There was delay, which was inevitable. Not only was the whole city
paralysed with the awful extent of the ruin, but there were questions
which had to be referred to Parliament, as to the method of raising
the funds. Happily the whole voice of the people was of one accord in
recognising that it was a paramount duty for the nation to build a
splendid cathedral, worthy of England and of her capital city. It
was not until November 1673 that the announcement was made of the
determination of the King and his Parliament to rebuild St. Paul's.
The history of that rebuilding belongs to New St. Paul's. The King
wanted to employ a French architect, Claude Perrault, who had built
the new front of the Louvre, but this was objected to. Then Denham,
whose life may be read in Johnson's Poets, and who wrote one poem
which may still be met with, _Cooper's Hill_, was appointed the King's
Surveyor, with Wren for his "Coadjutor." Denham held the title to his
death, but had nothing to do with the work. He died next year, and
Wren then held unquestioned possession. His account of the old
building, the principal features of which have been borrowed in the
foregoing paper, is given in his son's book entitled _Parentalia_.
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