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of a most expansive width, aud bordered by a picturesque assem- 

 blage of public and private edifices, it is indeed perhaps 

 without a rival; in viewing it the eye does not repose on 

 splendid uniformity, but on an enchantingly varied whole, and 

 when satisfied with viewing the entire perspective, we com- 

 mence an examination of individual beauties, we perceive with 

 delight, that of such, the graceful curvature of the street, pre- 

 sents a new one at almost every step.'" 



He acknowledged that the finest cities have been partly 

 built by nature, which had a great deal to do, materially and 

 directly, with the formation of the streets, and with then- 

 architectural beauty, and emoted Lady M. "W. Montague, and 

 Fuzeli, in shewing that hilly, undulating ground, is the most 

 favourable for fine architectural effects; imposing forms on 

 streets the best calculated to present in their perfection the 

 beauties of architecture. He then instanced Bath, Edin- 

 burgh, and Constantinople, where the houses rise one above 

 another, and show themselves in every variety of relative 

 position ; and contended, that the more the works of man are 

 modified by natural circumstances of situation and scenery, 

 and the architect takes advantage of these circumstances, 

 working in the spirit of nature, the more picturesque and 

 beautiful they will be. 



The author baving hitherto pointed to natural principles in 

 reference to streets only, here observed that on such principles 

 the art itself is based : architecture being an ideal imitation of 

 the works of Creation, which furnishes it with analogies ; and 

 that the first business of the student is, to study the aesthetic 

 laws of nature, and trace the beauty around him to its spring: 

 continuing — "To this true art owes her origin, and it is 

 essential to her existence and progress. Nature is the muse 

 of the architect, her beauty — Iris inspiration. By such studies 

 the resources of architecture may be greatly extended and en- 

 riched, its capabilities increased and effects produced, beyond 

 anything that now exists, or that the world has yet seen." 



D 



