Mr. URBAN, Feb. 14. incomper tent to discuss the correctness of A. H.'s chronological calculations, there are in his communication of last month, some unguarded expressions, which, as they appear to me in some degree to call in question the Divine inspiration of the Scriptures, I cannot pass without animadversion. In the first place, if we are to understand by the term prophecy the announcement (whether expressly or metaphorically) of future events, which could not be otherwise known than by a Divine inspiration, and which we know has never flowed but in one authorized channel, and of which the Scriptures are the only authentic record, why does A. H. in the same sentence, speak of the prophetical language of Scripture, and of the prophetical books of the Chinese? thus, seeming to class the wisdom, probably the fraud, of man, with the wisdom of God. Let them be designated by a characteristic appellation or a distinctive epithetthey cannot both be prophetical in the same sense; the difference, therefore, should be accurately marked. Again, he speaks of the Deluge" as an æra to which all Nations have reckoned up;" and adds, “that if all were content to remain there, we should all be satisfied of the truth of our own, aud of profane, and Sacred history." Does A. H. include, in this censure, Moses, or rather God, who by the pen of Moses, has declared that "In the beginning He created the Heavens and yon, of Ely; and 2dly,- Bolton. Penelope, born 1692. Clement Kempe. Perhaps some of S. D. the Earth? which beginning of time, by the aid of recorded ages of the Antediluvians, it is not very difficult to compute. If we will lay aside fanciful theories, and perplexing subtleties, we may surely reconcile in our minds the truth of the sacred narrative, with the main facts of our own and of profane history. Once more, in speaking of the Tower of Babel, A. H. designates it as a "land-mark" by which the simple-hearted inhabitants of that golden age might know which way to return home! "a motive," he adds, for the building of it," far more innocent than that ascribed by Moses." But how can any one even attempt to prove the innocence of the undertaking, without, at the same time, charging God foolishly? The attempt, in His judgment, was of that nature, as to demand an immediate and perpetual rebuke. If the building were founded on an innocent or useful intent, or even but on a mistaken judgment, either God took unjust vengeance, or Moses has written from traditional prejudice, and was not one of the " holy men of old, who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." Not in this age only, but in all, there are too many who are glad to lay hold of any such loose expression which tends to invalidate the Scriptures, and to lower them to the level of uninspired writings; a mischief which cannot be too carefully guarded against, nor too sedulously counteracted for to render them profitable for doctrine, for correction, for instruction in righteous ness, it must be laid down as an 'inviolable principle, that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God; question the probability of but one recorded fact, and you weaken the hold of every doctrine and precept.-On their Divine inspiration, as on the moving principle of some powerful engine, depends all their influence and authority over the consciences and lives of men. Y.D. Mr. URBAN, Westminster, Feb. 5. IT is gratifying to find that the spirit of improvement has not yet becoine extinct; and that those who have the power have also the inclination to contribute to the increase of the comfort of the citizens of this "overgrown Metropolis," by a better arrangement of the parts and consequent increase of effect and beauty to the whole. This spirit -more especially observable in the designs for altering the neighbourhood of the two Houses of Legislature must give great satisfaction to the publicespecially to those whom convenience or choice may have induced to fix their residences here-and must be productive of much that is good. The design which the Board of Works has agreed to adopt, as it tends considerably to restore to a healthy state a part of the present diseased "Lungs of London" will be of the greatest utility, and afford the most unequivocal delight. For some years past the royal Park of St. James's has been suffered to exist in a very deplorable condition-inconvenient to the visitors, and disgraceful to the country-without any, or scarcely any efforts being made towards the amelioration of the one, and consequent annihilation of the other. The formal arrangement of pleasure grounds in the time of the gaiety-inspiring Charles; or the no less cold distribution of landscape in the beginning of the 18th century, would be far preferable to its present appearance. In the former period there was something in this promenade, whereon the eye might rest with some feelings bordering upon satisfaction and pleasure; but since it has ceased to be the gardens of the Pa lace it has been gradually retrograding, till, it has arrived at the lowest state of degradation. Gwynne, in his "London and Westminster Improved," a book I have had occasion to notice before in my correspondence upon the Improvements of Westminster, mentioned the encroachments which were then making on the beauty of this spot -a spot as he justly remarks, which ought to be held sacred-with proper severity and due warmth; and suggested many alterations for its improvement. There is a point to which all things must arrive before a change can be effected. Our Park had arrived at this point; and is now undergoing some alterations for the better. My expectations that these would be preludes to greater exertions are, I perceive, with no small degree of pleasure upon the point of being confirmed: it having been at last decided that a terrace is to be erected along the south side of the park to James-street, Buckinghamgate, to accord with the alterations now in progress on the site of Carlton Palace. This plan, which must have struck very forcibly the minds of those who have given the subject a moment's consideration as the only one calculated to produce grandeur and beauty,—was I believe, first promulgated in a wellwritten pamphlet, entitled "Considerations on the expediency of building a Metropolitan Palace." The author,whoever it may be-and I have heard it attributed to a gentleman whose plan for the comfort of the citizens has been unrequited, though deserving of the highest praise and attention-displays great taste and feeling in his remarks. He says: "What can be more triste than St. James's Park? from Spring-gardens to the Stable-yard *; A filthy dark wall extends a miserable grove imperfectly concealing another dead wall, cramps the view of Constitution-hill; the Bird Cage-walk affords the united pleasure of a barrack-yard and of Tothill Fields. Compare with these the gay promenades of Paris; gardens much more confined in space, but as the French, This I presume will be removed in the alterations now in progress upon the site of Carlton House. Here I may be allowed to remark that the demolition of this regal pile is rapidly proceeding: the screen-which had the merit of hiding the beautiful portico-is nearly taken away; and the east end of the edifice is rapidly falling under the destroying utensils of the builder. The beautifully diversified garden has been all torn up, and the naked wall of the house, destitute of ornament, has been laid open to our view, with the two Gothic cloisters-alt zether presenting a dreary prospect, calculated to excite the reflections of the bien entretenus receive from their decoration, and from the free circulation of light and air, a gaiety of appearance which is in itself a real recreation." The reason assigned for this superiority of French pleasure-gardens has been very tastily clothed by the Muse in the following lines: The French have taste in all they do, Which we are quite without; It But I am digressing too much. will therefore be necessary to return to the line of houses running from those now existing on the south side of Princes-court to Queen-square, and so continued to the aforesaid James-street. One continued terrace would be far from handsome, owing to its extent: they might therefore be disposed in convenient groups, to accommodate the various entrances to and from the city; the façade of each group to possess different architectural features, similar to the Pallazini, as Lord Farnborough very appropriately designates them, in the Regent's Park. To each group might beallotted a small portion of ground, to be adorned with a very low shrubbery, or laid out in parterres of flowers. To prevent the architectural character of the façades from being hidden; and to give the parks an air of gaiety-which nobody can say they now possess, the planting of large or forest trees should be absolutely prohibited. The injudicious permission of this in the gardens attached to the houses in Arlingtonstreet, has been justly censured by Lord Farnborough in his able pamphlet upon the Improvement of Westminster. As this pamphlet has not been so generally circulated as its merits demand, I shall quote one passage bearing on the point. "There are many places and gardens which have lost all their cheerful character from their possessors having suffered their trees to overgrow the original intention of the plantation. Perhaps the spot when first planted was cold and naked, but nature clothes rapidly, though imperceptibly, and that which was once open and exposed, has become close and gloomy. Most people have the inclination to plant, but few have the courage to cut down; when all view is shut out, and they feel the necessity of making an opening, they do it with a timid hand. Respecting the new distribution of the ground within the park I am unac quainted: indeed I have not even heard that any new arrangement is intended, to its desirableness. Gwynne in his plan though no doubt can be entertained as and walks which, however agreeable laid down a new disposition of the trees time, would ill accord with modern to the geometrically-cut taste of his notions of effect in scenery. Among the most conspicuous alterations were the filling up the canal, and the erection of an equestrian statue or group of figures in the centre of the parade. The former, I by no means approve of; for, though the canal is devoid of all beauty, it might yet be made to blend harmoniously with the surrounding scenery at pence. a very trifling exA mere naked parallel sheet of water has a cold white glare, and is the more disgusting as it reminds one of its difference from the beautiful lines of a meandering river. Price humourously says it may be made of linen; for nothing can be more like than a sheet of water and a real sheet. An appropriate subject for the latter has been suggested by your valued Correspondent Col. Macdonald in p. 3. That it may be carried into effect must be the hearty wish of every admirer of those feelings which swayed the public conduct of his Royal Highness, and made him the beloved and respected friend of the army-the steady The houses in the squares erecting on this extensive property have a most magnificent pathway before them, paved with stones of such a length as to serve also for the roof of the vaults. This plan of paving has two advantages, seldom or ever blended, economy and effect. ness, it must be laid down as an 'inviolable principle, that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God; question the probability of but one recorded fact, and you weaken the hold of every doctrine and precept.-On their Divine inspiration, as on the moving principle of some powerful engine, depends all their influence and authority over the consciences and lives of men. Y.D. Mr. URBAN, Westminster, Feb. 5. IT is gratifying to find that the spi rit of improvement has not yet becoine extinct; and that those who have the power have also the inclination to contribute to the increase of the comfort of the citizens of this “overgrown Metropolis," by a better arrangement of the parts and consequent increase of effect and beauty to the whole. This spirit -more especially observable in the designs for altering the neighbourhood of the two Houses of Legislature must give great satisfaction to the publicespecially to those whom convenience or choice may have induced to fix their residences here-and must be productive of much that is good. The design which the Board of Works has agreed to adopt, as it tends considerably to restore to a healthy state a part of the present diseased "Lungs of London" will be of the greatest utility, and afford the most unequivocal delight. For some years past the royal Park of St. James's has been suffered to exist in a very deplorable condition-inconvenient to the visitors, and disgraceful to the country-without any, or scarcely any efforts being made towards the amelioration of the one, and consequent annihilation of the other. The formal arrangement of pleasure grounds in the time of the gaiety-inspiring Charles; or the no less cold distribution of landscape in the beginning of the 18th century, would be far preferable to its present appearance. In the former period there was something in this promenade, whereon the eye might rest with some feelings bordering upon satisfaction and pleasure; but since it has ceased to be the gardens of the Pa lace it has been gradually retrograding, till, it has arrived at the lowest state of degradation. Gwynne, in his "London and Westminster Improved," a book I have had occasion to notice before in my correspondence upon the Improvements of Westminster, mentioned the encroachments which were then making on the beauty of this spot -a spot as he justly remarks, which ought to be held sacred-with proper severity and due warmth; and suggested many alterations for its improve ment. There is a point to which all things must arrive before a change can be effected. Our Park had arrived at this point; and is now undergoing some alterations for the better. My expectations that these would be preludes to greater exertions are, I perceive, with no small degree of pleasure upon the point of being confirmed: it having been at last decided that a terrace is to be erected along the south side of the park to James-street, Buckinghamgate, to accord with the alterations now in progress on the site of Carlton Palace. This plan, which must have struck very forcibly the minds of those who have given the subject a moment's consideration as the only one calculated to produce grandeur and beauty,-was I believe, first promulgated in a wellwritten pamphlet, entitled "Considerations on the expediency of building a Metropolitan Palace." The author,whoever it may be-and I have heard it attributed to a gentleman whose plan for the comfort of the citizens has been unrequited, though deserving of the highest praise and attention-displays great taste and feeling in his remarks. He says: "What can be more triste than St. from Spring-gardens to the Stable-yard *; James's Park? A filthy dark wall extends a miserable grove imperfectly concealing another dead wall, cramps the view of Constitution-hill; the Bird Cage-walk affords the united pleasure of a barrack-yard and of Tothill Fields. Compare with these the gay promenades of Paris; gardens much more confined in space, but as the French, This I presume will be removed in the alterations now in progress upon the site of Carlton House. Here I may be allowed to remark that the demolition of this regal pile is rapidly proceeding: the screen-which had the merit of hiding the beautiful portico-is nearly taken away; and the east end of the edifice is rapidly falling under the destroying utensils of the builder. The beautifully diversified garden has been all torn up, and the naked wall of the house, destitute of ornament, has been laid open to our view, with the two Gothic cloisters- >ther presenting a dreary prospect, calculated to excite the reflections of the bien entretenus receive from their decora- which is in The reason assigned for this superiority of French pleasure-gardens has been very tastily clothed by the Muse in the following lines: The French have taste in all they do, Which we are quite without; But I am digressing too much. It "There are many places and gardens which have lost all their cheerful character from their possessors having suffered their trees to overgrow the original intention of the plantation. Perhaps the spot when first planted was cold and naked, but nature clothes rapidly, though imperceptibly, and that which was once open and exposed, has become close and gloomy. Most people have the inclination to plant, but few have the courage to cut down; when all view is shut out, and they feel the necessity of making an opening, they do it with a timid hand. It becomes a question of a twig when it at the improvement." It will be necessary, when this plan is put in execution, to form a road running parallel with the park, which should be the only carriage-way to the new houses, no vehicles whatever being permitted within the park gates. This road would then form an admirable carriage communication with Chelsea -the want of which is at present so deservedly complained of and be a great convenience to the west end of the town, and particularly to the world of houses now erecting on the Gros renor estate. Respecting the new distribution of the ground within the park I am unaoquainted: indeed I have not even heard that any new arrangement is intended, though no doubt can be entertained as to its desirableness. Gwynne in his plan laid down a new disposition of the trees and walks which, however agreeable to the geometrically-cut taste of his time, would ill accord with modern notions of effect in scenery. Among the most conspicuous alterations were the filling up the canal, and the erection of an equestrian statue or group of figures in the centre of the parade. The former, I by no means approve of; for, though the canal is devoid of all beauty, it might yet be made to blend harmoniously with the surrounding scenery at a very trifling expence. A mere naked parallel sheet of water has a cold white glare, and is the more disgusting as it reminds one of its difference from the beautiful lines of a meandering river. Price humourously says it may be made of linen; for nothing can be more like than a sheet of water and a real sheet. An appropriate subject for the latter has been suggested by your valued Correspondent Col. Macdonald in p. 3. That it may be carried into effect must be the hearty wish of every admirer of those feelings which swayed the public conduct of his Royal Highness, and made him the beloved and respected friend of the army-the steady The houses in the squares erecting on this extensive property have a most magnificent pathway before them, paved with stones of such a length as to serve also for the roof of the vaults. This plan of paving has two advantages, seldom or ever blended, economy and effect. |