Mere paste-board palaces are the structures of the present
times, composed of lath and plaster, and Parker's cement, a few coloured
bricks, a fanciful viranda, and a balcony, embellished within by the
_decorateur_, and stuccoed or whitewashed without, to give them a
light appearance, and hide the defects of an ignorant architect or an
unskilful builder; while a very few years introduces the occupant to
all the delightful sensations of cracked walls, swagged floors, bulged
fronts, sinking roofs, leaking gutters, inadequate drains, and other
innumerable ills, the effects of an originally bad constitution, which
dispels any thing like the hopes of a reversionary interest, and
clearly proves that without a renovation equal to resurrection, both
the building and the occupant are very likely to fall victims to a rapid
consumption." In this way did Crony contrive to beguile the time, until
we found ourselves entering the arena in front of the Dean's house,
Westminster. "Here, alone," said my old friend, "the hand of the
innovator has not been permitted to intrude; this spot remains
unpolluted; but, for the neighbourhood, alas!" sighed Crony, "that is
changed indeed. The tavern in Union-street,
5 For instance: in what a very short time back were the
Bays-water-fields, there is now a populous district, called
by the inhabitants "Moscow;" and at the foot of Primrose-
hill we are amazed by coming upon a large complication of
streets, &c.
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