iciency in the year, to be made up by new taxation,
2,000,000 pounds!"

On 7 May, the Gresham Committee met to decide on the two plans for the
New Royal Exchange, one prepared by Mr. Cockerell, R.A., and the other by
Mr. Tite, President of the Architectural Society, which was in favour of
the latter by 13 votes to 7. The works were immediately proceeded with.

Talking of one fire seems to lead on to another, for on 20 May, York
Minster was for the second time visited with a conflagration--this time,
however, it was caused accidentally, and not the work of an incendiary.

The following extract from a letter dated York, 21 May, gives a graphic
account of the fire, and is of especial interest, as being from the pen
of a spectator.

"You may hear the rumour of the alarming and truly awful calamity
that has occurred in this city, before you receive this. I have
witnessed it, and shall hold the recollection as long as my memory
exists. About 20 minutes to 9 last evening, I was told the Minster
was on fire. I ran out, immediately, towards it, and stood by it,
just as the flames had issued from the top part of the south-west
tower, at a height that an engine could not have played upon. The
fire continued to rage until it had entire possession of the upper
part; flames issuing from every window, and piercing the roof. To
describe the feelings under which I witnessed the devouring flames
preying upon a national monument, which every man must look upon with
admiration, requires a pen more descriptive than mine. Grief, awe,
wonder and admiration were the emotions with which I regarded the
destruction of this venerable church. I soon obtained admission into
the nave of the Cathedral, and observed the first falling down of the
burnt embers. The flames illumined the interior with more than
mid-day brightness; the light, pouring through the crevices, threw a
brilliancy over the scene which imagination cannot paint. The fire,
at this time, was wholly confined to the tower.

"After the space of half an hour, the flooring of the belfry in the
tower began to be forced by the falling bells and lighted beams. At
this period, my nerves were strung to the highest excitement. The
noise was extraordinary. The shouting of the firemen, the roaring of
the flames rushing up the tower with the rapidity of a furnace
draught, sounded in