154 SKEFCHES BY A PRACTISIxNG ARCHITECT. 



each variety peremptorily demands — and particularly 

 in respect to the fact of its being so slightly referable 

 to that principle of imitation which is the great 

 governing motive of painting and sculpture. It is a 

 "fine art " only in respect to the allowed ^nodijica" 

 tions of its several styles established, and to the 

 permitted invention of total novelty. It is not, 

 therefore, a matter of mere science, though greatly 

 accessible to a merely mechanical mind ; and the 

 reader will now clearly understand how far acquire- 

 ment is indispensable, and how far natural taste is 

 beneficial. Of two architects equally educated, the 

 one of most natural taste will prove the better; but 

 natural taste can much better be spared than the 

 industriously acquired knowledge of established 

 propriety. 



Taste and architectural taste are two very different 

 things. The one enables its possessor to take delight 

 in any combination of forms which may generally 

 display an abstract harmony, but a building may be 

 tolerably harmonious as an entire object, and yet 

 intolerably anomalous in its component parts. The 

 pleasure, therefore, experienced by the man of mere 

 natural taste is dependant upon his remaining igno- 

 rant of architectural science ; or, in other words, it is 

 held under the tenure of apathetic indolence. Should 

 he, by some unfortunate accident, fall into the way 

 of an agreeable architectural essay, or suffer himself 

 to imbibe that ^wr(/)i/ knowledge which the frequent 

 recurrence to illustrated woikswill in time occasion, 

 he will become unhappy under reflections of ill- 

 bestowed admiration. It is true, he may derive 

 additional pleasure from much that has before 

 pleased ; but he will be shocked at many things 

 which he might otherwise comfortably endure. O, 

 beware of the cultivation of an architectural taste ! 

 It w ill fascinate you into the expenses of building ! - 

 It will involve yon in the dangers of criticism ! 

 Your newly awakened zeal will render you ridiculous, 

 and your provoked spirit of censure detested. You 



