25 JULY 1835, Page 16

It appears by the reports from architects relative to the

condition of the walls of St. Stephen's Chapel, which reports have just been printed, that the remaining walls are quite unfit for use, and ought to be taken down. Out of ten architects and several experienced masons, who have been commissioned to examine the walls, only two of the former, Messrs. Savage and Cottingham, arc of opinion that " the remains are in a substantial state, and quite capable of standing and being restored." But it appears that those gentlemen examined the remains three months ago, while all the others have surveyed them within the last three weeks. The defect of the remains is most satisfactorily explained by Mr. Wilkins, the architect; who states that the action of the fire on the limestone with which the walls of the chapel were constructed has cal- cined it, and converted nearly the remaining portion of the material into lime; so that the contact of rain slacks it, and causes it to crumble to powder. The masons, who appear to have taken a close survey of the retnaiuing walls, give precisely the same report as Mr. Wilkins, and express their conviction that none of the walls above the crypt are fit to remain.