1839.] 



THE CtVlL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



227 



Baronial Castle of Sheriff Mutton, in Yorkshire, affurds tlie opportunity of 

 again bearing testimony to the research and skill evidenced in tbe drawings 

 and description, to which the Soane Medallion has been awarded. The general 

 meeting felt that Mr. Samuel Sharp, the associate, the aiithorof this restoration 

 and of the one which was successful last year, had not only displayed great 

 merit in this production, but had also deserved well of the Institute for the 

 zeal with which he had again offered himself to the approbation of his pro- 

 fessional brethren. It was accordingly decided that his medallion .«hould 

 have a furtlier distinction of a gold rim. In order, however, to avoid discou- 

 raging in future the exertions of competitors, who might in such cases be 

 deterred from undertaking the labour and expense of such subjects, from the 

 fear of being deprived of their reward by the superior merits of a candidate, 

 whose already acknowledged talent might bar the hope of success, the Institute 

 have reserved the power of awarding the Soane Medallion to the second in 

 merit, and of adjudging to the first such other reward as they may think fit 

 and adequate. 



The Council entertain the hope that the fellows may hereafter deem it 

 expedient to publish the best of the restorations, on which premiums have been 

 bestowed. They consider that such a work would reflect credit upon the 

 Institute, as containing a body of novel, useful, and interesting information. 

 It would also afford a stronger inducement for future competitors to make the 

 sacrifioe of their time and talents, in the hope of obtaining such a distinction. 



ISIcdals of merit have been adjudged to two essays upon the subject of an 

 analytical investigation of Greek and Roman architecture, as indicating consi- 

 siderable research and care. 



The services of able men of science have continued to be rendered available, 

 by means of lectures, for the purpose of developing the general principles of 

 the sciences connected with architecture, offering to the professor sources of 

 information and instruction, and means of practic.il application to the purposes 

 of construction. The adaptation of such sciences to the peculiar purposes of 

 architecture has not hitherto engaged the immediate attention of those occu- 

 pied in the investigation of these branches of knowledge. Although the 

 manner in which the subjects have been treated hitherto in this room, has been 

 necessarily elementary and general, yet the Council feci convinced that much 

 good has resulted, and that by a steady perseverance in the same course those 

 subjects will come to be studied by professors in each department with more 

 special reference of the sciences to construction. The present session will 

 be marked by courses on geology and acoustics, and probably during the 

 ne.\t, the attention of the members may be drawn to mechanics, optics, and 

 the principles of colour. Without a knowledge of the laws which control the 

 harmonious decoration of buildings by colour, the architect may destroy the 

 effect of the most graceful combinations of mass and form, and the grandest 

 arrangement of lines. Colour is capable of producing the most important 

 effects upon the mind. It gives character to the hall, the staircase, and the 

 chamber — effectually calls the imagination into play — requires no previous 

 study to render its effects to be deeply felt by the uneducated and the refined 

 mind. It acts upon the feelings by sensations, either sublime, cheerful, or 

 gloomy. It is a principle by which the artists of all nations and of all periods 

 have sought to appeal to feelings. Egypt, in all her sublimity ; Attica, in 

 all her purity aud grace ; Asia, in all her wild luxuriance ; Europe, in the 

 middle ages, and the architects of the "Revival," have derived powers of ex- 

 pression and emotion from this source, which was subsequently neglected, 

 but which it is the interest of the architect of the present day to revive and 

 render his own. 



It is with great pleasure that the Council have observed, that at length the 

 constructions connected with the new Houses of Parliament are commenced. 

 This important work has given rise to an investigation of the utmost conse- 

 quence to the profession. Upon the suggestion of Mr. Barry, the architect 

 of the building, government has directed a commission to investigate the 

 qualities of stone in various parts of the kingdom; with the view to adopting 

 that which should best ensure perpetuity to this grand national fabric. This 

 commission, consisting of Messrs. Barry, Dclabeche, Dr. Smith, and Mr. 

 C. H. Smith, have visited 103 quarries, and examined 1 7a edifice", and col- 

 lected specimens from various parts, which have been submitted to tests both 

 mechanical and chemical by Professors Wheatstone and Daniel. The publi- 

 cation of the results of these valuable trials will be of incalculable importance 

 to the public and to the profession, as the subject, pursued in this complete 

 manner, will render the professor better acquainted with resources for 

 building stone, of which he may avail himself — improve property, by per- 

 haps bringing into use quarries hitherto neglected or unknown, — and may 

 possibly ensure to our public edifices a quality of material better adapted to 

 resist the changes of temperature of this variable climate, and to withstand the 

 peculiar atmospheric influences of this metropolis. Ic may lead perhaps to 

 the adoption of a stone more brilliant in hue than those at present in 

 general use, so as to shed somewhat of the glow of an Attic or a Roman 

 tint upon the architectural features of the public edifices of London. The 

 enquiry, thus pursued, fully confirms the important connection of chemistry 

 and geology with architecture, and proves the importance and advantage of 

 the course adopted by the council of callihg the attention of the members to 

 those subjects by lectures. 



Since the last annual meeting six new fellows have been elected, one 

 Honorary Fellow, one Honorary Member, Mr. Wilkinson, distinguished by 

 his valuable researches in Egypt, seven Honorary and Corresponding Mem- 

 bers, 16 Associates — making SI new members, and forming with those pre- 

 viously elected an aggregate of 1 j'2 contributing and H'l Honorary members, 

 besides eight Students. The Institute and the art have lost a distinguislicd 

 member by the death of Monsieur Percier : a short memoir was read of th'S 



esteemed artist at one of the ordinary mee;ings, collected from various brief 

 notices of him published at the time in France. It is to be expected that a 

 fuller account of his brilliant talenis, his valuable productions, his estimable 

 personal character, and of his inlluence upon the French school, of which 

 he was the leading master during a very long period, will be published and 

 do justice to the reputation which he so justly acquired throughout Europe. 

 The council are led to hope that Monsieur Vilain, his nephew and heir, will 

 accede to the request, which has been made to him for one of the drawings 

 of Monsieur Percicr. This application arose from the conviction of its being 

 extremely important that the Institute should, if possible, possess some 

 autograph specimen of the talents of every distinguished architect, as they 

 may hereafter enable those, wl o mny write on the history of the arts or the 

 biography of architects, to refer to authentic records. The Institute owe to 

 the libeiality of their Fellow, Mr. Mylnc, autographs of Piranesi, Robert 

 Mylne, Bononii, and I>ewis. It is hoped that this collection may receive 

 ample additions from those who may have similar documents in their pos- 

 session, which derive value fiom forming part of a series, although when 

 separate they are of comparatively little importance. To Mr. Myhie the 

 Institute is also indebted for a copy of the " Editio Princeps" of Vitruviu , a 

 rare and valuable volume, and of peculiar importance in the library of an 

 institution like this. The council, conceiving it desirable that the Institute 

 should possess a complete series of the editions of our Latin classic, have 

 purchased three other editions, and four more have been presented by other 

 Fellows. The donations of drawings have been more than usually numerous 

 and interesting, and consist principally of delineations of buildings in foreign 

 parts. Among these must be particularly noticed the valuable series illus- 

 trating Indian buddings, forwarded to the President by the Rajah of Tanjore, 

 which were prepared by order of his highness for the express purpose of 

 being sent to the Institute. The council have to record with deep regret 

 the loss which the Institute has experienced in the death of their liberal 

 benefactor, Sir John Drummond Stewart, who within a few days of his decease 

 had transmitted further additions to the collection of drawings which he had 

 already presented. The foreign members h^vc as usual been liberal in their 

 contributions to the library, and Messrs. Albcvtolli, Hittorft", Blouet, Vandoyer, 

 Roelandt, Laves, Suys, Serrure, and the Chevaliers Gasse and Bianchi have 

 added many valuable volumes and drawings to the collection. These foreign 

 architects who have visited this country have been cordially received by our 

 members. Two striking instances have occurred of the influence which 

 architecture has exercised upon the minds of gentlemen, distinguished by their 

 rank and fortune, and who are engaged in works the fruits of their travels 

 in foreign lands, and more especially connected with the art. Gaily Knight, 

 Esq., M.P., was already advantageously known for his previous investiga- 

 tions in the architecture of Normandy. His work, now in the course of pub- 

 hcalion, entitled " Norman and Saracenic Remains," four numbers of which 

 have already appeared, and have been presented by him to our library, is of 

 great value, beauty, and research. It is impossible to omit noticing the 

 exquisite illustrations of many striking edifices, hitherto unknown, contained 

 in Mr. Vivian's work entitled " Views in Spain and Portugal." 



It will be perceived by the balance-sheet, that the considerable accession of 

 new members has of course produced a corresponding increase to the income 

 of the Institute — by the contributions of four honorary fellows 100 guineas 

 have been invested in the consolidated annuities — the travelling fund, originally 

 founded by J. Newman, Fellow, has received a considerable addition by the 

 donations of Messrs. Rhodes and Chawner. It is proposed that the dividends 

 and subscriptions for this fund should be allowed to accumulate, until the 

 amount of stock should be sufificienlly productive to enable the Institute to 

 assist effectually some meritorious student to pursue his studies on the classic 

 soils of ancient art. It is to be hoped that the liberality of members by- 

 special subscription may effectually promote this object. 



The council would ill discharge their duty, if they retired from office 

 without claiming for their successors a generous confidence in their discretion 

 and judgment ; an unreserved reliance, which may encourage them in the 

 difficult path of duty. Taught by their own experience and judging from 

 their own impressions, they are convinced that without this confidence no 

 men of independence and feeling — none, who rank high in the profession, and 

 who have no ultimate motive but a disinterested desire for the prosperity of 

 the Institute, can be induced to undertake this responsible and arduous task. 



They would also urgently call upon the members for their more active 

 co-operation in furtherance of the exertions of future councils. With the 

 council should rest merely the ministerial and executive functions of the 

 Institute. The fellows and associates must consider it a more positive duty 

 to furnish their officers with communications, which should give interest to 

 the ordinary meetings, and eventually constitute materials for the volumes of 

 transactions. It was said of a distinguished philanthropist, that be could 

 contract into the smallest dimensions or expand into the largest for benevolent 

 purposes. So let no member consider any exertion too insignificant, or any 

 effort too great, which may advance the interests of the Institute, the pro- 

 fession, and the art. 



Gentlemen, — Have we not seen the g-rtttifying and encouraging anticipation 

 with which our first formation was hailed on all sides — the generous sympa- 

 thies which our first efforts excited — the liberality by which our narrowed 

 means were increased into ample funds? Have we not witnessed the patron- 

 age of the nobility— the support of the profession— and the cordial concur- 

 rence of our invaluable foreign brethren in artV Has not success attended 

 our first essay ,it publicition ? Have not competitors pressed forward for our 

 prizes ? Have we not by one sovereign been incorporated under a charter, 

 and has not our Queen graciously honoured us by her patronage ? When we 



