ultimately, on the general taste of the whole community. The circulation of such works as we intend this Magazine to be will, by rendering not only professional men, but general readers, better judges of Architecture than they were before, at once contribute to the diffusion of this taste, and afford the best security for its permanency.

But, though we have singled out the carpenter as the most important artisan connected with the art of building, we are aware, also, of the powerful influence of the BRICKLAYER and the MASON. In those parts of the country where the walls of buildings are formed entirely of brick, much of their strength, and also of their durability, must depend on the BRICKLAYER. Few people purchasing houses built with brick walls are aware of the difference, in strength and durability, between a wall built throughout with sound bricks which had been for some months exposed to the air after they were burnt, and with good mortar, and a wall built with one quality of bricks for the outside, and another for the inside; or built with bricks and mortar of the best quality, but with the former hot from the kiln. In the first of the two latter cases, the wall has not the strength and durability which it appears to have; because the difference in specific gravity between the exterior bricks and the interior ones has a constant tendency to rend the whole asunder; and, in the second of these cases, the heat and absorbing power of the bricks reduce the mortar to a dry powder: so that the strength which ought to be acquired from the cohesion of the materials is wholly wanting. In modern times, when bricks cast in forms communicating to them architectural mouldings are no longer in use, the bricklayer may be said to have little direct influence in the taste of a house comparatively with the carpenter; but we are most desirous that he should acquire architectural taste, for many reasons; and chiefly because an industrious bricklayer very often becomes in time a master builder, and may often have to design houses as well as to build them.

The MASON, in all countries where stone is the principal building material, ranks next in importance to the carpenter. In Scotland there are few stonemasons, and, indeed, few artisans connected with building or cabinet-making, who have not gone through a course of architectural drawing at an evening school. In that country, the mason very frequently takes the lead of the carpenter, more especially in buildings of the humbler class; because the facings to doors and windows, the projecting stones of coins, the crowsteps on gable ends, and the ashlar work of chimney tops, all which form leading features of cottages built of stone, require no moulds or guides from the carpenter. The taste of the mason, therefore, we are particularly desirous of cultivating; because we know the extensive influence which he

has over the great mass of farm buildings, cottages, and street houses, in all those parts of the country where stone is principally used for building. Every steady industrious mason ultimately arrives at building a house for himself; if he is not ambitious of doing this, he is not worth much; and, if he is enabled to do it, he naturally takes advantage of the opportunity to display his taste, whatever it may be. If nothing farther, therefore, were attained by the cultivation of architectural taste in masons, than a single improved cottage dwelling, as an example to others, and a source of gratification to the traveller of taste, our object would be attained.

THE PLASTERER, in Britain at least, was, till within the last thirty years, chiefly confined to the interior of the house; but he is now a very important artisan, having the sole employment of that material which produces such magical effects on exteriors, Roman cement. In consequence of the discovery of cements of this kind, we are now enabled to erect buildings of brick, coated over with this material, which are as handsome as those of stone, and much stronger and more durable; because the walls, with the exterior appearance of stone, have all the cohesiveness and homogeneousness of brick. By the aid of cement we are also enabled to display every kind of architectural form and ornament, in many cases, at a fifth of the expense that similar ornaments would cost if formed of either moulded bricks or of stone. Great numbers of the small houses in the suburbs of all towns are built with the savings accumulated by carpenters, bricklayers, masons, plasterers, and others connected with Architecture; and the improvement of these small buildings, through the medium of their builders, is therefore well worth attempting.

In the interior of a house, the PAINTER exercises a very considerable influence. In the higher class of houses, where different colours are employed for decorating different rooms, if the master painter be not an artist of cultivated taste, he can hardly avoid falling into error, and producing discord or monotony, instead of harmony. The painter is sometimes under the direction of the architect, and sometimes under that of the upholsterer; but he is more frequently his own master. He therefore ought to cultivate his taste, not only for the arrangement of colours, but for the choice of ornamental forms. When we consider that an ornamental house-painter has to imitate different kinds of woods and marbles; to display architectural forms and mouldings; and to imitate natural objects, such as flowers, landscapes, &c., it will appear evident, that, to excel in his profession, he must be something very superior to a mere mechanical distributer of colours. As a proof of this, some of our most eminent artists have been originally ornamental house-painters, or ornamental painters of objects connected with Architecture or domestic economy.

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The trades of the GLAZIER and the PLUMBER are generally combined; because, in former times, when those subdivisions of windows which contain the glass were of lead, solder was as much required in putting in glass as putty is now. stained glass is very frequently intrusted to the glazier, and we not The use of unfrequently find it applied where it is by no means appropriate. Even if there were no point whatever of the glazier's business connected with architectural effect but this single one, it alone is sufficient to render it highly desirable that his taste should be cultivated. The business of the plumber is a most important one, especially when we consider that to him belong the distribution of water over a house, and its conveyance from the roof, the sinks, water-closets, and different other parts, underground to the main drains.

The SLATER, TILER, and THATCHER may be considered as requiring more of mechanical skill than architectural taste; but though this may be true, as far as it respects the roofs of large houses, which are not at all, or but little displayed, yet the case is different with cottages, of which the roof, next to the chimney tops, is the most characteristic feature. A good deal of taste is required for the proper arrangement of different descriptions of tiles on a roof, and also for the putting on of thatch or reeds in a picturesque manner.

In the fittings-up of a house various artisans are engaged; but the principal one, that we have not yet mentioned, is the BELLHANGER, who requires to be a skilful mechanic.

The finishing of large houses is generally committed to the ULHOLSTERER, who employs the CABINET-MAKER, the PAPERHANGER, and a variety of subordinate artisans, mechanics, and tradesmen, all of whom ought to be more or less acquainted with Architecture. The journeyman cabinet-maker requires to have a considerable knowledge of the mouldings and other details of both Grecian and Gothic architecture; and the master cabinet-maker ought unquestionably to be a man of taste, and to have his mind stored with all the approved forms and ornaments of antique as well as of modern architecture, sculpture, and furniture. It is true, we do not find this to be frequently the case; but the principal reason is, the deficiency of taste in the majority of the employers of cabinet-makers. In taste, as in every thing else, the supply produced will always depend upon the demand created; and where men of wealth have neither had leisure to form their taste by reading, nor opportunity to improve it by travelling, and inspecting excellent models, how is it to be supposed that they can distinguish between the good and the bad in design? All the guide that such men have in the choice of furniture is fashion, and their ambition can only extend to having something newer than the fashion which is most prevalent at the time. There is

nothing, as Quatremère de Quincy, and Percier and Fontaine, have observed, more injurious to art, than this incessant craving after novelty. It corrupts the taste of the purchaser, and contributes to his unhappiness, by making him dissatisfied with whatever he possesses, when anything newer has become fashionable; and it corrupts the taste of the cabinet-maker, by creating an incessant demand for novelty, which no designer, unless he possesses a highly cultivated mind, and an almost unlimited stock of ideas, can long supply without degenerating into absurdity. Never, in any age or country, was this more conspicuous than it was in London during the first ten years of the present century; and, though it was checked in a slight degree by the classical publication on furniture of the late Thomas Hope, it has not altogether disappeared even at the present day. With this view of the subject, it is almost unnecessary for us to say how much we think the improvement of public taste, in regard to furniture, depends on the study of the principles of architectural design by the young cabinet-maker. It is, however, proper, in a marked manner, to state, that, with a view to the cultivation of the taste of the CABINET-MAKER, the UPHOLSTERER, the ORNAMENTAL HOUSE-PAINTER, the CARVER and GILDER, and other similar artisans connected with furnishing, we intend to pay particular attention, in this Magazine, to the principles which serve as guides in the general composition of lines and forms, whether of nature or of art. This has not hitherto been done in any publication addressed to the general reader; and, in attempting it, we think we shall be rendering very essential service to young men in every department connected with building and furnishing.

What are called the fixtures of a house, such as the stoves, grates, kitchen-ranges, ovens, &c., are supplied by the FURNISHING IRONMONGER; who, unquestionably, ought always to be a man of taste; since his articles are not only expensive, but of considerable durability. New fashions in them, therefore, being attended with more expense than is suitable to most housekeepers, ought to be introduced with great caution. The ironmonger is also called upon to exercise his taste, skill, and judgment in warming and ventilating; and, not unfrequently, in that humble but yet very important department, the curing of smoky chimneys. Franklin and Rumford have shown how necessary it is, for this purpose, that an ironmonger should be a scientific man; and, when we consider how much the warming of rooms and the economy of cookery depend on him, he must be allowed to fill a very important department in the completion of a house. To all the different subjects to which he is obliged to turn his attention this Magazine will be directed; and more particulary to all the best modes of warming and ventilating at present in use.

The IRON-FOUNDER is chiefly to be considered as included in

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the department of the ironmonger; but cast iron now enters, in many cases, so extensively into the construction of the walls and floors of houses intended to be rendered fire-proof, and, besides, the iron-founder supplies so many important parts of the furniture, both of dwelling-houses and of agricultural buildings, that many of the articles he manufactures will frequently demand our particular notice.

We have now, we believe, enumerated the principal artisans, mechanics, and tradesmen, to whose occupations we intend to direct the attention of the readers of this Magazine; and it only remains for us to give an outline of our plan of arrangement, and to state the principles to which we mean to adhere in conducting the work.

With respect to the plan of this Magazine, every Number will be arranged in three divisions: the first of these divisions will contain Original Communications; the second Reviews, including a catalogue of all the new works on civil architecture published in Europe and America; and the third, Miscellaneous Intelligence. This last division will include notices of architectural improvements (in progress or completed) in different parts of Britain and other countries; queries and answers; and retrospective criticism on whatever has appeared in this Magazine, or in our Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture. Though we have no intention of deviating in the slightest degree from the general outline of this plan, yet we wish it to be understood that we reserve the liberty of making such changes in it as time and experience may suggest.

In the Original Communications, every subject will be treated on the supposition that the reader is in a great measure a stranger to it; and hence every techinal term will be explained where it first occurs, and afterwards transferred to a Glossarial Index, which will be given at the end of each volume, for the convenience of reference. As numerous graphic illustrations will be required, they will be limited to subjects deemed to be of real utility; and they will, as far as practicable, be given on such a scale as to be available, as prototypes of working drawings, to the practical builder, cabinet-maker, and furnisher.

In the Review Department, the object will be rather to give a distinct idea of the contents of the works reviewed, than to display the talent or knowledge of the reviewer. No new books will be omitted; and, when room permits, accounts will be given of architectural works of first-rate merit, whether new or old, British or foreign, in order to impart to the reader a general idea of all the best books on Architecture which have ever been published. In the Miscellaneous Department, we shall endeavour to insert no intelligence which we have not good reason for believing to be true. Every query shall be inserted that is not