126 Metropolitan Improvements. [FEB. 



splendid addition to the architectural beauties of London ; but while it 

 exhibits so much elegance in the proportion of the columns, and the exe- 

 cution of the capitals and entablature, it is impossible not to regret the 

 confused appearance of the attic and chirariies, and the smallness of the 

 openings under the architrave, which give a mean appearance to the whole 

 design. 



It is perhaps unfair to criticise any building of which only a portion is 

 erected, and which, of course, cannot be seen in its general connection with 

 the whole design. But it is impossible not to perceive the defect of this 

 building to consist in the columns not having been placed on a higher 

 basement : had this been the case, their beauty would not only have been 

 more conspicuous, but a superior consequence would have been imparted 

 to the whole construction ; and the attic, which at present distresses the 

 eye, and deteriorates so much from the beauty of the design, might have 

 been hid, if not totally avoided. The colonnade is, however, in itself, 

 truly beautiful, and must be welcomed by the lovers of the arts as one of 

 the chastest specimens of Corinthian architecture that we possess. In 

 this building the artist has, we believe, adopted the capitals of the columns 

 of the Temple of Jupiter Stator; and the whole of them, together with the 

 mouldings of the cornices, are beautifully executed. We wish, however, 

 that be had dispensed with the continuation of the astragal at the bottom of 

 the capitals, along the whole building, as it conveys the idea of a sub-en- 

 tablature, which is far from adding to the beauty of the design. 



The next new public building in this quarter of the town is the College of 

 Physicians, which is united in its elevation with the Union Club-House. 

 This facade is intended to form one side of the great space that is to be 

 laid open to Charing-cross ; in the centre of which it is Mr. Nash's wish to 

 accomplish a correct restoration of the Parthenon, adapted to the uses of 

 some public exhibition. 



Here the artist had decidedly one of the finest situations for architectural 

 display that can present itself among the new arrangements. It stands 

 directly in front of one of the grandest approaches to the new street, and 

 catches the eye of the beholder nearly a quarter of a mile before he arrives 

 at its porticos. He was likewise sure, from his knowledge of the ulterior 

 arrangement of this part of the plan, that this view of his work could 

 never be intercepted, and he ought to have devoted his acknowledged 

 talent to the formation of some design worthy of such a conspicuous 

 station, and that might have been ranked among the proudest specimens 

 of the art. Instead of this, however, we have an immense monotonous 

 range of attached columns and pilasters, unwieldy in their appearance, 

 and crowded together without any effect. The recesses seem made for 

 the sole purpose of creating room for the attached columns, and the pro- 

 jections formed as mere apologies for the introduction of pilasters. The 

 only good part of this pile of building is the portico at the end next 

 Dorset-place, where it is almost concealed from observation, comparatively 

 with what it would have been in either of the other fronts of the building. 

 At the other end it would have formed a fine object from New-street, 

 Charing-cross, and Pall-mall, or it might have been used judiciously to 

 break the monotony of the principal fa9adc. 



It is with pleasure that we turn from this erection to the elegant Ionic 

 .lub-House of the University; both the interior and exterior of which 

 do the artists, Messrs. Wilkins and Gandy, the greatest credit. We should 

 have wished for greater projection in the Ionic pediment, but we presume 



