30 APRIL 1870, Page 3

We stated last week that two or three additional watchers

+would enable the Dean and Chapter of Westminster to throw the Abbey open to the public all the year round. We are informed, !however, that to throw it completely open would cost from £600 'to £800 a year ; and this is the great difficulty, for the present, in the way of the extension of the free access for many years provided to the nave and transept, and now on Mondays to the Royal Chapels. Sixteen thousand pounds is a good deal of money, but we doubt if the Dean and Chapter realize how rich London is, or how eager good people are to give away money. Let them give a -tablet, 12 in. by 3 in., to every donor of £1,000, with the simple inscription, " J. Smith, benefactor Ecclesim," and they will have the money in a month. Rome does ; why not Westminster ?