26 OCTOBER 1907, Page 18

CROSBY HALL.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPHOTATOR.1 SIR,—Most of us have by this time made up our minds that the London County Council, the City Corporation, the Livery Companies, the historical and antiquarian societies, ought to do something to save Crosby Hall ; but it is clear from Sir Vezey Strong's report that very few of us feel any personal responsibility in the matter. There is some excuse. A generation has passed since London citizens were asked to open their purses to save a Plantagenet London relic that has nothing but historical associations and beauty to recommend it. Still, we are responsible. Two groups of people are con- cerned,—those who care, and those who may be awakened to care, for the ancient hall. There is now no time for any but desperate efforts. Let every one who cares try to do some- thing to reach the others. In such circumstances even to pass the hat at dinner on Sunday would be no breach of hospitality. Every one who cares must be a collector, or how shall he face posterity? And his collections must be in on Tuesday. If only every one who has written a book. about London would give a guinea ! Then would the £20,000 be at the service of the bank, who otherwise will "clear the site." Was ever there a bitterer phrase than that,—when the " site" means the only ancient City mansion left to wealthy London in which great memories dwell P—I am, Sir, &a.,