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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



rn.tlier than the production of « isdom, and as more the effect of plea- 

 sure than utility- It may be veil for tlie members of our profession 

 to consider what means and materials arc in their hands, that may 

 prove conducive to these ends, and whether this art has not in its 

 power to address itself to the imagination by more ways than those 

 usually adopted by architects. That the mere theoretical architect 

 combines those (pialifications, has not, I think, been proved in the 

 buildings of the ancients, for I imagine that many of the deformities 

 observable in the buildings of Greece and Rome have arisen from 

 tlieir ignorance of construction, and the modes adopted to supply 

 tliat deficiency, some of which have been contrary to every rule of 

 beauty and convenience. The strength and duration of their 

 erections may, I think, be attributed to the goodness of the materials, 

 and the quantity used, rather than any practical display of mecha- 

 nical skill : and, at the same time, I cannot help regi-elting that at 

 the present day, when the flourishing appearance of the arts would 

 lead us to look for a display both of the one and the other, a sad 

 deficiency exhibits itself, and especially when we are continually 

 hearing the former decried, the latter so much commended. 



To the Gothic architects we are considerably indebted for the 

 unity of both, for in their works tliey exhibit a lightness, an art 

 and boldness of execution, clearly proving tliat neither the singly 

 jiractical or theoretical architect will ever exhibit to the mind a 

 pleasing object for its contemplation, unless the union of the two 

 becomes apparent to the imagination by the working of its effects. 



England, perhaps, exhibits more than any other nation magnificent 

 examples of these qualifications, equally admirable for the art with 

 which they are executed, and the taste and ingenuity w ith which 

 they are composed. I camiot here refrain from expressing a feeling 

 of regret, that these structures, sacred to the soil, are not more con- 

 sidered, better understood, and held in higher estimation, and more 

 encouragement given to our auticjuarians ni that peculiar branch, to 

 undertake a correct publication of our ecclesiastical and domestic 

 architecture, before ruin spreads its extending mantle, and preserve 

 to after ages the remembrance of an extraordinary style, now fast 

 sinking into oblivion, at the same time publishing to the world the 

 riches of a great nation in the splendour of her ancient structures, 

 and rendering a real service to the art of design. 



That some of our modern architects liave developed great skill and 

 considerable know ledge in their erections, I candidly and joyfully 

 confess ; for instance, St. Paul's, and many other works of Sir 

 Christopher Wren, present us with a display of numerous examples 

 of admirable works, executed with so nmch art, that they are and 

 ever will be studied and admired by all intelligent and researching 

 observers. 



" J'huse massy coliumis in a cirrk- ri^c. 



O'er %s Iiioh a pompous doine invuOes Ibo skie^ ; 

 tSuarcc to tUo tup I stretdit-d my achinj,' sight. 

 So large it spread, and suclk-d to sucli a lit-iylit." 



To him and many others we owe great improvements in practice, 

 especially in carpentry, which has been carried to a much higher 

 state of perfection than by any other nation; and we are considerably 

 indebted to many of our countrymen for several valuable books, 

 ■which have been published, explaining the various modes of con- 

 ductingtheseveral Vorks,andenumcrating the apparatus used, together 

 with the propei-ties and nature of materials adopted; and let me here 

 bear an humble tribute to the periodicals which now monthly add to 

 our store; to these, then, the various structures to be found in the 

 United Kingdom, and elsewhere, must the architect devote much of 

 his attention, in order to acquire and collect the rudiments of con- 

 struction, and other branches of his profession, which practice, 

 experience, and attentive observation alone will render him con- 

 summately skilled in. 



Perhaps there is no material so much in requisition in buildings as 

 iron ; but yet so little attention is devoted to tlie parts thereof, that 

 although capable of being converted to tlic most ornamental pur- 

 poses, at the same time uniting stability with utility, it is made an 

 eyesore, or, in many instances, a severe reproach on the skill and 

 ingenuity of the architect. The use and advantage of a thorough 

 knowledge of the material will be best appreciated l)y those who 

 seriously consider the dread effects of a lailuro in its application, as 

 it would happen most likely when the consequences would be most 

 serious; and, perhaps, there is no material wliich requires more the aid 

 and assistance of science in its use, therefore the greater necessity for 

 a constant study of its properties and capabilities. That very great 

 improvements have been made in its application is every dav more 

 apparent, and which nuiy be chiefly attributed to its great acquisition 

 in manufacturing districts, and thereby produces additional reasons 

 for a more minute cultivation of a thorough knowledge of its utility 

 and value. Another reason for its adoption is on the score of 

 economy, for altlwugh the optilcnci; of tlic nation might warrant a 



supposition of prodigality in its public buildings, yet where thousands 

 and tens of thousands are squandered in the most trifling, con- 

 temptible, and ridiculous modes, yet, in respect to the arts, especially 

 architecture, the public liberality has yet been seen only to extend 

 to almost a nu're nothhig, a foundation certainly nmch too weak to 

 sustain an edifice either creditable to the national taste or native 

 genius. 



The existence of jturc iron was formerly (piestioiu'd : of the fact 

 that such pieces have been found, I believe tlicre remains little 

 doubt, indeed none at all, if we rely on highly respectable authorities. 

 A large jiicce of native iron was found in South America in 1 7^(3, by 

 a Spaniard, w hich w as found to be pure aiul soft iron, easily cut, and 

 cajiable of being wrought without difficulty when heated, some 

 portions of which are deposited in the British Museum, as specimens 

 of the block. It has been likewise a matter of doubt whether the 

 ancient Greeks, towards whom w'c generally look for authorities as to 

 the early progress in the arts, were acquainted with the use of iron. 



In the description of the games instituted by Achilles on the death 

 of Patroclus, translated by Cowper, we find the following ; — 



" Tliolit-ro next an iron clod produced 



Uonpli frnni the foj'gc, and wont to tasic the might 



t )f King.-Ktiun; but when him he slew 



J 'elides' glorious chief, ^\ith oilier spoils, 



I'rom Thebes conveyed it in his fleet to Troy." — Iliap. 



If iron had been common among the Greeks, we may assume tliat 

 a lump of the metal of the size described by the poet or his transla- 

 tor would have been no unworthy prize of heroic contention ; but as 

 it is by no means clear that the knowledge of iron for military pur- 

 poses really existed, much less that the art of subjugating so stub- 

 born a material, w as at that time known. 



At what period tlie smelting of iron ore. so abundant in this 

 country, was first undertaken, does not. I believe, appear. It will 

 be readily admitted by those conversant in early history, as well 

 as by those who respect traditional prolKibility, that the earliest 

 uses to which it was devoted were probably w capons of warfare. 

 Although a considerable degree of perfection appears to have been 

 attaineil at a very early period in the working of ii'on, the art of 

 easting articles in sand from the metal in its crude state seems to 

 have been either unknown or not practised till a comparatively late 

 ]icriod. That it is fitted for every purpose in building is not asserted, 

 especially considering the climate of England: but its usefulness 

 for the support of great weights exposed in situations subject to 

 rapid decay, and for the prevention of fire, must be self-c^'ident. as, 

 in the latter case, we have seen severtd instances lately, which fully 

 bear testimony to the correctness of this observation, where there is 

 every reason to suppose, that, had not the brestumnier supporting the 

 front wall of the liouse been of iron, the same would have been 

 l)recipilated into the street, and thereby, ))erhaps, a sacrifice of many 

 lives. There have been instances of failures in the use of this 

 material, which, perhaps, lias much prejudiced the public mind 

 against its adoption more genei-ally in buildings; but yet these may 

 liave been cases where it lias arisen from a want of a proper know- 

 ledge of its properties, and not from any defect in the material itself. 

 Persons are too apt to imagine that a large piece of inm must 

 possess infinite sfrengtli, and the dimensions of the most important 

 parts of structures are frequently fixed upon by guess, and from such 

 causes ensues unpleasant consequences. The chief and principal 

 object is to regartlthe fitness, strength, and durability, at the same 

 time endeavouring to produce, with those qualifications, a pleasing 

 effect, correctness of design, and lightness of parts, yet at no sacri- 

 fice to the stability of the erection. When it is considered that the 

 parts of a building should assume any particular form or position, as 

 well as stress, it will become obvious that something more than 

 mere resistance to fracture should be calculated. In the evidence 

 given before the jury on the failure of the Royal Brunswick Theatre, 

 the architects examined on that occasion differed materially as to the 

 application of iron for the purposes of roofs : yet there tire many 

 recent instances where iron roofs have been adopted with complete 

 success. I might mention the roof over the fruit market at C'ovent- 

 garden, where it is composed of iron and wood, that has a \ cry light, 

 and agreeable cflect ; the fisli-market at the Ilungerford-market 

 is w holly of iron, with sheet-iron ( ? zinc) covering. In chapels 

 lately erected, the cluster-columns have been made of iron, six 

 inches diameter, cast liollow, with a stone core for their reception, 

 and the heiglit of which, I believe, are 25 feet ; but yet, for the want 

 of a little attention to these matters, every body must regret the bad 

 elTect which is produced by tlic introduction of iron girders, in 

 chapels and elsewhere, without combining a spirit of design with that, 

 of utility, and perhaps economy; little or no attention is paid to the 

 adoption of iron columns in shop windows where they become neces- 

 sary for tlic stability of the building, which, if properly considered, 



