108 Observations on the 



the observation, I think the design which is shown for the 

 aviary in the Regent's Park, although exceedingly elegant in 

 appearance, yet will not succeed for keeping the birds. It is 

 too exposed and open to the north and east to afford any mo-' 

 derate degree of shelter to the birds during winter, and 1 fear 

 many will thus perish. 



My friend, Mr. MaHphant, architect, in Blenheim-street, 

 has been so kind as to embody my ideas in a design for an 

 aviary, which would, I think, combine all the advantages of 

 shelter and ornament. The front and roof are proposed 

 to be of glass. The centre-part and two wings may be 

 either covered in with glass or patent zinc. A walk may be 

 made within the glass, and outside the wire, as it is proposed 

 to leave a space of five feet between the glass in front and the 

 wire, which would afford room for a paved walk, and a bed for 

 exotic plants ; thus combining the beauties of the aviary and 

 the conservatory. It would be advisable to have the wire at 

 the roof within two or three inches of the glass. The same 

 plan would do exceedingly well for a common aviary, in which 

 case wire would be substituted for the glass ; and the rooms 

 at each end would be useful to contain delicate birds during 

 the winter months. 



A. 



Observations on the Force of our Ships of War, 



During the last few years, naval matters have been gradually 

 coming before the public eye. Open and free discussion has, 

 at last, made its appearance, and, as usual, has produced vast 

 benefit in dispelling the mystery and darkness in which the 

 construction, equipment, and economy of our naval force were 

 formerly concealed. 



It is a singular fact, that a Frenchman* should have been 

 the first to have deemed our naval establishment worthy of 

 being described and descanted on ; but it is no less true, 

 that we owe to a foreigner almost every information we pos- 

 sess on the subject, as well as the attention he has excited by 



• Baron Charles Dupin— Force Navale de la Grande Bretagne. 



