Fin Arts.
The alterations in the National Gallery appear to be carvied on 'vigorously. The portieo and step of the building are encumbered with the debris of the old interior hall and with piles of new bricks; but in other respects, the frontiof , the gallery looks as insignificant as ever, and the passer-by could not form any idea of the extensive demolition that has already been_done upn Mr. Wilkins' inconvenient structure. Bit on going round to the rear of the building, we see an erfornious gap, avif a huge block had .been cut out from the piers which support the cupola or that centre ornament which has been with so little respect, fomiliorly called " the pepper castor " to the staircases at each side of the old hall. Everything has, in fact, been swept away and laid open to the sky; the whole of the boundary wall has boon also.pulled down. The only thing left in situ is the large marble Waterloo vase which was. sculptured by Sir Richard Westmacott, ILA., for George IV. when Prince Regent, and toocits place in the hall of the gallery in 1837.1 This large object stalfdif Oevered up by a strong hoarding to protect it from accidents. No intimation is yet given as to the time when the pkiblic will be readmitted to the gallery ; but it is expected, that the alterations will be so far ad- vanced in a few wee'ks that some temporary means of access may be adopted, and there will be no difficulty as to the substantial completion of the new rooms in time for the next exhibition of the Royal Academy.
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