180 The Street Architecture of London, 



Union Bank, at the corner of Carey Street, he considered of 

 great merit, and somewhat Parisian in character. Ludgate 

 Hill was pronounced as a picturesque approach to St. Paul's, 

 particularly in respect of St. Martin's Church, with its elegant 

 and unpretending spire. The Railway Bridge was abominable, 

 and we believe there was an expression of something very like 

 sacre when it first came into view. St. Paul's has been already 

 remarked upon. The neighbouring Hall of Christ's Hospital 

 was much approved. The Post Office and Goldsmith's Hall 

 were both striking ; Guildhall by no means worthy of the first 

 city of the world — the Continental Hotels de Yille eclipse it 

 entirely. The fagade of Mercers' Hall detained our young 

 friend for some time, and we felt somewhat humbled at not 

 being able to inform our inquirer the name of the architect. 

 The Mansion-House he thought noble and striking. The 

 Portico of the Royal Exchange met his approval, but the pre- 

 tentious gigantic erection immediately opposite, and soaring 

 above it, produced an exclamation which was anything but 

 that of approval. Why the Bank itself should be so low a 

 structure surprised him, but the circular end of the Bank, at 

 Princes Street and Lothbury, excited the greatest delight ; he 

 considered it perfectly unique — a choice specimen of taste and 

 genius. Adjoining Lothbury we found the New Auction Mart, 

 quite Yenetian in character, evidently by a master hand — the 

 same, we believe, that has given us the noble fagade of Munt 

 and Brown's warehouse in Wood Street. The new Insurance 

 Office, on the site of the former Auction Mart, was passed in 

 silence ; but the noble erection, the Sun Fire Office, at the 

 corner of Bartholomew Lane and Threadneedle Street, was 

 recognized as one of the most successful works of the most 

 accomplished architect the present century has produced. 

 Our young friend hardly knew which most to admire — the 

 beautiful effect of the mass, or the exquisite taste of the orna- 

 mentation, the proportion of ornament to plain surface, and the 

 character and suitableness of the ornaments themselves. Pro- 

 ceeding along Broad Street, a number of modern erections, 

 mostly in stone, present themselves. They are not generally of 

 great merit, save and excepting the Imperial Fire Office. The 

 large pile opposite the City Club quite enraged our French visitor 

 that so golden an opportunity should have been lost. " De- 

 testable!" was all he muttered. The new National Provincial 

 Bank, in Bishopsgate Street, put our friend in good humour. 

 It is by the same talented hand that produced the Imperial. 

 This is certainly one of the best attempts at classic architec- 

 ture that we have in the Metropolis, and the liberal applica- 

 tion of appropriate sculpture in the design gives an appearance 

 of Roman magnificence. 



