1823.] Philosophy oj Contemporary Criticism, No. XXVII, 



Constitutional History of Rome, from 

 its Foundation to the Age of Augustus, 

 which stands at the head of this arti- 

 ■cle, is couched in well-bred terms of 

 contempt and disapprobation ; and 

 we fear that gentleman would not have 

 much to expect, if he were to avail 

 himself of a Roman law, and, appeal- 

 ing against this severe judgment, to 

 plead bis cause before llie people. 



It is always with peculiar pleasure 

 that we revert to the noble science of 

 architecture, the subject of the next 

 paper in this work, which considers 

 the application and intent of the vari- 

 ous styles of architecture. We some 

 time ago presented our readers with a 

 notice of the work which forms the 

 pretext for this essay, in which we did 

 justice to the talents and discrimina- 

 tion of its author. It is entitled, 

 Plans, ElevatioHS, and Sections, of Henry 

 the Seventh's Chapel, hy Lewis Col ting- 

 ham. We are pleased to find that a 

 person who possesses the deep know- 

 ledge of his subject, and the chastity 

 of taste displayed in this paper, should 

 agree with us as far as his criticism 

 extends. The intent of the present 

 article is to restrain, in some degree, 

 the absurd predilection for Grecian ar- 

 chitecture, particularly as applied to 

 sacred edifices, which at present pre- 

 vails ; to point out the grandeur of 

 the earlier Gothic styles, and the sn- 

 l>erior beauties of the " lancet arch'' 

 over tlic alloyed mixture of Grecian 

 columns and entablatures, with the 

 form of a modern church. In this we 

 in a great measure agree with the 

 writer. No alteration ought to be 

 made in the original oblong disposition 

 of the building. One order must not 

 be piled upon another, nor should a 

 tower or a barbarous steeple be allow- 

 ed to surmount the pediment. " Plate- 

 glass windows, (as the reviewer ex- 

 presses himself,) glaring through the 

 inter-columniations, chimneys and 

 chimney-pots arranged above the pe- 

 diment, are just as appropriate as 

 English nouns and verbs in a Greek 

 hexameter." Wc must however say, 

 that we differ from him when he ob- 

 jects to the transportation of a Greek 

 temple to our atmosphere ; and we 

 should delight in viewing tiie simple 

 grandeur of outline displayed in the 

 Pantheon, though it should be exe- 

 cuted in Edinburgh freestone, and 

 though the hand of a Phidias should 

 «ot be employed iii sculpturing; tiie 



31 



figures on its metopes. So far as this, 

 however, we will go with the reviewer. 

 1'lie Calton hill is not the proper posi- 

 tion for the display of its magnificence. 

 The advice given on architectural 

 sul)je« ts in this paper is most excel- 

 lent, ^nd peculiarly adapted to coun- 

 teract the common faults of the archi- 

 tects of the present day. "An archi- 

 tect must recollect that he is not a 

 pupil, whose merits consist in repeat- 

 ing a lesson by rote; but a man who 

 deserves no praise unless he makes ^.n 

 intelligent use of the lesson." We 

 could with pleasure follow the re- 

 viewer through this part of his subject ; 

 but we fear we should transgress our 

 appointed bounds, if we allowed our- 

 selves to pursue our favourite subject 

 farther. We shall only assure our 

 readers, that no article in the present 

 number of this Review will more am- 

 j)ly repay a perusal than that which 

 wc have thus slightly noticed. 



The critic next hastens to discharge 

 the bounden duty, which, in common 

 with the great ;rnd small ones of his 

 tribe, he owes to the supremacy of the 

 author of "Wavcrley ;" and of which 

 he acquits himself, with regard to 

 Glenvarlochides, just in time to turn 

 round, and pay his respects to Peveril 

 of the Peak. " ^^ elcomc the coming, 

 speed the parting guest," is a gooil 

 maxim ; but Sir Walter scarcely allows 

 time for the performance of the neces- 

 sary critical ceremonies, before he 

 introduces a fresh candidate to our 

 notice. With the present article, A7- 

 gel may be considered as having re- 

 ceived permission to retire. He is 

 dismissed in fair terms, and with a 

 good character, which is drawn with 

 discrimination, and with no partial 

 subsei vience to the reputation of the 

 author. 



Mr. Campbell's Travels in South 

 Africa, on his second journey into the 

 interior of that country, have furnish- 

 ed the materials for an agreeable and 

 instructive paper on a subject which 

 is now looked to with much curiosity, 

 and on which fresh light may be ex- 

 )iccted to be almost daily throw^n. Not 

 all her forests and deserts wMU long 

 detain Africa in her present state of 

 barbarism and .seclusion. Tho roots 

 of civilization have pierced her soil in 

 various directions, and their growth, 

 though tardy, will be sure. The la- 

 bours of Mr. Campbell are spoken of 

 by the reviewer w ith deserved respect, 

 allhougli 



