engineer of roads and bridges, has just completed his survey for the great railroad from Paris to Bordeaux, which will have branch roads to many other places. You have, no doubt, heard of the carriages called Les Vespasiennes, which, in plain English, are ambulatory water-closets: they are now very popular in Paris, and a large capital is said to have been embarked in them. A mode of protecting buildings from the effects of lightning has been discovered by M. Lapostolle. He has proved, by experiment, that a jar loaded with electricity enough to kill an ox may be immediately discharged by an inch or two of straw rope. A slight pole of wood, covered with straw, and attached to a building by a strip of brass (he says) will thus serve as a conductor: and it must be allowed to be a very cheap one. Ambulatory washing machines are in great vogue among us: if you wish it, I will send you a detailed account of them in my next. The Place du Carrousel is about to be greatly enlarged by the removal of two mansions belonging to the civil list, which are now taking down. One of the halls in the Palace of Justice is being newly fitted up, in a magnificent style, with arabesques and gilding. The Parisian wits say that this is done to indulge the poor suitors with the sight of gold, their own being all swallowed up by the lawyers. Great discussion has lately taken place here respecting the obelisk of Luxor; the question being, whether it should be erected in the Place de la Concorde, according to the plan of M. Grillon, on an elegant pedestal of white marble which already adorns that Place, and which it is proposed to form into a fountain, or whether the obelisk should have a granite pedestal in the Egyptian style. Pure taste seems undoubtedly to dictate the latter; since few can conceive any harmony between an Egyptian obelisk of dark granite and a Grecian pedestal of white marble, with a rich though minute moulding, and adorned with four Tritons, each supporting a shell from which streams a sheet of water. M. Grillon has many partisans; but does not appear likely to carry his point, as the government has given notice that other plans may be sent in. It is singular that one of the objections made to the project of this eminent architect is something similar to the objection made to the plan of an eminent architect of your country; viz., it is said that, if M. Grillon erects the obelisk as he proposes, he will shut out from the Place de la Concorde the view of the Pavilion of the Tuileries and the arch of the Barrière de l'Etoile.-F. L. Besson. Rue de Richelieu, Paris, Dec. 10. 1833.

ART. III. Domestic Notices.

A NEW Metallic Cement, for which a patent has been taken out, consists of powdered scoria from the copper-works, mixed with stone and lime. It sets rapidly, and takes a fine metallic polish. It is now being used by Messrs. Harrison, in a large building intended for an inn, at the south-west corner of London Bridge. This cement, unlike all other kinds except Frost's, is sold mixed up ready for use. The price is 9d. per bushel. If the scoria, in a state of powder, were sold by itself compressed in casks, it appears to us that it would form a very desirable cement for exportation. It may be laid on in coats as thin as the fourth of an inch; but it has not been a sufficiently long time in use to determine to what extent it will crack.

A Cock for Boilers in Kitchen Ranges has recently been invented, which, we have no doubt, will soon take the place of all others. It is one of the most ingenious inventions which we have seen for a long time, and completely answers the purpose. It does away with the necessity for supply cisterns on a level with the boilers and for ball-cocks, and is so contrived as to keep the water in the boiler always at the same height, and to prevent a drop of hot water being drawn from the boiler, without a corresponding quantity of cold water being admitted to supply its place. As it will require several engravings to render this invention clear to our readers, we must necessarily defer a fuller account of it till our next Number.

An Oven with revolving Shelves has lately been introduced into some kitchen ranges, for the purpose of preventing the articles placed on the shelves from being burnt on the side next the fire. A spindle passes through both shelves, and through the top of the oven, where it is attached to a common bottlejack, which is suspended from a hook in the throat of the chimney.

A new Description of Covered Gridiron, for carrying the fumes of broiling meat up the chimney, has recently been used at some of the club-houses.

Our Country Architectural Notices are at present necessarily few: but we trust to our provincial readers to supply what is most interesting, not only in rural and town architecture, but in upholsterers' and ironmongers' shops and show rooms, and in manufactories of articles used in building or furnishing. Any correspondent who may be in doubt as to the extent of the subjects which we embrace, has only to glance over the list on the cover of the portfolio in our titlepage vignette. This beautiful and appropriate ornament was designed by E. B. Lamb, Esq.

Chester.-A noble bridge of one arch over the Dee has been lately completed by Mr. Trubshaw; whose son (a most ingenious young architect and landscapegardener, and the designer of a very beautiful conservatory and architectural flower-garden at Heath House, near Cheadle) is invited to send us a description and sketches of the bridge.

Durham.-We are warm admirers of freemasonry; and it was with much satisfaction that we observed, in an account of a meeting of the provincial grand lodge, of which the Earl of Durham is grand master, the following passage in His Lordship's address:-"I have ever felt it my duty to support and encourage the principles and practice of freemasonry; because it powerfully developes all social and benevolent affections; because it mitigates without, and diminishes within, the virulence of political and theological controversy; because it affords the only neutral ground on which all ranks and all classes can meet in perfect equality, and associate without degradation or mortification, whether for the purpose of moral instruction or of social intercourse." (Morn. Chron., Jan. 28. 1834.) This is the true modern use of freemasonry. Formerly in England, and still in some countries where civilisation is not far advanced, it had other uses, such as, regulating the wages of workmen, granting protections, exercising hospitality, &c.; but now, freemasonry may be considered as a benevolent system of fellowship.

Kent. A new pier, on the suspension principle, from the design of Mr. Lamb, is about to be erected at Greenhithe; and, close to that pretty little village, at Ingress Park, the seat of James Harmer, Esq., a beautiful Tudor villa is now building, from the designs and under the direction of Mr. Moring. The stone used in constructing this building is that of old London Bridge, and one of the alcoves, preserved entire, will be erected in the grounds as a monument of that edifice. Near this a piece of ground is laying out in the style of the Regent's Park, with detached villas and gardens; the architect and landscape-gardener employed being Mr. Lamb. The surface of the ground is beautifully varied, commanding extensive views of the Thames and the county of Essex beyond; and, from what we have seen of Mr. Lamb's plan, we anticipate a very interesting specimen of rural and picturesque beauty. Several improvements are carrying on at Canterbury, of which we expect some account from our correspondent there, Mr. Masters; and some others, at Gravesend and Dover, of which we shall be glad to receive notices.

The Rigging-house Wharf, in Woolwich yard, is under repair with a new composition called artificial stone, invented by Mr. Ranger. It is said to be so durable, that it will ultimately supersede the use of bricks and stones, thereby reducing the cost of river walls, &c., upwards of one half. A church, constructed of this new material, capable of accommodating 400 persons, has recently been erected upon the Duke of Northumberland's estate, at a cost of 8001. (Kentish Chronicle, Feb. 1834.)

We shall feel obliged to any correspondent who will give us some satisfactory particulars respecting this new composition. - Cond.

ART. IV. Retrospective Criticism.

A BOILER for steaming Food for Cattle, cheaper and more simple than that figured in your Encylopædia of Architecture, under the head of Farmery Furniture, § 1405., and yet equally efficacious, consists of a cast-iron boiler, built over a small furnace, having a vat fitted to the top of the boiler, and the bottom of the vat being pierced with holes to admit of the ascent of the steam among the food to be prepared. In this way, I boil small corn for my saddlehorses, and steam potatoes daily for my farm-horses at a very trifling expense. — J. A. Mackenzie. Cowan, by Dingwall, Ross-shire, April 20. 1833.

We were quite aware of this description of steaming apparatus, which, about 1804, was common in the Lothians. We have described this and other simple modes of steaming cattle-food in our Encyclopædia of Agriculture; and we gave the one referred to by our correspondent, in the Encyclopædia of Architecture as being very complete. The excellent plans sent by this correspondent, for cottages and farmeries, will be made use of in due time. - Cond.

A VILLA for a sloping Site. —“ Talking of a sloping site, we are reminded of one which we would like to see Mr. Loudon or some of his friends think of for a design. Suppose a slope to the south, pretty steep too, and somewhat elevated above a public road, the whole exposure covered less or more with trees, and the background to consist of pretty high but unwooded hills, rising in the same slope: what description of villa, containing similar accommodation with fig. 1475., would he or they recommend for such a site?” (From a Criticism on our Encyclop. of Architecture, in the Scots Times for April, 1833.)

We feel much indebted to the editor of the Scots Times for the handsome manner in which he noticed the Numbers of our Encyclopædia as they successively made their appearance; and we are particularly desirous that some one of our correspondents should supply us with a design suitable for the situation which he describes. Cond.

Camilla Cottage. Sir, In Madame D'Arblay's Memoirs of Dr. Burney, lately published (vol. iii. pp. 259. and 260.), is a description of Camilla Cottage, built at West Hamble, near Norbury Park, the seat of the late amiable and much respected Mr. Lock. This description is as follows: "The architect had so skilfully arranged its apartments, for use and for pleasure, by investing them with imperceptible closets, cupboards, and adroit recesses, and contriving to make every window offer a fresh and beautiful prospect, that, while its numerous though invisible conveniences gave it comforts which many dwellings on a much larger scale do not possess, its pleasing form and picturesque situation made it a point, though in minature, of beauty and ornament, from every spot in the neighbourhood whence it could be discovered.” Several subscribers to the Encyclopædia of Architecture would be obliged if you would give an elevation, ground plan, and description of this (if we may so call it) rara avis cottage in your Architectural Magazine, if it be compatible with your plans.-****. Rugby, Warwickshire, April, 1833.

A plan, view, and short description of the present state of the cottage referred to, if it be still in existence, will oblige us much.-Cond.

ART. VI. Obituary.

DIED, on May 20. 1833, aged 69, M. Labarre, a French architect of great celebrity. His principal works were the column at Boulogne sur Mer and the Exchange at Paris; he also designed the theatre at Bordeaux. M. Labarre was a member of the Legion of Honour; he was also a member of the Institute at Paris. He established a school for architecture; and many of his pupils are now eminent architects in different parts of the Continent.

THE

ARCHITECTURAL MAGAZINE.

APRIL, 1834.

ART. I.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

On the Means of forming a just and correct Taste in Architecture, and on the Sources from which the Principles of Design and Construction in that Art are derived. By the Conductor.

We have before stated (p. 5.) that no one who can reason, or who possesses what is called good common sense, need despair of acquiring a just and correct taste in architecture; and we shall now endeavour to point out the mode by which this may be effected. By a just taste, we mean one founded on sound general principles; and by a correct taste, one not only founded on general principles, but on the rules and precedents which regulate details of particular styles: for example, a person of just taste may duly appreciate the general form and proportions of a Corinthian portico, but his taste may not be sufficiently correct to enable him to decide whether the mouldings which have been employed in the columns and entablatures are those which are appropriate to that order.

A very slight consideration will convince every one, that, unless he has made any art or subject his particular study, his taste or his opinions respecting that art or subject have been formed on the accidental circumstances by which he has been surrounded. A person living in a city can hardly help having some taste for architecture; that is, from continually seeing new buildings erected, he cannot avoid comparing them with those already existing, and probably judging them, in his own mind, to be either better or worse. Here, we will say, is an incipient taste for architecture, which, in a person whose mind is chiefly occupied with other subjects, may never advance a step farther. Let that person, however, be either a pupil to an architect, or a carpenter, mason, bricklayer, or any other mechanic employed in any of the trades connected with architecture, building, or furnishing, and the case will be found very different. Such a person cannot help advancing in his taste; or, in other words, forming more decided opinions as to what is good or bad, beautiful or the contrary, in the edifices or furniture which daily come before him, or in the construction of VOL. I. No. 2.

E

which he is mechanically employed. Here, then, we have a taste for architecture growing up with a man insensibly, as a part of his profession or trade, and, we shall suppose, without his having had recourse to books, to travelling, or to any other of the usual sources of architectural knowledge.

We shall next enquire what chance this taste has of being just and correct. Here we may observe, that the terms just and correct, like all other terms, may be taken either in a relative and limited, or in an absolute and general, sense; and, from this view of these terms, we should decide that, though the taste formed on local circumstances, such as have been already described, may be just and correct relatively to what the person possessing it may have seen and studied in his given locality, yet that it may be very deficient with reference to the architecture of the world generally.

We shall first confine our enquiries to the subject of a just taste in architecture. There are few persons who have not made some particular subject their study more than any other; and such persons will be at once aware, that they could never have arrived at just opinions on that subject, without having reference to the opinions formed upon it by others in different times, and under different circumstances; in short, without having reference to historical and geographical, as well as merely to local or topographical, knowledge. The first step, therefore, towards a just taste in architecture is, to know what has been done in this art in all other ages and countries, and to be able to form some idea of its present state throughout the world.

If a taste for architecture were to be formed by any individual without reference to historical data, it could only be founded on the architecture of the particular country in which he was placed, and of the times in which he lived. The architecture of that age and country might be good, or it might be otherwise; but, whichever it was, the taste which was formed on it alone could never be considered as based on such a solid foundation, as that which was formed on a due consideration of all architecture, past and present. It might be a taste for Grecian architecture, for the pointed or Gothic style; or for the Indian, or the Chinese manners; and the conventional rules of the particular style, and their application, might be familiar to the individual. Supposing that individual, however, called upon to design a building which should have a character of grandeur and beauty, and yet not indicate any style whatever: such an individual would be totally at a loss how to proceed. And why would he be at a loss? Simply, because, though he was a master of rules, yet he was ignorant of general principles; to which, in architecture as in every thing else, recourse must be had in untried circumstances. Let us suppose, for example, a carpenter living in London, and