^4 e« taste in architecture. Sept, I2». 



tion of feudal laws and manners by the barbarians, . 

 nothing can be traced but dungeons for barons, and 

 wooden churches for temples, until, after the forma- 

 tion of regular monarchies in Europe, and the preva- 

 lence of munificence among monks, architects and. 

 various artists were invited from the east, to erect 

 those stupendous churches, the architecture of which 

 is denominated Gothic, which appears to be only a 

 spurious mode of Grecian architecture, that gradu- 

 ally deviated until the total extinction of all re- 

 semblance to the ancient. This total dereliction of 

 the Grecian forms, does not appear until the middle- 

 of the twelth century, though the due proportions had 

 been long neglected, and the gloomy cloister had beeq 

 for centuries substituted for the spacious and airy 

 portico and colonnade. 



During the space of more than four centuries, , 

 this new mode of architecture continued to supplant 

 the decayed temples of the ancients, with improving 

 lightnefs and elegance ; while the castles of the nobi- 

 lity being necefsarily destined for defence, were cpn-> 

 structed with unabated clumsinefs and barbarity*. 



It is not my purpose to enter into any discufsion 

 concerning that mode of architecture which is indis- 

 criminately called Gothic, and which has lately been 

 subjected to the remarks of a very sensible and en- 

 tertaining writer in this miscellany ; nor am I dispo- 

 sed to deny that this form is well adapted to tlie so- 

 lemnity of religious worfliip ; or that, with its magni- 

 ficent windows, and light carvings andembroidery, ad- 

 mitting through stained glafs a rich and glorious illumi- 



• See the accurate hisLory of ancient castles, by Mr Edward Kir.g, ia 

 the transas lions of the Antiquarian Society at London. 



