CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. 





l.oiur. 



M,.iory. cwMUncet did not admit of their being immediately con- 

 " ' nectrd, are yet each of them excellent. It has been 

 chiefly owing to the unwearied exertion* of the benf vo- 

 letrt John I low jrd. that so aneedy and efTectual a renova- 

 tion of the jails and bridewells has taken place. So far 

 M regards the buildingi, hit leading principles were, pro- 

 viding accommodation for different classes of prisoners, 

 hiving separate sleeping cells, also opportunity for soli- 

 tary confinement, with sufficient ventilation, plentiful 

 tupplies of water, and the means of complete inspection, 

 These general principles appear applicable to all coun- 

 tiie, and if i udiciously employed, greatly ameliorate the 

 lititation of the prwoncr, accomplishing at the same time, 

 all that is requisite for the purposes of security, punish- 

 ment, and reformation. 



The mansion-house of. London, forming the residence, 

 ''"Tan nd containing the court of the first magistrate of a city, 

 which for population, wealth, enterprise, accommo- 

 dation, and perfect arrangement, has seldom if ever been 

 equalled, f*lls with propriety under this head. Its 

 portico is bold and striking, and, though some of its fea- 

 ture* are sufficiently clumsy, yet, as a whole, it is grand 

 and impressive, and reflects credit upon its architect, the 

 father and predecessor in office of the present ingenious 

 city architect Mr Dance. It has been reproached with 

 heaviness ; but we should be sorry to commit its renova- 

 tion into the hands of such architects as designed the 

 Bank. It was begun in 1739, and completed in 1753. 



As the hall and office of the managers of the affairs of 

 an extensive, populous, and rich empire, the India house 

 falls alo under the description of an edifice for the pur- 

 poses of legislation. Its north front possesses more chas- 

 tity of design, than most public buildings of modern con- 

 struction. There is no break in it excepting that made 

 by a very fine portico, consisting of six Ionic columns, 

 < CCOpyiag the whole height of the structure, and orna- 

 mented with excellent sculpture by the hand of Bacon. 

 Mid the upper row of windows been of greater size, 

 they would lave added to the dignity of the building, 

 and lessened the space of dead wall which is over them ; 

 as it is, having only a range of light level cornices, and 

 the face of the wall being quite plain, the effect is good. 



Public Exercises and Amusements. 



Public ex- Amongst the Greeks and Romans, their exercises and 

 > and amusements had their origin chiefly in the preparation 

 of their youth for the modes of combat which were then 

 practised, and in the general interest taken by the rest 

 of the people in the performances of their children and re- 

 lations. These early grew into habits, and of course be- 

 came a gratification. Legislators perceived their impor- 

 tance, and determined their orderby fixed regulations. We 

 are informed, that the first gymnasium was found amongst 

 the severe Spa/tans. They were afterwards established 

 in every district of Greece. The Olympic games be- 

 came the general rendezvous, and common bond of union 

 amongst all the states of Greece. At Rome, the games 

 <>f the circus were said to have been instituted by Kvan- 

 nd re-established by Romulus in an island of the 

 Tiber. Both Greece and Rome had the additions of 

 theatres. Amongst the Romans, these edifices were ex- 

 panded to a prodigious capacity, and, in the hands of 

 . and worthlrss men, became the means of debauch- 

 ee degenerate offspring of that once simple and irre- 

 uitible p< 



In modci :, times, the mode of warfare being so com- 

 y changed, as to render superiority of mind of more 

 ce than the uurc athletic force of body, the 

 ;*c* which were tilcuUtcd chiefly for the improve- 



Domestic 

 a re lii lec- 

 ture. 



General 



tiom. 



ment of the latter, hare long ago ceaied to be in cstima 

 lion to demand purpose establishments. The amuse- 

 mentsofthe theatre have, however, been carried to a de- Ihe * trr 

 grte of refinement naknowa to the ancients, and, in an 

 architectural point of view, have become sufficiently im- 

 portant to require a separate article. The amusements 

 of the ancients cannot, with propriety, be separated from 

 those of the moderns ; so that we mut, for further infor- 

 mation, refer our readers to the article THEATRE, under 

 which the several edifices adapted to these purposes'will 

 be noticed at considerable length. 



Domettic Architecture. 



In considering the art of building, as adapted to the 

 purposes of domestic life, it is necessary to advert not 

 only to the climate, and general manners, but also to the 

 several gradations of society in which individuals are pla- 

 ced. In England, we have the prince, the noble, the 

 smaller land-owner, the freeholder, the cottager, the mer- 

 chant, manufacturer, and mechanic, and others who are en- 

 gaged in the church, physic, and law. But the pecu- 

 liarities which arise from public offices, or fiom different 

 professions or occupations, must be treated of under se- 

 parate heads ; here we can only regard the accommoda- 

 tion of their families. 



In external appearance, internal arrangement, and 

 also decoration, the dwelling of the prince ought to be 

 suitable to his superior situation ; the habitation of the 

 noble will also be in some measure modelled by his rank 

 and duties ; and that of others, as their possession of 

 wealth enables them to enjoy profusion, or confines them 

 to the mere necessaries of life. National habits and man- 

 ners also, greatly affect the domestic architecture of a 

 country. In China, where there is no hereditary rank, 

 there is little appearance of distinction in their nouses, 

 excepting in the dwellings of public officers ; and the 

 houses of those officers, and even the palaces of the empe- 

 ror, are insignificant, when compared with the extent and 

 riches of the empire. Amongst the Greeks, while the 

 utmost efforts of fine architecture were exerted upon 

 temples and other public edifices, the private dwellings 

 were generally plain and mean. Yet from the plan of a 

 Greek villa given by Palladio from Vitruvius, (see Plate 

 CLXI.) it appears that a considerable degree of mag- 

 nificence had at last been introduced ; but we have 

 no account of the period when this change took place. 



Until near the termination of the Roman republic, the 

 utmost simplicity was preserved both in their public 

 buildings and private dwellings ; but immediately on the 

 influx of Asiatic wealth, both were carried to an ex- 

 treme of magnificence. The tribute and plunder of the 

 extensive provinces centering in Italy, the villas of the 

 principal Romans, much exceeded in number, extent, and 

 splendour, all others in the world. The plan given by 

 Vitruvius, (see Plate CLXI.) will convey an idea of 

 their arrangemc.it, and shew, that the palaces of mo- 

 dern princes will suffer by being compared with them. 



This unbounded luxury being created and supported 

 by the tribute and plunder of the richest provinces of 

 the empire, could only exist while these were kept in 

 subjection, or were ruined, and they were accordingly in 

 the end totally destroyed with their degenerate posses- 

 sors, by the different barbarous hordes which overwhelmed 

 the empire. 



For many ages after the destruction cf the Roman 

 empire by the Goths, Vandals, and Mahometan Arabs, 

 the private dwellings of t!ie conquerors were extremely 

 mean : being scarcely advanced beyond the shepherd 

 state, tin j set little value upon fixed habitations. It 



Greeks. 

 CLXI. 



Romans. 



PLATE 

 CLXI. 



Oothi, 



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