1 823.] Proposed Society for 



sepulchral eflSgics, the shrines of ex- 

 quisite linishing, repeating in minia- 

 ture the bolder ornaments by which 

 the building was decorated on a large 

 scale, in the high altars and screens of 

 indescribable richness, continue to 

 fascinate c%"eryeye by their beauty and 

 sublimity." Whetlior upon the whole 

 this new style of building, or rather of 

 decoration, was an improvement, may 

 perhaps be doubted. Mr. Milncr, a 

 discerning judge, says, " I cannot by 

 any means agree that the gorgeous or 

 flotid style, which began in tlie reign of 

 Henry VI. was more excellent than 

 that which immediately preceded it. 

 "What was gained to our ecclesiastical 

 structures alter the middle of the 15th 

 century in beauty, was lost in subli- 

 mity." And Mr. Dallaway himself 

 says of this species of architectural re- 

 finement, " the high altars, shrines, 

 and sepulchral monuments, were com- 

 bined to increase the richness of the 

 whole interior to an eventnal excess." 

 It however constitutes a most beautiful 

 variety of the Gothic architecture, and 

 excites undiminished admiration. 



The rage of reformation which arose 

 in the latter years of Henry VJII. 

 inilicted a mortal blow on this species 

 of national magnificence. The churches 

 and chapels belonging to some of the 

 monasteries equalled the cathedrals iu 

 grandeur, and many others were ad- 

 mired for their richness and elegance. 

 These majestic and stately structures 

 were, indeed, the chief ornaments of 

 the kingdom : and, doubtless, those 

 learned and peaceful communities 

 comprehended a large proportion of 

 the most virtuous and valuable mem- 

 bers of the nation ; men who, whatever 

 might be their errors, were entitled to 

 far different treatment from that which 

 they experienced. In these seques- 

 tered cloisters, the elegant and polite 

 arts were assiduously and successfully 

 cultivated ; and tiiey were justly famed 

 for their deeds of munificence, their 

 charities, and their hospitality. The 

 revenues of the conventual houses, 

 morcov(;r, instead of being ap|)ropri- 

 ated on their dissolution to other j)ur- 

 poses of utility and b<'ncficencc, served 

 only to enrich the crowd of servile 

 courtiers ever ready to obey the bar- 

 barous commands of a bloody, capri- 

 cious, and remorseless tyrant. 



M'lio XRCK theite dismal heaps hii( will 



d<;mand, 

 What barl)aroii5> iiivadrr sacked tlic land ? 

 MoNTiil.V Mau. No. .381. 



Scientific Informalion. 3'?'^ 



But when he hears no OoUi, no Turk, did 



bring 

 This desolation, but a Christian Icin^, 

 What uiiist he think oiu' sacrilege would 



spare, 

 When such tU' effects of our devotion are ? 

 Denham's Coipcr'i Hill. 



An effort seems to have been made 

 under Edward VI. to re-introduce the 

 Roman style blended with Italian 

 caprice ; of which the palace erected 

 in the Strand, by the Protector Somer- 

 set, and demolished by the Jiat of mo- 

 dern taste, afforded a memorable eJt- 

 ample. The monument of Bishop 

 Gardiner in Winchester cathedral is 

 decorated with Ionic columns ; and 

 Spenser speaks of buildings adorned 

 " with stately pillars framed after the 

 Doric guise." This was succeeded by 

 another and totally different species of 

 architecture, which has obtained the 

 appellation of the Elizabethan style, of 

 which the mansions of Burleigh and 

 Hatfield exhibit very noble models. 

 At length appeared the illustrious 

 Inigo Jones ; who, in the latter years 

 of his architectural career, produced 

 the palace of Whitehall, of which the 

 only remains, the beautiful banquet- 

 ting-house, is now suffered to moulder 

 into decay. 



For the Monthly Magazine. 



PROPOSED SOCIETY ybr SCIENTIFIC 

 INFORMATION. 



AS a constant reader of your useful 

 •Journal, from its commencement 

 in February 179G, I remember to have 

 observed in vonr 15th and 16th vo- 

 lumes, published twenty years ago, 

 that several of your ingenious corres- 

 pondents had it much at heart, and 

 have pretty fully explained their views, 

 as to establishing an extensive so- 

 ciety, chiefly for collecting and dif- , 

 fusing local facts and information, in- 

 teresting to practically scientific and 

 ingenious men, under tli(( title of, 

 the " Society for Scientiiic Informa- 

 tion;" but, unfortunately, tlie matter 

 went no further. 



At the present time 1 observe, that 

 Mr. Richard Harris, of Bermondsey, is 

 endeavouring, through an invitation 

 printed in the " Philosophical Maga- 

 znie," to establish, under the above 

 title, a more select society of residents 

 in the metropolis; and his views scorn 

 to me especially applicable to a par- 

 ticular district of this enormously over- 

 grown town ; in wliich society Mr. H. 

 3 T proposes, 



