being confidered as an object of grandeur; nor does the architect seem to have once thought of exciting that idea here. Neatnefs, lightnefs, and delicacy are here alone attempted ;-and if others are ftruck with the fame fenfations I felt, when I was by chance led into that chappel to fhun a fhower as I paffed, they will readily admit that the artist has effected his aim in the happiest manner.

In this ftructure no internal ifolated columns are admitted; (in this cafe, as well as the former, the reader will obferve that these remarks refer to the interior alone of both ftructures). They were here unneceffary, as the arches fpringing from the fides alone were altogether fufficient to fupport the whole roof; they are therefore here very properly omitted, as only tending to confine the area without caufe.

Pillars, however, to ferve as a bafis for the arches that fupport the roof, and to break the plain uniformi ty of the wall, are carried up from the ground, moulded into a delicate form, in a manner peculiar to this ftile of architecture, but which is here more elegantly executed than in almost any structure of the kind I have feen. At a proper height thefe columns are bound by a flender fillet, that ferves merely to define the heighth, but not to interrupt the continuity. Above that the ribs, which had hitherto ftood perpendicular and parallel to each other, begin beautifully to divaricate, and to fpread gradually wider, in the form of arches, in all directions, till they meet with fimilar ribs, fpringing from the other columns, that in a natural and eafy manner, peculiar to this ftile of architec ture, (that muft have been feen by every perfon, and which it is unneceflary herc to defcribe,) forms the arch of the roof. In this ftructure the walls are plain, or very little ornamented, and the roof entirely plain, un lefs where marked by the ribs of the arches, which are finified with a delicacy of execution that exceeds any idea I could have formed on this head. The windows

too are large, the tracery in them fine, and the whole ructure has fuch an air of lightnefs, elegance, and propriety, as made me confider it as a model of chaitenefs of tafte for a building of the Gize and kind that this is. I forbear, however, to enlarge on this fubject; being perfectly fatisfied with having pointed out these two ftructures to the notice of my readers, that those who are inclined to make the experiment may have it in their power to compare them with each other, and to judge for themfelves. I have only further to add on this head, that the first is fpoken of throughout all Europe, as one of the most perfect models of elegance in architecture, and that the last is never once mentioned as deferving any kind of notice; so that a man may have lived in London fifty years, among men of taste for the fine arts, without having ever heard it once named in converfation.

It is by no means my intention here to engage in a ftudied panegyric on the Gothic ftile of architecture, or to defend every peculiarity adopted in it as excellent. In every human work there are imperfections; and in all thofe arts where fancy has room to be exercised, caprice and whim will come in for their share; and no doubt they were exercifed by these artists at times, as by others. Writhed and contorted columns have been by fome of thefe artists deemed elegant, as well as by Michael Angelo and Raphael Urban. Incongruities of this nature have even been adopted at times by men of the foundeft underflanding*; and many other particulars are, no doubt, discoverable among the works of

Can any idea, for example, be more abfurd than that of buűding a bridge for the purpose of rearing a town upon it, when there was picn ty of folid ground befide it for the purpose of rearing houfes for every purpofe that could be wanted? Yet even Palladio himself, though other. wife a man of found fenfe, adopted this chimerical notion with eager nefs, and confidered it as one of the muft fublime conceptions that ha been devised by man.-Need I fay more concerning the fallibility of hu man wildom?

VOL. VI.

being confidered as an object of grandeur; nor does the architect feem to have once thought of exciting that idea here. Neatnefs, lightnefs, and delicacy are here alone attempted;-and if others are ftruck with the fame fenfations I felt, when I was by chance led into that chappel to fhun a shower as I paffed, they will readily admit that the artist has effected his aim in the happiest manner.

In this ftructure no internal isolated columns are admitted; (in this cafe, as well as the former, the reader will obferve that these remarks refer to the interior alone of both ftructures). They were here unneceffary, as the arches fpringing from the fides alone were altogether fufficient to fupport the whole roof; they are therefore here very properly omitted, as only tending to confine the area without cause.

Pillars, however, to ferve as a bafis for the arches that support the roof, and to break the plain uniformis ty of the wall, are carried up from the ground, moulded into a delicate form, in a manner peculiar to this ftile of architecture, but which is here more elegantly executed than in almost any structure of the kind I have fen. At a proper height thefe columns are bound by a flender fillet, that serves merely to define the heighth, but not to interrupt the continuity. Above that the ribs, which had hitherto ftood perpendicular and parallel to each other, begin beautifully to divaricate, and to fpread gradually wider, in the form of arches, in all directions, till they meet with fimilar ribs, fpringing from the other columns, that in a natu ral and eafy manner, peculiar to this ftile of architecture, (that must have been seen by every perfon, and which it is unneceflary herc to defcribe,) forms the arch of the roof. In this ftructure the walls are plain, or very little ornamented, and the roof entirely plain, unlefs where marked by the ribs of the arches, which are finified with a delicacy of execution that exceeds any idea I could have formed on this head. The windows

too are large, the tracery in them fine, and the whole ftructure has fuch an air of lightnefs, elegance, and propriety, as made me confider it as a model of chaltenefs of tafte for a building of the Gize and kind that this is. I forbear, however, to enlarge on this fubject; being perfectly fatisfied with having pointed out thefe two ftructures to the notice of my readers, that those who are inclined to make the experiment may have it in their power to compare them with each other, and to judge for themfelves. I have only further to add on this head, that the first is fpoken of throughout all Europe, as one of the most perfect models of elegance in architecture, and that the last is never once mentioned as deferving any kind of notice; so that a man may have lived in London fifty years, among men of taste for the fine arts, without having ever heard it once named in conversation.

It is by no means my intention here to engage in a ftudied panegyric on the Gothic ftile of architecture, or to defend every peculiarity adopted in it as excellent. In every human work there are imperfections; and in all thofe arts where fancy has room to be exercised, caprice and whim will come in for their fhare; and no doubt they were exercifed by these artists at times, as by others. Writhed and contorted columns have been by fome of thefe artifts deemed elegant, as well as by Michael Angelo and Raphael Urban. Incongruities of this nature have even been adopted at times by men of the foundest underftanding*; and many other particulars are, no doubt, discoverable among the works of

Can any idea, for example, be more abfurd than that of building a bridge for the purpose of rearing a town upon it, when there was pion ty of folid ground befide it for the purpose of rearing houses for purpose that could be wanted? Yet even Palladio himself, though othe wife a man of found fenfe, adopted this chimerical notion with eag ness, and confidered it as one of the muft fublime conceptions that ha been devised by man.-Need I fay more concerning the fallibility of hu man wildom?

VOL. VI.

B

those who reared Gothic structures, as well as thofe who adopted other modes of architecture, which few perfons will fay are elegant, and all will condemn as useless. All I wish to infinuate is, that should the merits of the most perfect works in this ftile of architecture, be scanned without prejudice, it would certainly be found not to deserve that indifcriminate abuse with which it has been generally loaded. In respect to ftrength, and convenience for the purposes it was meant to ferve, it is, without any doubt, justly entitled to the highest applause; and even in respect to elegance and beauty, it will perhaps be alfo found that the most perfect fpecimens of it may, for particular purposes, vie with those of any other mode of architecture that ever hath been devised.

I am aware of the general clamour that has been raised against the Gothic ftile of architecture, because of its being faid to be loaded with a multiplicity of ornaments which distract the eye; and destroy that fimplicity which is now, perhaps juftly, thought to constitute a very effential part of the beauty of any building. But though I have heard the objection repeatedly urged, I cannot be brought to admit that it is well founded. On particular occafions, this no doubt has been the cafe. And who will deny that the fame objection may be urged against particular edifices in every ftile of architecture? But this is certainly an adjunct only, and by no means an effential of this art. Even the external appearance of thefe ftructures is certainly not neceffarily affected by this peculiarity; for the great parts of these works are bold and ftriking objects, naturally fufceptible of much regularity, that if left plain, which they have often been, where the taste of the artist allowed him to perceive this kind of beauty, produce a great and striking effect. As inftances of this majestic fimplicity, and, as we would now call it, elegant plainnefs, I fhall mention the east front of York minster, and the outside of the chapter-house there, which clear