362 Metropolitan Improvements. [Ocr. 
reference to us; let us build what we want without reference to 
them.” ; 
While such is the case, what unanimity of design can be expected in 
the improvements? What chance hasan architect of doing justice to his 
art or to himself? 
After bestowing a few pages and plates upon York House—which 
we congratulate the public has been constructed after the present 
design, said to be that of the late Duchess of Rutland, instead of 
after those upon which it was first began, and which would really have 
been a disgrace to the Park—the Colonel proceeds to the subject of a 
royal palace ; and here again he allows the magnificence of his imagina- 
tion to take the lead. The palace is placed near the Serpentine, in Hyde 
Park—the river and Kensington Gardens are made available as park 
and grounds—and a street is projected, leading in one unbroken line 
from the entrance to the Park at Grosvenor Gate to St. Paul’s cathedral, 
which is intended to form the magnificent termination of what would 
certainly be the finest street in the world. 
We have little hesitation in stating our opinion, that this is decidedly 
the best plan that we have seen for a radical improvement of the metro- 
polis. A street of such length, terminating at one end by an elegant 
triumphal arch, forming an entrance to the palace of the sovereign, and 
bounded at the other by such a metropolitan cathedral as that of St. 
Paul’s, would indeed have formed an architectural vista, which we 
imagine would have been perfectly unequalled not only by any thing 
that has hitherto been executed, but by any thing that has hitherto been 
imagined. 
_ The colonel finishes his book with some observations upon Gwyn’s 
« London and Westminster improved,” which he accompanies by a litho- 
graphic copy of one ofthe plans from the work, by way of illustration of 
his remark, that there is scarcely one of the late speculations of improve- 
ment in the metropolis that is not to be found in this work, published in 
1766. 
_ In this work may be seen all the improvements about Westminster, at 
Whitehall Place—Charing Cross—at the King’s Mews—in Pall Mall— 
Regent Street—in the Strand—Waterloo Bridge—quays on both sides 
the river—two situations for a royal palace—the improvements at Hyde 
Park Corner, with the splendid addition of a triumphal arch—burial- 
grounds—cattle-market—and abattoirs. “ In a word, the enlarged and 
intelligent mind of this man seems to have embraced and anticipated 
every thing, and has left us little to do but to read and consider his 
invaluable work, and, as far as circumstances will allow, to carry his 
views into effect.” 
Such is the just tribute which Colonel Trench pays to the genius of 
Gwyn—a tribute which he ought certainly to have received from other 
quarters, where his work has been of so much, though unacknowledged 
service. 
The colonel’s own book and plans form valuable additions to the sub- 
ject ; and it is with regret that we turn from his fairy visions of archi- 
tectural embellishment to the dull recollection of the pounds, shillings, 
and pence, which renders his magnificent projects utopian. Could ano- 
ther Columbus discover another new world, to pour inexhaustible mines 
of gold and silver into our country’s lap, we know no way in which it 
might be more beneficially expended than in realizing some of the 
plans of Colonel Trench. ' a 
