140 ON GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. June I, 



each of wlilcli Handing in a particular direftion, the 

 whole, including the pinnacles at the bafe, when view- 

 ed together, refembled not unaptly the triple row of 

 ornaments on the bands of the Popifli crown. Tliefe, 

 Avhen viewed from below, form a congeries of pinna- 

 cles, proje£ling from, and interfedling the ribs of the 

 arches in fuch a manner as to be thought by niofl per- 

 fons who have viewed it, to afford a beautiful aflemblage, 

 that appears at the fame time rich without confufion, 

 and light without meannefs. It is only when feen at 

 a diftance, that the form of the tiara becomes confpi- 

 cuous. 



It has been already remarked, that Sir Crillopher 

 Wren has found it neceflary to adopt the fame general 

 flrufture of an arch, as the above, for fupporting the 

 lantern he has thought proper to place on the top of 

 the dome of St. Paul's London. But in this laft cafe, 

 the cone, inflcad of being only a few narrow open ribs, 

 confifts of a folid circle all round ; and inflead of mak- 

 ing all the parts of the arch be fupported by its own 

 ■weight, as our Gothic artifls have done, Sir Criftopher 

 has adopted the aukward contrivance of binding it all 

 round, at no lefs than Jlx different places, with ftrong 

 chains of ironf. I wifh not in general to draw compa- 

 rifons ; but it is not poffible on this occafion to avoid 

 taking notice of the lingular elegance and propriety :f 

 of the one of ihefe mechanical contrivances beyond the 

 other. Sball we flill continue to call the inventors of 

 thefe arts rude and illiterate Barharians ? 



Without proceeding farther at prefent, though the 

 fubjeft is not nearly exhaufted, what has been faid will, 

 I hope, be deemed fufficient to Ihev/, that our Gothic 



•}• Thofe who \yifli to fee this contrivance developed, maj* have re- 

 courfe to a verj' fine feiSion of St. Paul's, engraved by Rooker. 



:f In the one cifc, the materials are all of the fame nature , and mud 

 ftand or fall altogether. In the other cafe, they e«^ not. The iren 

 thains may ruft and fall to pieces lorg before the ather materials give, 

 vav. 



