1840.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL^ 



305 



They are of opinion that a cohimn of such dimensions ^\ill render 

 the surrounding buildings less important, and, so situated, will not 

 group well with anything in its neighbourhood. 



They are of opinion that, as approached from Whitehall, as seen at 

 the termination of this grand avenue, which forms one of the principal 

 entrances of the metropolis, the appearance of the National Gallery 

 will be much injured by the column. In this point of view the column 

 will cut the National Gallery through the centre, and the pedestal of 

 the column alone will nearly conceal both the portico and the cupola. 



They are of opinion that the site selected is not a favourable position 

 for the column itself. 



There is another point to which your Committee will advert, which 

 is, that the statue of King Charles is not in a line with the column; 

 nor could this defect, from tlie proximity of the two objects, fail to 

 catch the eye. So long as there is no column in the proposed situ- 

 ation, the statue of King Charles, where it now stands, is a fortunate 

 circumstance, offering a subordinate object in front of the National 

 Gallery, which serves as a scale, without obstructing the view. 



Your Committee, entertaining these opinions, are unable to avoid 

 arriving at the conclusion, that it is undesirable that the Nelson 

 Column should be placed in the situation which is at present selected. 

 If it is desirable in a great city to suggest the idea of space, and hav- 

 ing once obtained space, not to block it up again — if the general archi- 

 tectural effect of Trafalgar Square, or of the buildings around it, is to 

 be at all considered — or if, at any time, an equally conspicuous position 

 should be desired for any other monument — the situation at present 

 selected for the Nelson Monument is most unfortunate. 



Your Committee having arrived at this decision, proceeded to 

 inquire at what cost a change of plan in the jjosition of Nelson's 

 Column could now be effected, and how far it would be consistent with 

 good faith now to interdict the Nelson Committee from prosecuting 

 their work in the situation in which it is commenced. 



What has actually been done towards the erection of the Nelson 

 Column is no more than the excavation for the foundation, and pouring 

 in the concrete which is to form a bed for the masonry, the expense of 

 which, in Mr. Barry's opinion, would be more than covered by 1,000/. 

 Contracts, however, have been entered into by the Nelson Committee, 

 a failure to complete which would subject them to actions at law. It 

 is not, however, probable that, if the same work were entrusted to the 

 same persons in another situation, such actions would be instituted. 

 The pecuniary loss, therefore, w'ould not of itself entail so great a 

 sacrifice as to preclude the idea of even now adopting a preferable 

 course. 



"But it appears by the Treasury Letter, bearing date 27 January, 

 1S40, that the Lords of the Treasury have authorized the Commissioners 

 of the Woods and Forests to deliver over the site appropriated for 

 the Nelson Monument to the Committee for carrying that object into 

 effect; and according to the evidence of Mr. Scott, it appears that the 

 Architect has taken possession of the site, and has commenced the 

 concrete and brickwork of the foundation, in which considerable pro- 

 gress has been made, and on the completion of which the Nelson Com- 

 mittee are bound to pay the contractors the sum of 2,0001'." 



Your Committee cannot doubt that the Lords of the Treasury in 

 authorizing the Commissioners of Woods and Forests to give that site 

 to the Nelson Committee for the erection of the proposed column, 

 entertained the fullest confidence that funds would be provided for 

 carrying out the work in conformity to the plans and drawings which 

 had been seen and approved ; and they feel they should be wanting in 

 their duty if they failed to direct the attention of the House to the 

 fact that, according to the evidence, the subscription is at present de- 

 ficient for the purpose, to the amount of some tho\isand pounds. Mr. 

 Railton informed the Committee that his estimate of the column 

 amounts to £28,000, whilst the sura subscribed does not exceed 

 £18,000, nor does it appear that any well-grounded hope exists of any 

 considerable addition. 



It is true that contractors have engaged to complete the pedestal 

 and the column for £15,000, and the metal for the capital is expected 

 to be supplied by the Ordnance. But your Committee submit that a 

 perishable statue of Portland stone is most objectionable ; and sup- 

 posing the terms of the contracts to be fulfilled to the letter (which in 

 works of such a magnitude is seldom the case), the remaining £3,000 

 is wholly inadequate to meet the expense of casting the capital, of 

 obtaining such a statue as ought to crown the summit, and of providing 

 the bronze bas-reliefs for the sides of the pedestal, and the lions at the 

 corners of the base. Even if the fund should prove sufficient to com- 

 plete the masonry, no statue can be raised but one of Portland stone, 

 and the column without its bas-reliefs will remain a denuded mass, 

 which, however gigantic, will have a mean effect. 



[The foUo'.vingjs an analysis of the examination of the Witnesses.] 



IVilliam Kaillon, Esq.. was c-\amuied, he stated that he was an architect — 

 that his plan was selected for the Nelson column. The height of the column 

 altoKether is now 170 feet, including the steps and everything ; the original 

 height was 203 feet ; it was reihiceJ about two months after tlie last compe- 

 tition, by order of the government. In conseqvience of a representation which 

 was made to the Government, that the height of the column, e.sceedmg that 

 of any other column of the Corinthian order, which had ever been executed, 

 would expose the column itself in that position to risk; the Government 

 thereupon referred the consideration of the possible danger, and the charac- 

 ter of its capital, to .^ir Robert Smirke and Mr. Walker, the President of the 

 Institution of Civil Engineers. — It was reduced altogedier 33 feet in height, 

 both from the shaft and the pedestal. So as again to put the whole building 

 of the column into just architectural jiroportions, the other proportions were 

 diminished altogether ; the height of the shaft is 98 feet six inches; the pe- 

 destal of the statue 12 feet six inches; the statue 16 feet ; the steps seven 

 feet, and the pedestal 30 feet six inches high. The breadth of the square part of 

 the pedestal is 17 feet. The amo\mt of his estimate was £30,000. It will be 

 done for less than that. He did not consider the reduction made any differ- 

 ence, as granite is to be used instead of freestone, which is of course very 

 much dearer; the alteration has been no pecuniary benefit, though it may 

 increase the durability, granite being stronger than freestone. From the use 

 of granite instead of freestone it mounted up to 28,000/.; if it had been in 

 freestone it might have been 203 feet high for the same amount : in granite 

 it would, of course, have been more expensive at the 203 feet ; it is to be 

 completed in two years. He did not think the alteration in the position ren- 

 ders any other alteration necessary. As far as it intercepts the view of the 

 National Gallery, the present position of the column is a great improvement. 

 Where it was be'fore, it was no detriment to the National Gallery ; the Gal- 

 lery is a very long line, and requires to be broken ; therelore it brings it more 

 into keening. The position of the column is now settled to suit Mr. Barry's 

 plan. The original site of the column was nearer the National Gallery than 

 is now proposed. He considered that the position Government has selected 

 for the column is as advantageous for its effect, and the general architectural 

 effect of the whole site, as the position originally selected. He would have 

 selected it himself, but at that time the ground did not belong to Government. 

 They have obtained it since. Ha is better satisfied with it, as it is at pre- 

 sent ; it is certainly an improvement to the whole square; and it is seen 

 better from the Strand and Cockspur-street, and from different places than 

 it was before. He considered that a column was best calculated for this. 

 He had well considered many other designs, and came to the conclusion that 

 a column was best suited to this site, as it obstructs the view of the Gallery 

 and all the buildings in the square less than others possibly can do, and by 

 putting it in the ceutre. you have a better view of the National Ciallery from 

 every point than by putting it in a different situation ; he did not think any 

 other species of monument would so little interrupt the view of the National 

 Gallery. The height to the top of the dome of the National Gallery is about 

 120 or 130 feet. The height of the spire of St. Martin's Church is 180 feet 

 from the ground ; to which must be added 12feet six inchesfor the difference 

 in the level, making 192 feet six inches ; so that St. Martin's Church is con- 

 .sideraldy higher, and nearer the National Gallerv than my column ; and if 

 that does not injure it, he did not see how his column could. Allowing for 

 the difference in the elevation of the two, the difference in the height of St. 

 Martin's Church is 22 feet six inches above the National Gallery. 



Charles Barry, Esq., was examined, he stated that he was employed in lay- 

 ing out the ground in front of the Nat'on-d Gallery. He explained to the 

 Committee the nature of his design for laying out the square. The area is 

 proposed to be level ; on the north side, in front of the National Gallery, a 

 terrace is proposed 165 feet long and 32 feet vide, with a flight of steps at 

 each end to the area below the same width (each step being two feet wide 

 and five inches high), with ample landings in the circular corners of the 

 square. The terrace is proposed to have at each end two large oblong pedes- 

 tals for groups of sculpture, and circular pedestals for candelabra are pro- 

 posed to be placed at the foot of each of the flights of steps, as w ell as at the 

 angles of ihe square towards Cockspur-street and the Strand. The terrace 

 and flanking w alls of the steps are proposed to be suvmounted by a balustrade. 

 The terrace Vail and balustrade will be 14 feet in height. The embanl<ment 

 or retaining walls to the surrounding streets are proposed to be surmounted 

 by a solid parapet tliree feet high. The front or south side of the square, and 

 the north side of the terrace towards the road in front of the National Gal- 

 lery, are proposed to be enclosed by ornamental stone posts, so placed as to 

 be a barrier against carriages and horses. The area is propossd to be covered 

 with asphaltum. The terrace to be paved ; and the whole cif the masonry in 

 the terrace and retaining walls, the steps and landings, the pedestals, balus- 

 trades, and lateral parapets, as well as the posts on the south side of the 

 square and on the terrace, are proposed to be wholly of Aberdeen granite. The 

 enclosed area from east to west is about 350 feet ; from north to south, in- 

 cluding the terrace on the north side which is 32 feet wide, is 290 feet. TTie 

 area between the building from east to west is about 500 feet wide, ami from 

 the statue at Charing-cross to the front of the portico of the National Cial- 

 lery. the length is about 470 feet. From the proposed column to the front of 

 the National Ciallery the length is 300 feet. From the column to Cralg's- 

 court, the length is 400 feet. Fri m the column to Whitehall chapel, the 

 length is 1,180 feet. From the column to the angles of Cockspur-street and 

 the Strand, the length is 240 feet. From the column to the north-west angle 

 of Northumberland House, the length is 180 feet ; that is, as regards the 

 dimensions of the square and the distance. The measurements are from the 

 shaft of the column. The levels of the square below the road in front of tlie 

 Gallery are as follows : at the base of the proposed terrace wall, 11 feet ; at 

 the proposed column, 11 feet ; at Craig's-court, 25 feet ; at Whitehall chapel, 

 about 30 feet. The amount of his estimate is 11,000;. ; the groups of sculp- 

 ture and candelabra surmounting the pedestals should be of bronze. The 

 asphaltum covering of the S'juare, the pavement of the terrace, and the 

 groups of sculptuie on the pedestals, form no part of the estimate. He stated 

 fo the Committee the effect of the proposed column upon the National Gal- 

 lery, when viewed from Craig's-court and Whitehall. When viewed from 



