304 On architectural, rural, domestic, and other Improvements. 
der magazines at Purfleet, against lightning, every thing was sugges- 
ted with a view to the very peculiar localities of that establishment ; 
all express pretensions to abstract rules, as such, being studiously 
avoided.—It cannot’ therefore, be expected, that any thing on this 
head, should be said here in a concise manner, with an expectation 
of its being satisfactory. [tis a poor consolation on this occasion to 
be able to affirm, that there is perbaps no one subject in meteorolo- 
gy, which has had justice done to it in all its branches ; and there- 
fore, that what regards lightning does not seem to form an exception 
to the general rule. Persuaded however, as I myself am of this 
fact, I do not conceive that the subject can be properly discussed in 
all its parts, unless in a separate little memoir ; and here therefore, I 
must take my leave of it at present. 
[The supplement to this sted will be found either at the close of this number, or 
the commencement of the n 
Arr. V1.— Observations on architectural, rural, domestic, and other 
umprovements ; by Exzazar Lorp, of New York. 
New York, July 23, 1833. 
TO PROFESSOR SILLIMAN. 
Sir,—I observed recently, in one of the public prints, a brief no- 
tice of an association of gentlemen in your city, for the purpose of 
ascertaining and recommending the best plans and models of domi- 
ciliary architecture. The questions to be investigated relate, as near 
as I remember, to the architectural proportions, materials for building, 
and methods of warming and ventilating apartments, by which dura- 
bility, economy, and convenience, may be combined with elegance 
and taste. 
These, in every point of view, are questions of great interest. The 
concern not only the thrift and comfort of individuals and families, 
but likewise ‘the health, the social character, and indirectly, the mor- 
als of households and communities ; and, considered in these rela- 
tions, they are worthy of all the siewtion they can receive from en- 
lightened and philanthropic citizens. It is matter of wonder that they 
have not hitherto gained that hold on the public mind to which they 
* Many other objects were embraced in the plan.—Ep. 
