shores of the Thames from foul mud and
abominations of all sorts, of embanking the noble
river, and, by narrowing the channel, and causing
the stream to flow between granite walls,
at once to purify it and to beautify the metropolis
with handsome quays, that might challenge
comparison with those of Paris and other
great continental cities. What such an
embankment would really be like; how much
land would remain at disposal after providing
for quays and roads; questions such as these
had never presented themselves to the public
mind. The scheme was in nubibus. The vague
prospects of the Embankment at that time
would have prevented it taking its place in the
consideration of the question of sites for the
new Courts, even if there had been any idea
of its capabilities. But, in 1862 the Embankment
Act was passed, and the work having
been pushed on with singular vigour and
rapidity, we now find ourselves in possession
of, perhaps, the finest river-side work known
in any age or any country.

But, besides the Embankment itself, there is
a very large area of land, partly unoccupied,
partly occupied by buildings of by no means a
superior class, lying between Somerset House
and the Temple, and which must inevitably be
turned to some purpose that shall be worthy of
the magnificence of the great work just
accomplished. The buildings along the Embankment
must be worthy of the Embankment itself. And
here seems to be the solution of the question;
here seems to be the escape from the difficulties
and inconveniences of Carey-street.

The Thames Embankment appears to be the
place of all others for the Palace of Justice;
had the Embankment been planned with that
view alone, it could not have been more singularly
appropriate for the purpose. Let us see
how the case stands as between Carey-street
and the newly proposed site.

The land already taken north of the Strand
has cost, as we have seen, eight hundred
thousand pounds; in the event of that site being
abandoned, the difference in the cost of the
two sites will simply be the difference between
what we have spent and what we could get for
the land we have bought with the money. The
estimated cost of the Carey-street site is a
million and a half; the cost of the Thames
Embankment and Strand site is estimated at a
like amount; if it be argued that the latter
estimate may go as far wrong as the original
estimate of 1865 as touching the Carey-street
site, it must be remembered that a large
portion of the Embankment site is already
waste land, and that the estimate for the
buildings to be taken is at least as likely to
be correct as the estimate of seven hundred
thousand pounds, for which the commissioners
now ask to purchase what they consider
necessary for the completion of the Carey-street
site. The new Courts will probably cost
about the same amount, wherever they are
built; so the only question to be dealt with
financially, is, what is likely to be the loss
on the property already acquired? That this
would be a formidable amount we do not
believe. The land is very valuable, and useful
for many purposes, and it would be greatly
improved in value if a street were run from
the Embankment by way of Essex-street, and
through the land we have bought, to Lincoln's-
inn-fields—which again could be brought into
direct communication with Holborn by a very
short additional street. This thoroughfare would
be publicly useful, and whether it be made
at present or no, some such plan must very
shortly be adopted to secure that direct
communication between Holborn, the Strand, and
the river, which does not exist, and which is
greatly needed. The question of cost, therefore,
need not greatly alarm the most sensitive
tax-payer.

The Embankment site contains two acres
more land than its rival, which is ample
space for all the accommodation that can
possibly be required; with this advantage in
the matter of space, there are the great and
important considerations of light, air, and quiet.
Nowhere overlooked; situated by the side of a
great tidal river, affording continually a free
current of air, and open to the greatest amount
of light to be found in dingy London; the
buildings might be made most suitable for all
the purposes required. The light and air would
be so plentiful that the innermost parts of the
building would be cheerful and convenient;
the space at the architects' disposal would
admit of every court, of every room, of every
lobby, being built of dimensions sufficient for
any emergencies. For it must be remembered
that we are to erect a building to stand for
centuries, and we should be liberal in providing
for the possibly increased requirements that
the augmented trade and wealth of years may
bring.

The superiority of the Thames site over
Carey-street is, however, most overwhelming
in the matter of approaches. The Embankment
has free communications in every direction, and
when the suggested, and necessary, continuation
of Essex-street across Lincoln's-inn-fields,
is carried out, can be reached from any portion
of London with equal ease. The Strand is
open on the one side, and the road on the
Embankment on the other. The Embankment
communicates direct with Westminster
and the south-west in one direction, and
through the new street from the Mansion
House, with the City on the other. Visitors
from the south side of London have only to
cross Waterloo or Blackfriars Bridge to stand
on the main thoroughfare. Steamers and the
railway along the river, would bring passengers
from all parts of the country to the gates of the
Courts, and absolutely no extra traffic whatever
need add to the burdens of Fleet-street and
Chancery-lane.

A building erected on the Embankment
would be surrounded by free air, would be
seen on all sides, and would well and worthily
complete the decoration and improvement of
the river. In Carey-street we should be shut
in on all sides, except the Strand. In the