

NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



CLAMOUR AT THE MARCH OP MORTAR. A controversy has been 

 carried on, with no little acrimony, between Mr. Wilkins, the archi- 

 tect, and others of his brethren, respecting the projected National 

 Gallery. The difference apparently arises from a contemplated en- 

 croachment of the new building upon the open view of the front of 

 St. Martin's Church. Now, if the plans subjected by the architect 

 are really worthy to be carried into effect, the grandeur and real im- 

 portance of a national building is, in our opinion, of so much more 

 consequence than St. Martin's Church, that the objections raised 

 against Mr. Wilkins's plan would appear to be more the result of 

 party feeling, than of just and impartial criticism. It seems to us, 

 moreover, that the value of the church, as a specimen of architecture, 

 is much over-rated. It was built at a time when the architectural 

 dignity of our metropolis did not stand very high, in comparison with 

 the other nations of Europe ; it, therefore, became with us of an 

 undue importance ; and, not to be enraptured with its proportion, was 

 considered a sort of heresy in taste. Did ever architecture happen 

 to be the subject of conversation, thereupon the beauties of St. Mar- 

 tin's were held up to admiration it was like the eternal eloquence of 

 Frere Jacques on the accomplishments of his cat it w r as cat ! cat ! 

 everlastingly. One would fancy, to hear some quid nuncs, that there 

 is but one portico in the world, and that belongs to St. Martin's 

 and that, by no possibility, can there be another, because the man is 

 dead that made it. 



We are happy to bear testimony to the following condescension of 

 the dignitaries of Worthing. It is not always we find country gen- 

 tlemen so liberal in this encouragement of Art: 



" We understand that Mr. Hancock will probably, in the course of two 

 or three weeks, run his new and elegant steam -carriage, ' The Autopsy/ be- 

 tween Brighton and Worthing. At their meeting, on Thursday last, the 

 Commissioners of Worthing, in the handsomest manner, gave Mr. Hancock 

 permission to make use of their town pumps." 



We question whether Mr. Hancock will be able to avail himself 

 advantageously of the offer of these town pumps. However, the in- 

 tention is kind, and deserves notice. 



THE BLESSING OF IGNORANCE. At a late trial in the country, an 

 action was brought to recover the value of a gun, which had burst, 

 although warranted. The principal witness proved to us the advan- 

 tage, when firing a strange gun, of not being blessed with the pro- 

 fessional expertness of a sportsman. 



" Witness sent it down to a friend in the country, and it burst on the 

 second shot. His friend was inexperienced, and held the gun rather awkwardly, 

 or his hand would have been shot off." 



