110 



TIIF, rrVTL P.NGTNEEU AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



fMAnrn, 



consider that tlic Plynioiitli arcliitect had to provide a good deal in the 

 way of decoration botli in tlie assembly room and theatre, tosay iiothini; 

 of the varions other apartments ; whereas the rooms at the Post-ofiioc 

 exhibit nothing further tljan desks and bare walls. We may further 

 remark, that in regard to the windows, their features are fat better 

 in the Plymouth building than in the metropolitan one ; and while they 

 are less bald and insipid in themselves, they are not sipieezed so close 

 together, consequently do not imjiart to tlie design that ordinary dwell- 

 ing-house aspect which, whatever the design may be in other respects, is 

 almost sure to communicate itself to the rest where such openings arc 

 too numerous in regard to the space allotted to them. We may further 

 observe, that the style of the farade is very properly kept \ip in the 

 adjoiningfronts, or returns at the ends, whereas in Sir R.Smirke's building 

 very little similarity of character seems to have been aimed at in its 

 dirterent sides. While we admit tinismnch in favour of what Mr. Fonl- 

 ston has here done, we feci it incumbent upon us also to notice some 

 defects. As he himself, so far from putting forth any claim to origi- 

 nality, is content to forego all commendation on that head, we feel no 

 reluctance in saying that we must withhold it; but it also appears to 

 lis, that notwithstanding his professed admiration of Greek architecture, 

 he docs not show himself to have imbibed its real spirit, and caught its 

 feeling. Tlie portico exhibits to ns an Ionic order, treated with literal 

 correctness, indeed, as regards certain established particulars of detail, 

 but without any artistical expression or ert'ect. Were it not for the 

 capitals of the columns it would bean absolute negation of any distinct 

 order, because as to all the rest, it is marked, not by positive character- 

 istics of its own, but merely by the omission of those which serve to 

 distinguish the orders. 



The entablature is of the plainest description, far more so than that 

 of the Doric order, which is the only one, we may observe, in which our 

 modern architects have thought fit to retain any degree of decoration as 

 regards the frieze. Here both the entablature' and frieze have a par- 

 ticularly naked, and not a little heavy appearance ; and yet, notwith- 

 standing the rigorous economy — not to say poverty — displayed in those 

 parts, statues are introduced on the acroteria. The doors within the 

 portico are, taken by themselves, pretty enough ; but although their 

 piettiness, would recommend them as part of a shop front, or something 

 of that kind, it is altogether out of keeping with the character which 

 ought to be kept up in a building of this class. There is, however, one 

 merit in this portico that ought not to be passed over in silence, which is, 

 that instead of being crammed full of doors and windows, there are only 

 three doors, and as many windows over them, placed so as to correspond 

 with the alternate inter-columns in front, owing to which there is an 

 agreeable degree of breadth and repose in the back ground to the colon- 

 Hffle- The ball-room, which is on the principal floor over the great 

 dining-room, is 77 feet by -40, and 32 high to the centre of its segmental 

 ceiling, throngli which it is lighted from five lunette windows on each 

 side above the cornice, forming arcs tloulilcau.v in the curve of the 

 ceiling itself. The Lysicrates example of the Corinthian order is here 

 introduced, in columns placed two at each end on the sides of the room, 

 coupled with ant;c behind them ; and the capitals of these latter, which 

 are continued each side, so as to divide it into five compartments or in- 

 ter-cohimns, are similar to those of the columns themselves. Whether 

 the.se pillars and pilasters are of scagliola, or painted cither in imitation 

 of that material or of stone, is what we arc not informed, neither is it 

 said what is the colour of the walls, although a very few words to that 

 effect would have served to remove the uncertainty in which we are now 

 left in regard to what is a matter of some importance in itself. In oiir 

 opinion too it would have been far more satisfactory had Mr. F., 

 who is so liberal of his illustrations as to gives a representation of the 

 Lysicrates capital and entablature, favoured ns with a drawing of one 

 of the comiiartments of the ball-room, drawn to the largest size his book 

 would allow. In that case we might perhaps have been better satisfied 

 with the design of the panels on the walls, which, as shown in the 

 general section, have a poor, not to say too trumpery look, for tliev appear 

 to consist of mere lines with sprigs at their angles. Whether thev are 

 really such, or raised mouldings, or whether distinguished by gilding 

 from the general surface of the walls, we are unable to judge. 



There are many other parts of the interior which, on examining the 

 plan, seem greatly to stand in need of further elucidation, by means of 

 particular sections on a larger scale. A larger section, or "rather two 

 or three of the kind, are very much wauled to show the interior of the 

 audience [lart of the theatre,' for, as represented in the general section, it 

 is so small that very little can be made out in regard to it, especially as 

 the mode of engraving here adopted (lithography) is by no means very 

 Javourable to neatness and distinctness when the subject is minute. 



On tlieotlier hand, a greater number of plates than seems altogether 

 necessary — no fewer than twenty are devoted to explaining the carpen- 

 try and machinery of tlie stage — and as very little, if anythiii!;, liasbein 

 jjefore published in tl)is country on the conblrnctioii of' that oh rt of a 



theatre, and the various apparatus required for effective scenic changes 

 and exiiibitions, this work will doubtless afford great assistance to those 

 who may be called upon to execute anything of the kind ; but the 

 letter|)ress explanation to these plates is exceedingly brief indeed, which 

 is the more to be regretted, because it requires some previous 

 familiarity with such mechanism and contrivances in order to compre- 

 hend it — at least to judge how fiir that here shown is marked by any 

 improvement. 



At p.ige 7 of onr present volume will be found a table of the dimen- 

 sions of some of the principal theatres, by referring to which the com- 

 parative size of the Plymouth one may at once be estimated ; for we 

 shall here transcribe the author's own account of it. 



" This is the only fire-proof theatre in the country, the whole of the 

 framing for the boxes, corridors, kc, being of cast-iron. The roof (the 

 span of which is 60 feet) is of rolled iron, and though no piece is more 

 tlian jg of an inch in thickness, it is yet remarkably strong, and not 

 more than half the weight of a timber roof. The particular construc- 

 tion of the ironwork to the boxes and the roof is shown in plates No. 

 41 to 4d. 



" The auditory is included within a circle, the ends of the boxes being 

 rounded oft'at three-foiirths, and their back paitition continning to the 

 columns of the proscenium, by which there is a perfect view of the 

 stage for the spectators, to the depth of "25 feet from the least eligible 

 seat in the boxes. The pit, which is 33 feet in diameter, will afford ac- 

 commodation for 200 persons. There arc two circles of boxes, capable 

 of receiving 512 persons, and above them a gallery and slip boxes, which 

 will jointly contain 4H0 persons. By means of an arched colonnade, 

 continning along the gallery and the slips, the ceiling of the theatre is 

 completed in a perfect circle." 



The other dimensions are as follows : the diameter across the boxes, 

 48 feet; width of curtain, 28 ; depth of stage from curtain, 30 ; height 

 from floor in centre of pit to ceiling, 40. 



Almost adjoining the preceding building, or separated from it only 

 by a street on the west side of it, is another edifice of Mr. Foulston's, 

 namely the Athenaeum, which was begun in 1818. Its north front, or 

 that on a line with the hotel, is a Grecian Doric tetrastyle, and though 

 somewhat lower than the other, is of a richer character, for in addition 

 to the usual ornament of the frieze, the pediment is filled with sculp- 

 ture, at least is so represented both in the view and elevation, and is 

 surmounted by a figure on its apex. Within, this portico has only a 

 single door below, and three windows above, or rather a window-niche, 

 over the door, with a statue, and a window on each side of it, which 

 arrangement gives some originality and play to the composition. As 

 to the details of the order, which occupy two out of the six plates 

 devoted to this subject, we could very well have spared them, and 

 should have been better pleased to find the various parts of the interior 

 more fully represented. Of the remaining designs we must defer 

 speaking till next month, when we shall pass them in review, and 

 examine how far Mr. Foiilston has been successful in his attempts 

 with other styles. 



Isomctiical Perspective. By T. Sopwith. AVeale. 1838. 



This is a new edition of Mr. Sopwith's well-known work of 

 Isomctrical Perspective, in which he has extended its a|)plication to 

 mining. In this department it appears well calculated to be iiscfnl 

 equally for professional purposes, as to explain the subject to persons 

 generally interested in it. Mr. Sopwilh has introduced several 

 improvements in principle into this edition, and altogether it presents 

 one of the most valuable works which has yet been publislied on this 

 subject. 



The Universal Calculator. By J. Wallace. Glasgow, M'Phiin- 



1838. 

 This is the cheapest work on the subject which has yet been 

 published, and has condensed in the smallest possible space, most of 

 the arithmetical knowledge necessary to the engineer. Most of tiie 

 calculations are made by logarithms, and many new processes of calcu- 

 tioii suggested by the able compiler. Altogether it is a work recom- 

 mended by its portability and the moderation of its price. 



LITERARY NOTICES. 



\\ c liavc an article prepared on the subject of Eiigiiici rin/; Eihiciiliini, but 

 wc regret lliat tlie prcssuie of matter has obliged us to defer its publication 

 until iKxt niontb. 



W'c .sliall next month refer to Mr. Hay's work on Cvlnnr as ujtjili'd In nilcriuil 

 JJcnntfiait and Ifotisr rii/nCinif. 



Loiulun's biglily interest ng work, Tlic Siihii}b,ni flor.l, mr, wc shall review 

 ill o'lr next number, lor in our present crowded coluninn we should not be able 

 to dii justice to it. 



We arc happy to find ijiat the sister Avt^, J'ahjling and Sculpture, have now 



