THE QUEEN AND EAST LONDON.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—There are probably many precedents and other excel- lent reasons which would prevent her Majesty's advisers from indicating St. Saviour's, Southwark, as the place where her Commemoration Service should be held; but I cannot let your suggestion of last week pass without saying this much,—that few persons can imagine how South London life, which I may call one of neutral tint, would be brightened and roused by the Queen's presence. No Royal pageants ever pass our streets, no civic show ventures across the water, as South London toils on without much of the beauty of life. The Royal family, as individual members, do indeed come and help us with the heartiness and grace which seems to be their heritage ; but if the Queen in such a year were to pass our streets on her way to the old historic church, to which Queens have come before, and which we are trying to set up again in our midst in the beauty of holiness, I can say that the welcome would be something which England would not forget.
The rise of great towns outside Old London is one of the features of this reign ; how free from danger to the State that rapid rise has been is a wonder to those who know its con- stituents, and is in itself a splendid testimonial to English character, and to a conscientious reign. A recognition, then, of this law-ruled democracy by the Monarchy in one of the greatest of the peoples's centres, would sow seed for a greater harvest still. Neither Westminster nor St. Paul's, with their assured hold on Royal sympathy, would grudge for once such a departure from usage.—I am, Sir, Stc.,
Athenzum Club, February 8th. HUYSHE-SO UTH WARE.
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