A number of mere ornajncntal biiiliJings,' 

 have very generally, an air of profuse osten- 

 tation, and, at the same time, are apt id 

 have a glaring, unconnected appearance : 

 and indeed, however judiciously thf^y may 

 be placed and accompanied, they have a 

 want of interest, from the very circumstance 

 that they are designed for no other purpose 

 than that of ornament : the mind does not 

 feel entirely satisfied when tliiit is the only 

 purpose ; it likes to consider ornament as 

 an accessary, not as a principal. An ancient 

 temple, dedicated to a divinity of those 

 times, as that of Clitumnus on the bank of 

 his own stream, sanctified by the supposed 

 presence of the god, frequented by his' 

 worshippers, and decorated by their piety, 

 was then an object of gay and festive devo- 

 tion, and still continues to be looked at with 

 an interesting veneration: but the sensation 

 is comparatively cold, when ornament is it- 

 self the sole deity of every temple. I by 

 no means intend by this to condemn such 

 buildings ; magnificence cannot be better 

 displayed in extensive gardens and pleasure 



