LONDON.

FATHER SMITH’S ORGAN IN ST. PAUL’S.—This instrument, when it stood where it was originally intended to be, on the Choir Screen, both looked and sounded well. The case, which was a very exceptional one for Father Smith, who hardly ever varied from his four-tower arrangement, had fine carving by Grinling Gibbons, and, with the Choir Organ in front, harmonised well with the handsome oak Stalls. Some years ago it was pulled down and put over the Stalls on the north side of the Choir, where, to my taste, it did not look or sound well, and the Choir case was placed in front of the large transept organ, where it looked small and out of place. The old case is now divided, and placed on each side of the Choir, the old Choir case put in its proper position, before one half of the Great case, and a new Choir case of similar design made to complete the other. The contents are by Willis, and it is a good specimen of a modern cathedral organ.

ALL HALLOWS, LOMBARD STREET.—A pretty case of peculiar design, which used to stand in the gallery at the west end of the Church, but is now placed on the floor in the south-east corner. The case consists of two towers, one on each side of the instrument, with a circular opening between them, filled with pipe-work, above which stands a small tower, with a flat of pipes on each side. There is a quaintness about it which I like.

CHRIST CHURCH, NEWGATE STREET.—Has a large fine organ standing at the west end of the Church; its four towers, surmounted by mitres and crowns, give it a Church and State look. Although the case is large, there is nothing very striking about it; but the quality of its contents is good.

ST. CLEMENT’S, EASTCHEAP.—The organ stands on the south side of the Church; it formerly stood at the west end, and is very similar to that at All Hallows, but of a more elaborate design, consisting of two large towers, between which is an oval of pipes, upon which stands a small tower, with an oval of pipes on each side, above which stand two small flats of pipes. Modern taste has heavily painted the pipes; in fact, I never saw so much solid paint put on metal pipes; and in my opinion when they were plain gilt they looked much better.

ST. LAWRENCE, JEWRY.—The organ, which stands at the west end of the Church, has as fine and as correctly designed a case as can well be. The carving is excellent, and the old French rules for designing an organ case have been carried out with the best effect. Since I sketched it, a new inside has been put into it, and the case enlarged in very good taste. It is now, perhaps, to be critical, a little too square in form, but it ranks among the best in London.

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ST. LAWRENCE JEWRY

3RD. DECR. 1870.

ST. MAGNUS THE MARTYR, LONDON BRIDGE.—This organ, remarkable as the first which had a swell, is rather peculiar in design. The dark wood carving is good, and there is a quiet look of solid workmanship about the case which is much to be commended.

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ST. MAGNUS THE MARTYR—LONDON BRIDGE.

MAY 1871.

ST. OLAVE’S, SOUTHWARK.—The organ, with four towers, and famous for having a thirty-two feet stop on the Great Organ, after the manner of large German instruments, stands at the west end, in a good plain case, but one that would hardly be worth adopting as a model for another instrument.

ST. SEPULCHRE’S has a handsome large organ, with a Choir case in front. The wood-work is fine, the mouths of the pipes nicely shaped, and the effect of the angular tower in the centre good. The case, I should think, must have looked better before the two wings of large pipes were added.

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ST. SEPULCHRE—SNOW HILL.

16TH. MAY 1871.