We have seldom entered on a more gratifying task than this attempt, in our introductory columns, to perform the duty which as public journalists we owe to society in general; and as men, to an individual in particular. It was well remarked," that if any proof were wanting of the aspiring ambition, and elevated and extensive views of the present age," the arduous undertaking now under our consideration would certainly supply it; we have, with somewhat of an envious delight, seen notices of Mr. Hornor's interesting work in the daily and weekly prints. We should ourselves have felt proud of the distinction of being the first to announce a publication so purely national. One so well calculated to excite the just pride of his own countrymen, and the laudable envy of foreigners; and thus render the boast and glory of the one, the attraction and example of the other. As monthly journalists we are anticipated in this gratification, but if contemporary publishers have so far gained the "vantage ground," we shall supply the deficiencies of their "stolen march" upon us. Hitherto the notices of the press have been too general to afford to the public any

competent idea of the nature of this vast undertaking, so enterprizing in design-so wonderful in execution. In our perusal of the prospectus (itself a specimen of the author's ability and taste) every succeeding page unfolded to us new and highly characteristic matter; we could have wished he were present to fill up the measure of our intense curiosity, whether as to his means of combating obstacles, seemingly insurmountable, or ultimately atchieving his arduous undertaking. It seems to us very questionable if any human being could embark on so bold and perilous an enterprize, where the reward of his success was so disproportioned to the risk of life and property, unless in him were united the greatest_zeal and perseverance with the finest talents.

These seem to have been eminently conspicuous in the author of the Panoramic View of London, from the original commencement to the final completion of the work. It is difficult to select any one passage in particular from the prospectus, as embodying more interest than another. The contents generally abound with either interesting narrative, incidental occurrences, or

insulated facts. Without any attempt, therefore, at preference, we shall carelessly strew its flowers in our reader's path, as we promiscuously find them.

As a faithful delineation of the vast metropolis and its vicinity, we may be allowed to compare this work to a well drawn and highly finished portrait, in which every resident within the view of St. Paul's, may at once identify his habitation and property in all their varied features, by thus contemplating a fac simile of the original.

We may with equal propriety assimilate Mr. Hornor's View, in the correct representation of thousands of houses, in their actual elevation, to a sort of pictorial map, on which the inhabitant or stranger may with facility trace the numerous public buildings, the lines of streets and squares, and the various avenues diverging from them. Or it may still more appropriately be regarded in the character of a domestic panorama; and here we shall only do justice to the artist by presenting a summary of these manifest uses of the work in his own words, inverting the very order of his prospectus, by giving the last page, (the recapitulation of the contents,) first; and an abbreviated account of the four views, commencing at page 6. at the close of our article.

It is unnecessary to point out, except in a very brief way, the claims which an undertaking of this extensive nature has on the attention of particular individuals, and of the public in general. Almost every part has its peculiar and local use, or some specific interest attached to it. By the aid of this work, every possessor of property in London or its vicinity will be enabled to point out its situation, either directly or in relation to some well known contiguous object. The inhabitants of the metropolis will find an infinite source of amusement, by tracing the various districts, and the avenues, rides, walks, &c. which communicate between them. The lovers of architecture may be interested in comparing, at one view, the various specimens which the public buildings whether of ancient or modern date, exhibit; and the churches in particular, with other religious edi

fices, will present to the clergy and the inhabitants of the different parishes a pleasing source of contemplation. To the stranger, the work will afford a more perfect idea than could otherwise be given of the metropolis, and its environs, in the most extensive sense of the term; while to Englishmen residing in distant regions it will form a peculiarly gratifying memorial of the far-famed capital of their country. To foreigners it cannot fail to convey a strong and durable impression of the magnitude of its wealth and

in the infinite number of its

powers and the immensity of its

population; to pourtray the national character in the great extent and diversity of its establishments, as devoted to religious, scientific, and other patriotic objects; to unfold the vast resources of the empire, in the countless traces of its commerce, its manufactures, and trade; to exhibit the productiveness of its public revenues, in the grand national spirit of industry and enterprise; and forcibly to prove the general prosperity of its multitudinous inhabitants, in its various public works and institutions sacred to piety and charity, to literature and the arts.

At page 13 of his prospectus, Mr. Hornor enters into some particulars of the commencement, progress, and completion of the work. It appears he has been several years engaged in executing pictural delineations of landed estates, in perspective panora mic views, where the situation would permit, or in surveys, in which were blended adjoining scenery; and having practised this style extensively in the neighbourhood of London, he gradually formed a collection of surveys and sketches peculiarly available as materials for a general view of this very interesting district. In the course of this professional studies, he constructed an apparatus by which the most distant and intricate scenery may be delineated with mathematical accuracy; and this machinery he was desirous of applying to the execution of a work for which he considered himself so amply prepared. The possession of the materials, already alluded to, naturally induced the artist to select the metropolis and its beautiful environs as the subject for delineation;

and he was the more confirmed in this choice from the consideration, that, although tolerably correct views existed of almost every city and principal town in the empire, yet only very partial views of LoNDON had hitherto been attempted. Adopting these materials, therefore, as the basis of his undertaking, he passed the whole summer of 1820 in the lantern of St. Paul's, immediately under the ball, in executing a general view, which from so elevated a position he was able to accomplish with great correctness. About the period when the view was nearly completed from this point, preparations were commenced for removing the ball and cross; and the scaffolding, which excited such general admiration as a stupendous and most ingenious structure, was erected. (Vide plate) Impelled by a wish to avail himself of this unexpected and singularly favourable opportunity, especially as he had in the mean time considerably improved his apparatus, he obtained permission to erect for it an observatory, supported by a platform several feet above the top of the highest part of the present cross; and having -succeeded in fixing the apparatus in the interior of the observatory, he commenced a new series of sketches on a greatly extended scale, so as to admit the introduction of minute objects at a distance of some miles. To effect this, it was found necessary, from time to time, to adopt various contrivances to meet the numerous obstacles which opposed the progress of the work. In weather partially cloudy, portions of the scene would be in bright sunshine, and others in total obscurity, producing an incessant alteration of light and shade: it therefore became requisite to alter and modify the previous arrangements, that advantage might instantly be taken of the clear light, in any particular part of the entire circle of the View, and that an immediate transition might be made from one sketch to another. Trifling as this difficulty may at first appear, it gave rise to more trouble and anxiety than any other part of the undertaking, since the time necessarily occupied in selecting the particular sketch, independently of the requisite adjust

ment of the apparatus, frequently exceeded the transient period during which the object continued visible. The difficulty, also, of connecting the detached parts thus seized at the most favourable moment was so great at times, as almost to preclude the hope of completing the performance. After a variety of attempts, the obstacle was at length removed by the construction of a comprehensive key-sketch, which served to indicate the precise relation of any particular portion to the general View. The remaining difficulties were in a great measure obviated by placing the sketches (about 300 in number) in a rotatory frame, in such order that any particular one might be referred to at the moment it was required.

The work being thus in a great measure executed in minute portions, the connecting parts were from time to time filled up when the unclouded state of the atmosphere permitted. For this reason it was requisite that the visits to the observatory should throughout the summer be daily, and at the early hour of three in the morning, that the more general operations might proceed before the smoke began to ascend. It may here be observed, that at no one time is it possible, however clear the atmosphere, to command, from the situation alladed to, a distinct view of the entire circle of the metropolis; a circumstance affording no small stimulus to perseverance in this work, from the reflection that all the component parts taken respectively, at the most favourable moment, would form collectively a whole, freed from all those disadvantages of smoke or shade by which the real scene is ever greatly obscured; and that, without in any degree infringing the fidelity of delineation, London might thus be presented to view under an atmosphere as pure and cloudless as that of Paris or Rome. At the same time, by its superior clearness in all the minute details, as well as in the harmony of its general effect, this work would claim a decided preference over the best general views of those cities or any others, which seem to be principally designed for the display of a few prominent features, to the ex