THE recent announcement of the plan for the erection of several additional churches in the environs of the metropolis, has, perhaps, not altogether been productive of so much good taste, as might be expected from that spirit of emulation which distinguishes our architects of the present day. This disappointment is, however, partly accounted for by the inadequacy of the funds, the undertaking, and the limited but business-like caution with which these contracts have been made. Hence, our new churches will not bear comparison with the splendid designs of Wren, nor the beautiful symmetry of Inigo Jones. They are characterized by their neatness, but they want that air of cathedral solemnity which is calculated to inspire all the grateful feelings of religious awe. Accustomed to the surpassing magnificence of stupendous colonnades, the richness of highly-wrought friezes, the graceful column, with its fluted shaft, and scrolling capital, the elaborate workmanship of crowded entablatures, the pinnacled tower, and the sportive architectural varieties of lofty spires-we can but regard the puny edifices of our own times with comparative indifference. We are not advocates of a lavish display of labour in our religious temples, nor do we consider their importance to be enhanced by such means. Simplicity is the acknowledged essence of taste; still, if simplicity be sought for its own sake, instead of being made subsidiary and attendant, it soon deviates into meanness.

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should preside over ornament, not banish it. To say that an object is simple, is of itself no praise: we inquire, "Is it well proportioned, beautifully ornamented?" In many edifices, utility is the primary object, and this principle alone will often reconcile us to their appearance; well-judged proportions may make them pleasing, and size may give them grandeur; but, to produce beauty, there must be a display of ornament, profuse, according to the character and intention of the building, and regulated in its distribution by an unquestionable correctness of judgment. For example,-Let us take a Grecian temple, the renowned Parthenon, the pride of Athens; strip it of such portions as are absolutely and merely decorations; for the elegant column, substitute a square pillar; deprive the entablature of its divisions; strip the frieze of its triglyphs and sculptures; the pediments of their alto-relievos; let plain eaves replace the moulded cornice,—and what remains? Undoubtedly there are still left the form and general proportions; and these are still so fine, that it will be a most pleasing object, but beauty is vanished. If thus with such a master-piece, how must it fare with the productions of the present day?

Langham-Place Church is, we believe, designed and built by Mr. Nash; and among churches of the florid class, it will esentially take a foremost rank, when the vapourings of affected taste and judgment shall be dissipated, and the prejudices of contemporaries silenced.-To speak of it technically, much might be said both for and against the idea of making the spire an entire and unbroken cone. With Wren's examples of the spires of Bow Church, and that of St. Bride's, no architect of inventive faculty need be at a loss for the means of producing a bold spire of conical arrangement, which shall still be so broken in its slope surface as to make the variations graceful. The tower and spire of Bow Church cost somewhat more than 8000l. sterling, and we are not to look to our present economical church-builders for exertions disproportioned to the pecuniary means allotted them: but the examples are before them, and should be attended to. The effect of the new church from the south, and from that point of the main street at which it first comes into view, is picturesque (in the best and most artist-like sense of the term,) and eminently beautiful; and the conical spire compasses but a subordinate portion of the whole, while the general effect of the building is at once interesting and successful.

As national buildings are alike subject to the anathemas and criticism of all classes, much unmerited censure has been bestowed on many of our new churches, and especially on Langham-place Church. As long as pleasantry and humour are kept up in pasquinades, we consider them harmless; but where humour is usurped by vulgarity, they merit unqualified contempt. The following lines, said to be written by one of the authors of the "Rejected Addresses," appertain to the former class, and as they abound with classic humour their introduction will not be considered unappropriate.

THE CHURCH IN LANGHAM PLACE.

"Whoever walks through London streets,"

Said Momus to the Son of Saturn, "Each day new edifices meets,

of queer proportion, queerer pattern: If thou, O cloud-compelling god,

Wilt aid me with thy special grace, I, too, will wield my motley hod,

And build a church in Langham-place."

Agreed," the Thunderer cries: 66 go plant
Thine edifice, I care not how ill;
Take notice, Earth, I hereby grant
Carte blanche of mortar, stone, and trowel.
Go, Hermes, Hercules, and Mars,

Fraught with these bills on Henry Hase,
Drop with yon jester from the stars,

And build a church in Langham-place."

THE academical establishments of a nation may be considered as indicative of its happiness, inasmuch as the diffusion of knowledge is calculated to raise the minds of men above the complicated evils which result from vice and error. It is evident that this establishment is of very ancient date, according to the charter of Richard, Bishop of London, in the time of Henry I., who granted to one Hugh, the schoolmaster, and his successor in that employment, the habitation of Durandus, at the corner of the turret, or belltower, where William, dean of St. Paul's, had placed him, together with the custody of the library belonging to the church. Henry, a canon of the bishop's, succeeded Hugh, and on him the bishop conferred several rich grants. Such was the ancient school, dedicated to the honour of St. Paul; on which foundation, Dean Colet erected the present flourishing seminary.

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John Colet was the eldest of ten brothers and eleven sisters, children of Sir Henry and dame Christian Colet; but this army of a progeny yielded the field to the first-born, and in a short period our Dean was the only survivor. He was born in the year 1466, within the parish of St. Anthony's, London; and is supposed to have been educated in the school of that name. New

court says, he was sent to Oxford in 1483; where he continued seven years, acquiring knowledge and studying logic and philosophy. After proceeding in arts, he made a tour on the continent, improving himself there in divinity. On his return to Oxford, he lectured, gratis, on all St. Paul's Epistles. This appears to have been between the years 1497 and 1499. At Oxford, Colet became acquainted with the learned German, Erasmus. This led to a most sincere friendship, never interrupted till the death of the former; which event Erasmus lamented in pathetic terms on all occasions.

In 1493, Colet obtained the prebend of Botevant, in St. Peter's church, York; 1502 produced him that of Durnesford, Sarum, and Goodeaster, in St. Martin's le Grand, London, which last he resigned 1503. In 1497 he was ordained deacon, and, the same year, priest, presented by Sir Henry Colet to the living of Thirning, in the county of Bucks; in 1505, we find him a Doctor of Divinity, prebendary of Mora, and, soon after, Dean of St. Paul's.

The worthy dean died of a consumption, the consequence of an imperfect recovery from the sweating-sickness, one of the ancient scourges of England, Sept. 16, 1519; and was buried near the statue of St. Wigefort, on the South side of the choir of St. Paul's, where he had caused a monument to be erected for himself some years before, inscribed only "JOANNES COLETUS.".

The rules for the government of the school must have been the study of a considerable portion of his time. Erasmus has afforded us a minute description of it, which Dr. Knight translated from the Latin, as follows : "Upon the death of his father, when, by right of inheritance, he was possessed of a good sum of money, lest the keeping of it should corrupt his mind, and turn it too much toward the world, he laid out a great part of it in building a new school, in the church-yard of St. Paul's; dedicated to the child Jesus; a magnificent fabric, to which he added two dwelling houses for the two several masters, and to them he allotted ample salaries, that they might teach a certain number of boys free, and for the sake of charity. He divided the school into four apartments: the first, viz. the porch and entrance, is for catechumens, or the children to be instructed in the principles of religion; where no child is to be admitted but what can read and write. The second apartment is for the lower boys; to be taught by the second master, or usher. The third for the upper forms, under the head master. Which two parts of the school are divided by a curtain, to be drawn at pleasure. Over the master's chair is an image of the child Jesus, of admirable work, in the gesture of teaching; whom all the boys, going and coming, salute with a short hymn. And there is a representation of God the Father, saying, "Hear ye him," these words being written at my suggestion, The fourth, or last apartment, is a little chapel for divine service. The school has no corners or hiding places, nothing like a cell or closet. The boys have their distinct forms or benches, one above another. Every form holds sixteen ; and he that is head, or captain, of each form, has a little kind of desk, by way of pre-eminence. They are not to admit all boys of course; but to choose them in, according to their parts and capacities.”