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and displayed more sympathy with the actual landscape — with herb and 

 tree, and was a more direct appropriation of the characters of beauty 

 afforded by them. In conclusion, he (Mr. Hoggins) glanced at the error 

 of architects in neglecting the fountain of wisdom thus open to them in 

 nature. Architecture had been studied historically and archaeologically, 

 rather tlian philosophically. Its professors had imitated the old masters 

 rather than the older mistress, and sacrificed the interest of art at the 

 shrine of precedent. The prevalent notions on tl^e subject made archi- 

 tecture a mere name — a glory long since past — a thing dead both to the 

 realities of the present and the hopes of the future. But if architecture 

 had the living and infinite relations which he contended it had, it must be 

 something more than this. If he were called upon for a definition of archi- 

 tecture in the fewest words, he would call it " the spirit of beauty in build- 

 ing," for it had reference to every species of building. It was the essence 

 that was to pervade the work, whatever the proposed plan, whatever the 

 material of its construction. It was no respecter of materials or modes 

 of structure, nor was it confined to one type of form or class of building ; 

 it would inhabit the simple oratory or auditorium, no less than the aisled 

 and vaulted cathedral. The antique and Gothic systems of architecture 

 were based on certain distinct types of beauty in nature ; but there were 

 other types as beautiful, perchance more beautiful, and which the intro- 

 duction of a new material might enable us to reach. The systems of 

 architecture hitherto practised in the world but mirrored a section of 

 that beauty set forth in nature : none could say that architecture was 

 exhausted, till she had emulated all, and run the whole cycle of creation. 



ELEVENTH MEETING. 



Royal Institution. — April 18, 1853. 



J. B. YATES, Esq., F S.A., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The Secretary read a communication from the Conncil to the effect 

 that it had been resolved that notice be given for calling an extra- 

 ordinary meeting, to consider the alternative of raising the subscrip- 

 tions, or giving up the publication of the Society's proceedings. From 



