums. It 
 may be faid, that the maufoleum of wealth and vanity muft 
 either greatly exceed the others in magnitude, or elfe be better 
 filled ; the truth of this obfervation would certainly be verified ; 
 but let it be confidered, that what was denied in numbers, would 
 be amply recompenced in value, and that the contemplation of 
 the tomb of one truly great or valuable man would yield abun- 
 dantly more folid fatisfadion, than the pomp and glare of a vaft 
 number of monuments ereded to the memories of a multitude of 
 inlignificant people. 
 
 Q 
 
 Windfor 
 
LONDON AND 
 
 Windfor-Caftle is a building, or rather a compofition of build- 
 ings, of vaft magnitude, and the idea it gives at a diftance, is 
 more that of a romantic than an elegant pile, nor does it lofe this 
 charader upon a nearer approach, the towers give it an air of 
 grandeur, but there is not the lead degree of elegance to be found 
 in their conftrudion, or indeed in that of any other part ot the 
 caille itfelf ; however, the vaft quantity of building, and its pro- 
 digioufly advantageous fituation, ferve to render it altogether one of 
 the moft ftriking objeds in this or perhaps any other part of the 
 world. 
 
 The lodge in Windfor Great-Park, as a building, is as much 
 beneath the dignity of the park it ftands in, as that is fuperior 
 in to St. James’s- Park, the fituation is extremely ill-chofen, 
 and the building worfe contrived. It is amazing when fo many 
 ipots, infinitely fuperior to it, prefented themfelves, that any one 
 fhould make lo bad a choice, but it has been built a great 
 number of years, and it cannot be doubted, if ever a new lodge 
 is ereded in that park, that a better fituation will be chofen. A vaft 
 fum of money has been expended already in improving the park* 
 but much remains to be done ; the place itfelf might be made ex- 
 tremely fine, nature has done a great deal, and has pointed out 
 fufficiently what may be improved and beautified by art ; upon the 
 whole, this place does not at prefent come up in any degree to the 
 charader ufually given it. 
 
 Hampton-Court-Palace is in point of fituation the very reverie 
 of Windfor-Caftle, the laft is upon a noble eminence, and the for- 
 mer upon a dead flat ; in this refped its fituation is extremely bad, it 
 commands no profped, and therefore is rather a gloomy melancholy 
 place ; it is compofed of Roman and Gothick architedure, and the 
 principal fronts are the grandeft and moft regular of all the Royal 
 Palaces j the two outer courts are Gothick, and are magni- 
 ficent things in their kind, with this farther advantage, that they 
 are all clean and unincumbered with trifling buildings. This Palace 
 is a ftriking inftance of the difadvantage of low fituations, let 
 the building be compofed in the grandeft ftile imaginable, it will 
 always fuft'er for want of a proper alcent, and Hampton-Court- 
 Palace, or any other building fituate upon a flat, will always appear 
 
 whea 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 when viewed at a diftance, as if it was partly funk into the earth. 
 Undoubtedly, low fituations ought carefully to be avoided, when- 
 ever elevated ones can be procured, and many very elegant houfes 
 have been utterly ruined, efpecially when built too near the borders 
 of a river, in doing which fuch errors have been committed as 
 cannot efcape even the notice and ridicule of the vulgar. An inflance 
 of this kind occurred fome time ago to a gentleman who came by 
 water from Richmond to London, and, in his way, could not help 
 taking particular notice of a very elegant houfe upon the banks of 
 the Thames; the fellow who rowed him, faid, c Ay, Sir, it’s a very 
 fine houfe, an’t it? but I knew, when they laid the foundation, that 
 every time the floods were out, the water would come into the 
 houfe ; and pray, fays the gentleman, as you were not ignorant of 
 this, why did not you acquaint the builder in time, and thereby 
 prevent fuch a misfortune ? ah ! Mafter, replied the fellow, fhaking 
 his head, I knew well enough as how the builder was an ignorant 
 man, and fo would have his own way, becaufe why, fuch people 
 always thinks nobody knows nothing but themfelves.* 
 
 Richmond New-Park is perhaps one of the fineft fpotsof its kind 
 in Europe, the beautiful variety of landfcapes it every where ex- 
 hibits, the order in which it is kept, the bold fimplicity and inequa- 
 lity of the ground, which is finely diverfified into hills and vallies, 
 richly decorated with elegant trees, and above all, the noble and 
 extenfive profpedt which the highefl parts of it command, are 
 beautiful beyond imagination. Upon the fummitof the hill next the 
 town of Richmond, and near the park-gate, there is a lpot, 
 which, of all others perhaps in this kingdom, is the moil 
 defirable place to eredi a Royal Palace upon, 'the richnefs and 
 extenfivenefs of the views on every fide are amazingly fine, but 
 two of them exceed the others, and perhaps all others ; the 
 one takes in the cities of London and Weftminfter, with 
 the adjacent hills of Harrow, Hampfiead and Highgate, and the 
 op polite fide fronts the beautiful winding of the Thames from 
 Richmond to Twickenham, and commands all that glorious land- 
 fcape fo univerfally admired by perfons of the greatefi tafie and 
 imderftanding. There is but one obftacle in the way, which, no 
 doubt, would be very eafily removed, and that is, if a defign of 
 
 Q ^ 2 this 
 
n6 
 
 LONDON 
 
 AND 
 
 this nature was to be put in execution, it would become neceflary to 
 take in all that part which lies between the park-wall and the vil- 
 lage of Peterfham ; fuppofing this to be done, a grand approach 
 might be formed from the river to the front of the Palace in the 
 midft of a moft beautiful lawn ; the opening of this from the 
 Thames and the meadows would have a prodigious fine effedt, and 
 as the fides of the hill are covered in the moft pidurefque manner 
 imaginable, the finifh of a palace built with ftone *, upon the 
 fummit of the hill, would produce one of the fineft fcenes that can 
 poftibly be conceived ; add to this, that a magnificent bridge might 
 be thrown acrofs the river, diredly fronting the Palace, which 
 would be a ufeful ornament, and render the whole view ftill more 
 pidurefque, and the eye would command from the Thames, the 
 intire elevation without interruption. 
 
 Richmond Gardens have been generally allowed to be extremely 
 fine, and they, in a great meafure, deferve the charader given 
 them ; the terrace is perhaps as grand and as fine an objed of its 
 kind as any in Europe ; but this is without doubt the fineft part of 
 the whole garden, take this away and you deftroy all the reft, there 
 is queftionlefs room for great improvements in thefe gardens, but 
 without an enormous expence, the ground, cannot be raifed which 
 every part of the garden itfelf points out as wanting. The greateft 
 proof of this want of variety, (owing to the flatnefs of the fituation,) 
 is, that not a place in it can be found on which one would wifh to fee 
 a fuperb edifice -f* ereded, becaule every one would be fenfible, that, 
 if it was done, it could command no other view than that of Sion- 
 Houfe, and the wretched one of Brentford, which every man of tafte 
 would fincerely wifh could never be feen at all, for of all deplo- 
 rable country towns. this is the worft, and is ftill the more defpicable, 
 as it might be made one of the moft agreeable places upon the banks 
 of the Thames. It is amazing to think what encomiums have been 
 
 * It is furprifing that ftucco-fronts are not more frequently introduced, efpeci- 
 ally in the country, as it is not very expenfive, agrees well with ftone, and, being 
 covered with blue Hate, harmonizes in the moft agreeable manner with trees and 
 all degrees of verdure. 
 
 t It is faid that the fituation of the prefent Palace, which was built by the Duke 
 of Ormond, is fo extremely damp in winter, that the wainfcots are commonly 
 covered with water. 
 
 palled 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 317 
 
 paffed upon Richmond Gardens, and what multitudes have flocked 
 to fee them, when, at the fame time, the mod beautiful fpot in 
 the kingdom the New-Park, has been totally negleCted, and not 
 one perfon in a thoufand, of thofe who go to Richmond, is 
 acquainted with the lead: part of it, they are commonly contented 
 with a walk upon the terrace, a view of the Hermitage, &c. and 
 then proceed to the hill, where indeed there is a mod noble enter- 
 tainment for the eye, but this is the fum of their dock of curiofity, 
 and the mod beautiful and romantic part of the whole is never 
 thought of, and confequently totally negleCted. 
 
 The Princefs Dowager’s houfe would certainly appear to a pro- 
 digious advantage, if the oppofite buildings were entirely removed, 
 and the whole opened to the Thames with a fine lawn, in which 
 cafe the dabling in front fhould be removed, and the whole finifhed 
 in character 5 Kew-Bridge would appear in a piCturefque manner, 
 but much more fo, if the anatomy of the bridge was concealed, it is 
 certainly very abfurd, as well as prejudicial to the timbers, to expofe 
 thefe kind of fkeletons, which ought to be covered as far as the 
 bottom of the railing. A fine entrance might alfo be made from 
 Kew-Green to Richmond Gardens, by taking down the old build- 
 ings, which would open the view to Sion and Ideworth from the 
 Pnncefs’s houfe in a mod advantageous manner. 
 
 It is a great pity that the late Lord Burlington’s houfe at Chifwick 
 had not been laid open to the Thames, indeed when the lownefs of 
 its fituation is confidered, it would be impodible to view it in the 
 advantageous manner it could be wifhed, and as the beauty of that 
 building deferves. With due fubmiflion to the tade and refpeCt to 
 the memory of that nobleman, it is not a little furprifing how he 
 could be induced, by the trifling confideration of preferving a 
 taflelefs old building, to facrifice fo very elegant a defign by con- 
 necting them together. Had his lordfhip raifed the ground confi- 
 derably on which the foundation was to be laid, what a fine 
 effeCt would have been produced, the houfe which is now almoft 
 entirely hid, might have been feen to great advantage from every 
 quarter, and the whole country round, which is a tadelefs flat, 
 would have made a very different appearance by the elegant break 
 which this fine objeCt would have given it. Upon the whole, this 
 
 celebrated 
 
ii8 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 celebrated houfe is a convincing proof of the difadvantage of 
 building upon low fituations, as by this means neither the houfe, 
 nor the place on which it Hands, are advantageous to each other, 
 the building is not feen, nor the country improved, in point of ap- 
 pearance, from its being eredted at all. Indeed it is very abfurd 
 to build any houfe of confequence in a low obfcure fituation, or to 
 encumber or hide any fuch buildings with brick-walls, hovels and 
 trifling offices, which is too frequently pradtifed, for fpace always 
 gives an air of grandeur. 
 
 Chelfea-College is a Ample, noble and elegant building, and 
 very properly adapted to its ufe, it wants nothing but an elevation 
 of about eight or ten feet, which would keep it free from damps, 
 and confequently make it more healthy and comfortable for the 
 people who inhabit there ; it is rather incumbered with houfes, 
 and if the high brick-walls that furround it were taken away, and 
 dwarf-walls with iron-rails fubftitued in their room, the whole 
 would have a better efFedt. 
 
 The whole village of Chelfea might be greatly improved by re- 
 gulating the banks of the Thames, and removing the buildings 
 which Hand immediately upon them ; the church, which is very 
 old, fhould be rebuilt, and removed fomething farther back from 
 the river ; the houfes built in country places fhould always be de- 
 tached, for the benefit of air, light, and profpedt, and not built in 
 rows according to the prefent tafle, nor fhould they be fuflfered to 
 projedt one before the other; if this method was obferved, every 
 houfe would be fituated in a garden, and the whole would be chear- 
 ful and pleafant; but, above all things, the houfes fhould be raifed 
 upon a bafement, which will always keep them fufliciently dry, and 
 make the lower apartments light and airy, 
 
 Greenwich-Hofpital is undoubtedly the grandeA building in 
 England, the two pavilions next the water were deflgned by Inigo 
 Jones J, and the red of the buildings with the fine colonafles 
 were the work of Sir Chriftopher Wren ; this grand edifice, of 
 which not the leall part fhould be hid, is encumbered with brick 
 
 X "f he original drawing by Inigo Jones of one of thefe pavilions without the 
 attiek, was in the pofleflion of Stephen Wren, Kfcj; who fhewed it the author. This 
 attick, which was added by Sir Chriflopher Wren, rather deforms the budding, but 
 being a work of neceflky could not be difpenfed with. 
 
 walls 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 walls and a great number of miferable houfes, all which fhould be 
 immediately deftioyed and not be permitted to deform and ciifgrace 
 a work fo truly magnificent. If any other fault can be found with 
 Greenwich-Hofpital it is that it wants a proper center, which has 
 been often obferved, and likewife that its fituation is rather too near 
 the river, and the ground it hands on too low; an inconvenience 
 which hinders it from being feen to advantage any where but 
 upon the Thames ■f*. 
 
 The fpace occupied by the peers and fterlings of London- 
 Bridge is confiderably greater than that allowed for the paffage of 
 the water, confequently more than half the breadth of the river 
 is in this place entirely hopped, whereas the obhrudion occahoned 
 by the piers at Weftminfter-Bridge is not near one third of the 
 water-way, and it 'is needlefs to mention the effe&s of this 
 obhruftion, fince the moh melancholy inhances are too frequently 
 experienced to need a repetition. The truth is, this wretched bridge 
 ought to have been entirely demolilhed ages ago, and a greater mis- 
 take never was committed than that of making the late repairs 
 and endeavouring to improve fo intolerable a nuilance, the execution 
 of which has manifehiy proved its abfurdity, hnce the main defign 
 of thofe improvements (which was to lehen the fall at the ebbing 
 of the tide) has by experience been entirely defeated, and fhews 
 that the beft repair that could poffibly have been made was to have 
 taken it entirely down. Indeed at the time when it was become 
 necedary to add the fterlings in order to preferve the foundation of 
 the piers and prevent the fuperftrudture from falling, at that very 
 
 + It certainly was a very ftrange abfurdity to beftow fuch extraordinary expences 
 on a building defigned for charitable purpofes, and ridiculous to fee a parcel 
 of maimed, decrepid old paupers, its inhabitants, parading up and down the 
 grand colonades. Chelfea-College anfwers every intention of its endowment 
 there is an elegant fimplicity in the whole, without a profufion of expence in the 
 decoration ; but that heighth of magnificence in Greenwich, one would almoft 
 imagine had been intended merely to put real elegance out of countenance j 
 and the reafon given for building Grofvenor.-Square in that irregular and confufed 
 manner we now fee it, was, that if regularity had been more confidered, it would 
 too much have refembled an Hofpital : A ridiculous argument, finely, for fpoiling 
 the uniformity of fo noble a quadrangle. 
 
 time 
 
120 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 time the whole bridge {hould have been demolished, and rebuilt in 
 an elegant and commodious manner, and the money which at that 
 time was expended in piling and Securing it, and the annual Sums 
 which it has Since coft in repairs, excluSive of the la ft enormous one, 
 would have been more than Sufficient to have defrayed the expence, 
 and had the leafh attention been given at that time to this confi- 
 deration, it muft have been a Sufficient motive for rebuilding the 
 
 O 
 
 bridge*. It has been often ignorantly afferted, that the arches of 
 this bridge were originally conftru&ed in the manner they are, in 
 order to reftrain the ebbing of the tide, to preferve the navigation 
 of the river above the bridge ; others have with like ignorance and 
 confidence Said, that if the arches of the bridge w^ere widened, the tide 
 would ebb away So faft that there would be Scarce any navigation 
 above the bridge a little aSter high-water ; that is, it would be low- 
 water much Sooner than it is at preSent, and thereby the navigation 
 would be hindered. This laffc aftertion is So very abSurd that it is 
 Scarcely w r orth mentioning, for had thefe objectors once confidered 
 that the river is navigable So very far above the reach of the tide, 
 they would never have thought of advancing So wretched an argu- 
 ment. In fatft, a new bridge, as has been before obferved, was abso- 
 lutely necefiary in this place, and Should have been built inftead of 
 repairing the old one, this would, befides the preservation of many 
 lives have refieded honour upon the city of London, have very 
 considerably improved the navigation of the river, and been a mod: 
 noble and ufefui ornaments inftead of which an immenSe Sum of 
 money has been thrown away, the bridge itSelf is left a greater nui- 
 fance than it was before (owing to the prodigious rapidity of the 
 ftream under the great arch) with this additional aggravation, that it 
 will very probably, be continually calling in the aid of quackery, 
 remain a perpetual expence for a confiderable time, and a Standing re- 
 proach to the preSent age, which by no means deferves Such treatment. 
 
 * The prefent alteration of London-Bridge coft near 100,000 1 . 75,0 ool. part 
 
 advanced by parliament at five times, and 7, 500I. part of 24,000 I. remainder allowed 
 to have been expended in that alteration, befides the materials of the houfes, many 
 of which were new. 
 
 The parifin of St. Magnus confifted of about one hundred and five houfes, eighty 
 of which are defiroyed for opening the avenues and clearing the bridge. 
 
 3 ' It 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 It appears upon the further conhderation of this great nuiiance*, 
 that (as if the miferable contrivance of the bridge itfelf was not 
 impediment enough to the navigation) it is mod: terribly encum- 
 bered with the engine for raiding water, which occupies no lefs 
 than four arches, the effed thefe works have upon the navigation 
 therefore is very confiderable, beddes the (hocking appearance they 
 make as an objed. It is propofed therefore to take this whole 
 machine entirely away. Such a propofal will undoubtedly be thought 
 extravagant by fome people, and the profit accruing to the pro- 
 prietors of the water-works will be objeded as an obdacle, but as 
 it is apprehended that the chief part of the revenue arifing to the 
 London-Bridge water-works is produced from the Borough of 
 Southwark, it is propofed to bring the river Wan from Mitcham 
 in Surry to the Borough, which, as it is but a fmall diftance from 
 London, may be eafily done, and at no very great expence; 
 Bromley river might alfo be made to fupply Deptford and Rother- 
 hithe, and the New-River Company might fupply all that part of 
 the city of London which is now ferved by the London-Bridge 
 water-works. It may be likewife objeded, that the New River 
 will be infufficient to fupply the whole metropolis, in anfwer 
 to this it may be faid, that the New River is certainly capable of 
 fupplying the whole quantity wanted ; but as it may not be fo 
 conveniently done, there is another great refource for the fupply 
 of this very ufeful element. There is reafon to hope the river 
 Coin will be made navigable from Uxbridge, and brought to Mary- 
 le-Bone ; which will more than ferve all the new buildings and 
 parts adjacent, as well as the city of Weftminfter. It has been 
 objeded to this laft very ufeful fcheme (and fome objedion will 
 eternally be made to every defign for the publick good) that the 
 navigation of the river Thames will be prejudiced by the want of 
 the water which this fcheme will dired from its ufual courfe; 
 but this has been before fully refuted by the obfervation that the 
 river is navigable for the weft country barges many miles higher 
 up than at the place where the Coin falls into it, and therefore 
 its waters are of little confequence to the navigation of the river 
 Thames. There is one confideration above all the reft that ought 
 
 R to 
 
122 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 to be attended to, which is, that whilft the fupplying of water 
 is chiefly in one company’s hands it becomes a kind of monopoly, 
 and has this danger attending it, that the proprietors of the works 
 have it in their power at any time to lay whatever tax they pleafe 
 on the inhabitants. 
 
 But the greateft clamour will arife from the enormous expence 
 which it will be faid mutt neceffarily attend the execution of the 
 fchemes for bringing thefe two rivers to London, to this it may 
 be anfwered, that the nobleft and moft ufeful undertaking of this 
 kind that ever was executed is now carrying on by one Nobleman 
 at his own expence ; the Duke of Bridgwater’s navigable canal in 
 Lancafhire, is a work that not only does him honour, but would 
 do honour to this or any other kingdom in the univerfe. 
 
 As there is the greateft probability that St. George VFields will 
 one time be laid out in ftreets, it becomes neceflary to give 
 fome timely hints with regard to the difpofition of this place. The 
 extreme lownefs of the lituation of the ground naturally makes it 
 damp, and confequently unhealthy j in order to remedy this great 
 inconvenience it will be neceflary to make the ftieets not lefs than 
 fixty feet wide ; nor fhould any alleys be fuflfered, the ground fhould 
 be raifed as much as poilible, and it is to be lamented, that after the 
 fire of London they had not made a layftall in St. George s Fields 
 inftead of that at White-Chapel and other places. Large drains fhould 
 be cut to carry ofif the water, and thofe arched over and made into 
 common-fhores ; this would in a great meafure keep the foundations 
 dry. But above all, as free air is conducive to health in all places, 
 fo more efpecially in this cafe it would be neceflary, and therefore 
 a vaft area fhould be formed which fhould not be lefs than two 
 thoufand feet fquarej- in the midft a large bafon fhould be funk,, 
 which would be extremely ufeful on every account, ferving at once 
 as a drain and a refervoir of water in cafe of fire ; this area might 
 be laid out in fuch a manner as to be made a place of publick 
 refort for people in that quarter of the town, and would be health- 
 ful, pleafant and ufeful. 
 
 It has been before obferved in the courfe of this work, that too 
 
 little attention has hitherto been given to the obtaining of fpace 
 
 and 
 
12 3 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 and giving freedom to the air ; a more ftriking inftance of the bad 
 effe&s of this negledt cannot be given, than in that of St. Paul’s 
 Church, the members and ornaments of which in many places are 
 entirely choaked up with foot, which misfortune is owing to its 
 being pent up with buildings. Wherever fea-coal is burnt the 
 ftreets ought to be made fpacious, more efpecially in low fituations, 
 for the damps naturally prevent the fmoke from rifmg, and confe- 
 quently if the ftreets are narrow the wind has not power to difperfe 
 it properly. 
 
 If Hatton-Garden was continued through Cold Bath-Fields to- 
 wards the New-Road, it would be a prodigious improvement to 
 that ftreet, as well as to the adjacent parts; if this alteration 
 was to take place, it would be neceffary to raife the ground in the 
 hollow parts to a level, which might be eafily done, as the fpace 
 required for this purpofe would hardly exceed two hundred feet. 
 
 It is reafonable to fuppofe that when Black-Fryars Bridge is 
 finifhed, the Fleet-Market will be removed to a more convenient 
 fituation. In this cafe it is to be wifhed, that a ftreet equal in width 
 to that in which the market now ftands fhould be opened and 
 continued from Holborn-Bridge in a dire& line to Clerkenwell, or 
 further, and then to divide into two openings, one to Iflington and 
 the other to the Hampftead-Road. It will immediately occur to 
 every one who has the lead: knowledge of the places through which 
 this ftreet is propofed to be conducted, that private property will 
 be amazingly improved by this means, nor will the publick be lefs 
 benefitted, as a noble, free and ufeful communication will be 
 opened between the counties of Surry and Middlefex. At the fame 
 time another ufeful opening might be made from Old-Street in a 
 dire# line to Gray’s-Inn-Lane, which would alfo improve a part 
 of the town which is at prefent in a deplorable condition. If the 
 former part of this propofal fhould ever be put in execution and 
 the market in Smithfield be fuffered to remain, it will be extremely 
 ufeful, on account of the opportunity it will give paffengers to 
 avoid that inconvenient dangerous place, as no one need pais 
 through it whofe bufinefs does not demand theii attendance tneie. 
 But although very few houfes of confequence will be affected by 
 
 R 2 tni's 
 
124 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 this alteration, it is much to be doubted whether it will ever be at- 
 tended to, as the citizens generally feem to be averfe to every kind 
 of improvement of which they cannot fee the future advantage. 
 
 Weftminfter Abbey, as it is a very fine Gothick ftruCture of 
 great beauty and antiquity, certainly demands a ftriCt attention. 
 That venerable pile, which has feen fo many Monarchs crowned 
 within its walls amidfl the acclamations of fhouting multitudes, and 
 afterwards born its filent and awful teftimony of the fad funeral 
 rites of thofe very Princes, ought undoubtedly to be kept and 
 fupported in a proper manner, nor fhould the lead: impropriety or 
 want of decorum be fuffered in a pile fo venerable and majeftick. 
 It may be thought fevere to fay, that it is deformed by monuments, 
 but however fevere fuch an affertion may be thought, it is never- 
 thelefs true. The beauty of the whole pile is deftroyed by thefe 
 intrufions, and however fublime and beautiful fome of thefe 
 works may be in themfelves, hardly one of them has been intro- 
 duced with propriety, or its form and fituation confidered with 
 regard to the whole ftruCture. Some are lefs faulty in this par- 
 ticular than others, but numbers of them ought to be entirely taken 
 away, as tending to nothing more than loading and deforming the 
 church in the mod: wretched manner ; but there is an abfurdity in 
 this abbey which is yet more unpardonable, more taftelefs, more 
 abfurd, and a greater piece of deformity than either or all the monu- 
 ments in the church together, this is no other than that disjointed, 
 unconnected attempt at magnificence, the marble altar j there 
 never was any thing more abfurd than the thought of decorat- 
 ing a Gothick building with Greek or Roman architecture, man- 
 ners fo efientially different that it is utterly impofiible there fhould 
 ever be the lead: harmony fubfifting between them. The truth is, 
 the prefent altar ought by all means to be taken down and the 
 whole thrown open to the eaft end of the abbey, which is in itfelf 
 very fine and perfectly adapted to the purpofe ; this part fhould be 
 decorated in the Gothick tafte, fuitable to the reft of the building, 
 and would have a much more noble effeCt than that miferable thing 
 which at prefent blocks up and deforms the church. 
 
 4 • 
 
 A 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 125 
 
 A propofal for the removal of the fhrine of Edward the Confefior, 
 may by fome people be looked upon as a facrilegious attempt, 
 but it is plain, from the wretched appearance it now makes, that 
 even the religious themfelves have not fcrupled in part to put 
 this fcheme in execution, by depriving it from time to time 
 of every decoration which could ferve to render it an objedt worthy 
 of notice, and inftead of permitting it to hand in its prifline form, 
 the memorial of a faint and martyr, it ferves for very little more 
 than to fhew that ever fince the time it was ere&ed, there have 
 not been wanting people who were either foolifhly fuperfiitious or 
 wickedly wanton. I ? t would be therefore doing no great harm if 
 this mutilated lump of antiquity was difplaced on account of fo 
 elegant an improvement, and it would not be very difficult to find 
 a more fuitable place for it, if it was judged neceffary or profitable, 
 to preferve this precious relick ; this and the tomb of Henry the 
 Fifth therefore fhould be removed. The floor of the chapel of Ed- 
 ward the Confeflor is raifed confiderably above the pavement of 
 the church, which gives a fine opportunity for making a flight of 
 Heps, and what a noble effedt that would have, not only upon the 
 altar but the whole church may be very eafily conceived. At the 
 fame time the church would be vaftly improved if thofe mean Halls 
 in the choir were taken down, and others more fuitable to the dignity 
 of the place eredted in their Head ; the choir might alfo be widened 
 by throwing the Halls back upon a line with the middle of the 
 columns 5 this would give it a proportionable width to the length 
 which would be gained by the. removal of the altar. The whole 
 pavement of the church is in a miferable Hate, and fhould be 
 relayed, and whenever any repairs are made in the building 
 every particular whatever fhould be reflored as near as poflible to 
 its original form, and it is great pity that the whole cathedral is not 
 put into a more refpedlable condition. There feems to be fomething 
 very extraordinary relating to the doors of this cathedral, the origi- 
 nal defign of which certainly made ample provifion for the conve- 
 niency of going into and coming out of it, but by fome unaccount- 
 able whim or accident it is not without difficulty that people can 
 now get either in or out, particularly at the north door, where to 
 
 all 
 
126 
 
 LONDON AND 
 
 all appearance one would not expert an impediment of that fort 
 fhould occur, but fo it is; whereas if both thole fide doors (or only 
 the middle one) were thrown open, thefe obftru&ions would ceafe, 
 but unfortunately one of the fide entrances is choaked up by 
 an uncouth monument, and therefore rendered ufelels on ac- 
 count of a thing which is itfelf an incumbrance, as indeed are 
 all thofe on the north-eaft angle of the cathedral, as well as thofe 
 on the fouth-weft, which jointly concur to fpoil and ruin the uni- 
 formity of the whole building. 
 
 From what has been already faid it appears, that to render this 
 ancient ftruClure truly elegant, it is necefbary to repair the pavement 
 thoroughly, to remove the altar, to widen and enrich the choir by 
 fuitable Gothick flails decorated in charaCler with the reft of the 
 church, to enlarge the entrances, and to demolifh or remove a great 
 number of wretched monuments, add to all this, that if every win- 
 dow was ornamented with painted glafs, an elegant light Gothick 
 dome raifed from the nave of the church, and the whole infide 
 of the building painted of an uniform clean flone colour, in the 
 manner that St. Paul’s church is, it would then become a moft 
 beautiful pile, and be defervedly efteemed one of the fineft things 
 of the kind perhaps in Europe. 
 
 The whole of Henry the Seventh’s chapel, both external and in- 
 ternal, is fo extremely fine and fo exquifite a model of Gothick 
 architecture, that it is fincerely to be wifhed no modern hand might 
 ever be buffered to touch it, but as the teeth of time have already 
 deftroyed many parts of its exterior ornaments it ought to be re- 
 paired before it is too late, but with a moft Scrupulous adherence to 
 its original form, not an ornament or fingle member fhould buffer 
 the leaft alteration, and if it was pofiible to build a cafe for the 
 whole to prevent all further injuries, it would be doing no more 
 than this amazing piece of art richly merits. As to the interior 
 defign of this building, let the admirers of Grecian and Roman 
 architecture impartially and critically examine the roof, meafure 
 and re-meafure the parts, let them draw them, over and over, 
 and when they have confidered, and re-confidered the whole as 
 
 often, 
 
12 7 
 
 WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 often, and found as many faults as they pleafe, let them produce, 
 either from themfelves, or from the moft celebrated antique exam- 
 ples, a roof of the fame dimenfions, equally light, rich, elegant 
 and magnificent, or equally pleafmg and harmonious. Whatever 
 merit theGothick designers had, or however exquifitely their thoughts 
 were executed, it muft be confeffed, and ought to be lamented, that 
 the Goths their fucceffors have treated them in ail refpedls moft un- 
 worthily 5 whether it is owing to the prodigious refinement of tafte, 
 or whether envy has had any fhare in fuch treatment, cannot fo 
 readily be afcertained; but certain it is, that every age has con- 
 curred in contriving by all poffible means to confufe, confound and 
 deform the works of thofe ingenious people ; nor is the celebrated 
 ftrudture now mentioned without examples of fuch ufage, the more 
 modern Goths have disfigured it in the moft fhameful manner, 
 with fuch things as might well enough become a Lord Mayor’s 
 fhew, but are in this place both mean and contemptible, every one 
 who has feen this chapel will know that the deformities com- 
 plained of are thofe fkull caps, fwords and banners which are fo 
 plentifully ftrung all over the place, and which, exclufive of fpoiling 
 the effedt of the building, ferve only to convey the idea of a place 
 inhabited by fcourers, who ufually hang out a variety of tawdry fuits 
 and rags upon poles, which ferve the double purpofes of drying them 
 and proclaiming to the world the profeffion of the perfon who thus 
 expofes them to view. 
 
 It is eafily perceived, that the two fronts of the building, called 
 The Horfe-Guards, at Whitehall, are the defignsof different people; 
 it isfaid, that Kent made that next the Park, in which however there 
 is nothing extraordinary, and it fhould feem that nobody cares to 
 own the other, which fhews, that whoever defigned it, was a 
 man of great prudence, though he had no kind of merit as an 
 architect ; indeed it is im poffible that any thing can be worfe, 
 it is not in the leaft adapted to its intended ufe, for the entrances 
 to the interior courts are fo very fmali, that a fingle trooper can 
 hardly get in or out. The principal entrance into the park is 
 fo notorioufly mean and pitiful, that it would be only lofing 
 
 timo 
 
time to make any further mention of it. The fou ndation of this 
 building ought to have been raifed five or fix feet, the damp- 
 nefs of which demanded Inch an help, which is plain from the 
 necefiity of a contrivance which has been fince made to keep the 
 tide out, of this the builders could not be ignorant while at work 
 upon the foundation, becaufe the water came into the works every 
 tide 3 however, inftead of raifing the foundation, they very wifely, 
 after the building was compleated, took away a vaft deal of ground 
 from the Parade, in order to give the ftrudture, an air of elevation, 
 which it evidently wanted, and ever mud; want while the building re- 
 mains, and confequently made that part of the ground lower which 
 was already too low. Perhaps it would have been better to have raifed 
 the foundation as before mentioned, and to have formed the whole by 
 two large fquares of three fides each, one to front the park, and the 
 other the ftreet, with piazzas all round, for the convenience of the 
 foldiers in bad weather. In the center of thefe two fquares, which 
 ought to have extended the whole width of the Parade, a capital 
 entrance might have been formed in the ftile of a triumphal arch, of 
 a proper heighth and magnitude fuited to the nature of the place ; 
 there might have been two fpacious quadrangles, one on each fide 
 large enough to have drawn up the Guards within, and not in the 
 open ftreet, which, being fo great a thoroughfare, is an inconvenience 
 that ought to be remedied. Thefe quadrangles might have contained 
 futtling houfes, by which means thofe nuifances of provifions, 
 which are fold to the foldiers, would have been prevented from 
 making their appearance in the fireet, and deforming it, which is 
 at prefent the conftant pra&ice. The buildings furrounding the 
 quadrangles might have been applied to the ufe of fome publick 
 offices, and there might have been room found for a military aca- 
 demy and other ufes ; it is prefumed, this defign would have pro- 
 duced a noble objedt to the park and fireet, and have been fuitable 
 to its ufe and fituation. 
 
 As to the interior parts of this building, they are worfe, if pof- 
 fible, than the exterior, the windows of fome of the lower apart- 
 ments are contrived in fuch a manner, that the light, inftead of 
 
 coming 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 129 
 
 coming from the top of the room, is admitted at the bottom ; the 
 head of a man is even with the top of the windows, this confe- 
 quently produces a large heavy fpace from the upper part of the 
 fafh to the cieling, which conveys a gloominefs to the whole 
 apartment : Indeed, mod of the modern buildings are of this 
 cad, and within have rather the appearance of dungeons than 
 of houfes, indead of conveying chearful ideas by giving light, 
 they rather convey thofe of fubterranean caverns; this is occa- 
 fioned by the unaccountable pradice of making the openings of 
 the windows fo very fmall, that they more referable port-holes 
 than openings for the admiffion of light. By this, houfes are 
 made melancholy, which certainly is a great impropriety in this 
 country, where the weather is for half the year dull enough; 
 certainly a cheerful looking houfe, in fome meafure, contributes to 
 make thofe who inhabit it fo; it is an eafy matter to fhut out light, 
 if too much has been given, but it is not fo eafy to give more 
 when too little has been provided. 
 
 It is rather furpridng, that the proper enlightening of houfes has 
 not been more attended to. It does not wholly depend upon the 
 openings of windows, but, in fome degree; on fituation whe- 
 ther high or low, and if in towns, whether the dreets are wide 
 or narrow; there is alfo a difference produced by the afped of the 
 windows. Another error which contributes towards making rooms 
 dark, is the making them too deep, whereas they fhould, be rather 
 wide, and the word: of all is, that of dropping the windows too 
 low from the cieling, to which is often afterwards added a fedoon- 
 curtain, which is effedually making bad worfe, and fpoils the 
 finifhing of an elegant room. In fhort, where it can be done, 
 as in the forming of new dreets, regard diould be had to the 
 height of the intended buildings, allowing fpace enough to give a 
 free admiffion to the light, that is, fuch a width as would allow 
 the fky to be feen from the windows of the lower apartments over 
 the tops of the oppofite houfes 
 
 If 
 
 * No ftreet fhould be narrower than where two carriages may conveniently pafs, 
 with proper foot-paths on each fide, and if the heights of houfes were regulated it 
 would be an advantage both in refpeft to light and appearance. The elevation of 
 
 $ buildings 
 
If the windows in modern houfes are ill contrived the en- 
 trances to them are equally bad. Formerly a nobleman’s houfe 
 was marked by a large entrance, and the decorations gene- 
 rally proclaimed to whom it belonged; but modern tafte allows 
 no fuch thing, it is now become the fafhion not to make the 
 leaft diftintftioo between the doors and the windows, and it is not 
 without difficulty the way into fuch a houfe can be found, an inftance 
 of this fort is notorious in the defign of a houfe not long fince 
 fnifhed for a perfon of great diftindtion, but there are numberlefs 
 others of this fort to be met with in London. 
 
 As nothing but the univerfality of bad tafte could poflibly give 
 countenance to the foregoing errors, it is not very much to be 
 wondered at, that fuch a variety of abfurdities are produced in 
 building, drefs, equipage and furniture *. The defcriptions given by 
 travellers of the buildings, habits, cuftoms and manners of diftant 
 climes, if they are well written, and affifted with lineal reprefentations, 
 are fufficient furely to fatisfy a curious enquiring mind in all thofe par- 
 ticulars, without running into the abfurdity of putting them in pradice 
 in a climate rendered by nature totally unfit for their introduction; it 
 is certainly ridiculous for the Englifh to adopt the Chinefe manner of 
 building, but Chinefe buildings have for forne time paft been introduced 
 with fuccefs, and it would be no great matter of wonder, fhould it con- 
 tinue much longer in vogue, if we fhould adopt their drefs alfo, in that 
 cafe we might hope to fee the Park and publick gardens crowded with 
 mandarines, and a particular order of Ladies carried about by Chi- 
 nefe porters, who, as is the cuftom in that country, might proclaim 
 their occupation. With theutmoft refped to the tafte of the Englifh 
 
 buildings that form the ftreets might be made elegant and uniform, though with 
 great variety, and any number of windows given to a houfe. The new manner of 
 paving gives a determined and regular line to build from. 
 
 ^ Perhaps the Lad tafte which at prefent prevails in furniture is chiefly owing 
 to the practice of employing the perfons who build houfes to furnifh them, this is 
 very commonly done, but furely it cannot be expeaed that people who have no 
 tafte in building fhould have any in decoration, in fasft it is beneath the profeflion of 
 an .uchitedb to undertake the feveral profeflions of a cabinet maker, upholfterer* 
 brafier, &c. thefe are diftind employments, and by no means his proper bufinefs, 
 fo far as the mere defigning part is concerned, it may be allowable; to defign and 
 fuperintejnd ought to be his foie bufinefs. 
 
 Ladies, 
 
WESTMINSTER IMPROVED. 
 
 Ladies, nothing can be more trifling or ridiculous than to fee a 
 modern chimney-piece fet out with joffes and fuch horrid monflers, 
 which. can have no other charms to recommend them than defor- 
 mity, a high price, and their being the production of a very remote 
 country. The pafiion for incongruity, falfly termed variety, and 
 for impropriety, as falfly called tafte, has induced a gentleman of 
 fortune to make four iflands in a piece of water in his garden, in 
 each of thefe are eredted buildings, (it is prefumed they are called 
 temples) one of them is Chineie, another Egyptian, a third is Turkifh, 
 and the fourth Roman, and to compleat the abfurdity, this 
 elegant hodge-podge is fo contrived as to be feen at one view. 
 Certainly this is a childifh tafle, and extremely unbecoming the 
 character of the Englifh nation, who are efteemed by foreigners as 
 a grave philofophic people, they muft certainly laugh when they 
 fee us thus fervilely and ridiculoufly adopting the cuftoms and 
 manners of other countries. It would undoubtedly be truly ab- 
 furd and ridiculous, if becaufe it is the cuftom for Indians to wear 
 bobs in their nofes we fhould alfo wear them in ours, and indeed 
 it would be pleafant enough to hear and fee our publick orators 
 fnuffiing out their harangues through the encumbrance of fo elegant 
 a foreign ornament. 
 
 The great number of hofpitals and burying-grounds or church- 
 yards in this metropolis are extremely difagreeable, and ought by all 
 means to be banifhed to proper places at a convenient diflance 
 from it. 
 
 There is no doubt but feveral objections will be made to many 
 of the propofals for the publick advantage, which take up a great 
 part of the foregoing work, more efpecially thofe which relate to 
 the city, to which it can only be anfwered, the greater will be the 
 misfortune , and the author can only confole himfelf with the re- 
 flexion, that many perfons have met with as little regard as himfelf 
 in propofals of a fimilar nature. He cannot have more reafon to 
 complain than others, the citizens rejedfed Sir Chriftopher Wren’s 
 noble plan, and ruined the difpofition of the city. They petitioned 
 3 againft 
 
132 
 
 LONDON, &c. 
 
 . •'•ir 
 
 againft the new bridge at Weftminfter, but did not fucceed, and 
 again ft that at Black-Fry ars, with the fame fuccefs. They did the 
 fame againft the intended ftreet oppofite the Manfion-Houfe, and 
 unfortunately fucceeded. They attempted to hinder the repairs of 
 London Bridge, and were again unfortunate, and fome among them 
 have ftrenuoufly argued againft the beft fcheme that ever was 
 thought of for the improvement of any city, that tor paving, light- 
 ing and cleanfing the ftreets like thofe of Weftminfter, but hap- 
 pily without effedt However it is to be hoped that the age will 
 grow wifer by degrees, and that they will learn to take every oppor- 
 tunity for the future to promote the publick good. 
 
 OMISSIONS. 
 
 Conduit-Street is opened into Carnaby-Market and Marlbo- 
 rough-Street. 
 
 Vine-Street is continued into Piccadilly. 
 
 If the propofal of Windmill-Street, &c. fhould take place, the 
 market for hay, now a nuifance to the neighbourhood, fhould 
 be removed to fome more convenient fpot for the purpofe, as it 
 would become a much greater thoroughfare than it is at prefent. 
 
 As farther improvements, to thole already offered, relative to 
 Tower-Hill, a handfome ftone parapet, baluftrade, or iron rail, 
 fhould be eredted all round the outward line of the ditch, inftead of 
 thofe mean wooden ones, that are now there, which are ever 
 fubjedt to decay, and by their weaknefs and frequent want of repair, 
 have often proved fatal to many. That the ditch fhould be always 
 kept clean and covered with water, and the whole furface of the 
 hill, be properly levelled. Thefe improvements would certainly 
 be very ufeful and commodious, as well to the publick as the in- 
 habitants, and make one of the nobleft openings about London, and 
 be of confiderable confequence and advantage to the proprietois of 
 the feveral buildings that furround the hill, moft of which at pre- 
 fent are of little value* 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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 V 
 
 
 
 
 SPECIAL 85'B 
 
 I5012_ 
 
 a