CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 159 



1643, by the party hostile to the Established Church, than had ever 

 been committed since the ravages of the ancient Danish invaders 

 and all this was perpetrated under the impute* of a spur ous p y, 

 which displayed its spirit in the destruction of property, the wealth 

 and the strength of a nation ! ,,".»■•'« 



There is gSat distinctness, both of method and detail, in Mr. 

 Bloxam's exposition of his principles. He opens this with a defini- 

 tion of Gothic architecture, and then treats successively of its origin 

 and different styles or orders, including an account of the several 

 kinds of arches with a specification of the principal and "^.nate 

 parts of a church. Seven distinct styles enter into his d-ision of the 

 Gothic architecture, and he defines - the periods in which they flou- 

 r shed." I. The Saxon prevailed from the mission of Augustine at 

 he close of the sixth, to the end of the tenth century IL The 

 Norman prevailed generally throughout the eleventh and [twelfth cen- 

 turies III. The Semi-Norman or Transition prevailed from A. L). 

 1135 to the commencement of the thirteenth century. IV. ine 

 Early English was the prevailing style of the thirteenth century 

 V. The Decorated English was the general style of the fourteenth 

 century. VI. The Perpendicular English prevailed during theftf- 

 S and early part of the sixteenth century. VII. The Debased 

 Englisl formed L usual style of the sixteenth and early part of the 

 seventeenth century. The characteristic difference in these styles de- 

 pends chefly on the form of the arches, which are simicircular 

 Jointed and mixed ; the size of the windows, and the manner in which 

 Siey are subdivided by transoms, mulhons and tracery ; and in cer- 

 tafn ornaments and mouldings peculiar to each style, and which are 

 seldom to be met with in any other. 



Let this brief notice suffice to exhibit the scope and extent o Mr. 

 Bloxam's undertaking. In its fulfilment his object stands well in- 

 titled to the highest commendation. On the pages of his Pnncipes, 

 lis architectural knowledge appears conspicuous, -^» d «^ 

 eive His pictorial illustrations deserve much praise for their beauty 

 and usefulness. His book should have a place in the library of every 

 dergyman and church-warden throughout the kingdom. Most of the 

 laity ought to be acquainted with the principles of Gothiceccl es ^s 

 tical architecture:*^ but one copy of this excellent little work 

 deposited in every vestry, so as to be accessible to the parishioners, 

 ? ts P p session woukl prove the powerful means * P^*^™^ 

 from being disfigured by those detestable misrepairs, which bear eternal 

 testimony against the illiberality of the Utilitarian Spirit, and its par- 

 simonious bigotry. 



