1 79 1* GRECIAN AND GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. I99 



himfelf, the tame plbfters, and unmeaning pillars, lluck 

 on the outfide of the wall, ranged in rows one atop of 

 the other, each fupporting its puny entablature, and 

 the numberlefs little pillars, cluftered around the win- 

 dows, does not more mark the poverty of invention 

 tliat might be expected from a gingerbread baker, than 

 the lofty ideas of an architect who prided himfelf on 

 the beauty of fimplicity in compofition, where grandeur 

 was meant to be difplayed to advantage ? This feems 

 to fhow, that even among great minds, the force of ha- 

 bit is fometimes irrefiftible. 



Nor does our fondnefs for this ornament reft here. 

 Though the capital of a column is evidently conftruft- 

 ed of a form that is naturally calculated to fupport a 

 confiderable incumbent weight, we have not Icvuplcd 

 to cve£l fingle monumental columns, in their wonted 

 proportions, perfcftly ifolated from all obje£ts ; though 

 it can not be denied that by their flendor form, and feem- 

 ing top-heavincfb, they appear to totter on their bafes, 

 and look to be in danger of tumbling down. We have 

 even carried our partiality for ancient practice a degree 

 farther than could have been expected, and in fome 

 cafes have put at the top of the column a fquare piece, 

 with the mouldings of the entablature, and the heavy, 

 (thus applied they may be called heavy indeed,) pro- 

 je£tions of the cornice, which exhibits fuch a fantaftic 

 appearance, as nothing, I am inclined to think, not 

 even long habit, v/ithout great efforts of a prejudiced 

 mind, could ever reconcile any one to look at without 

 difguft. Pillars, fupporting proje6tions on a bridge, 

 that have been formed merely for the purpofc of ad- 

 mitting of this ornament, have been alfo adopted in the 

 capital of this kingdom, though the real Itability, and 

 much more, the apparent firmnefs and fimplicity of look 

 fo generally pleafmg in buildings of this kind, wouKl 

 have been confulcrably augmented by their abfence. 



Thefe remark* arc not intended to find fault with 

 the Iljle of Grecian architecture as an obieft of taite, but 



