Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture. 223? 



mical processes which enter into their construction, are referable to the 

 principle of fitness ; so all the different kinds of beauty of which they are 

 susceptible, are referable either to the expression of purpose, or to the 

 expression of style. A cottage or a barn, which are recognised to be such 

 at the first glance, are so far perfect, as to the expression of purpose; but 

 they may also be specimens of Grecian or (xothic Architecture, in which 

 case, to the expression of purpose is added the expression of style. 



As fitness and the expression of purpose are principles applicable to all 

 buildings whatever; so fitness, the expression of purpose, and the expres- 

 sion of architectural st}le, comprehend all the beauties of which buildings 

 are susceptible. 



The principle of expression of purpose is of universal application in 

 Architecture ; and whatever building will bear the test of examination 

 according to it, cannot but prove satisfactory to every unprejudiced mind, 

 though it may not possess any of the beauties of architectural style. The 

 minds of all men, however, are more or less subject to the prejudices of 

 the age and country in which they live ; and the prejudices of European 

 Architects and their employers seem long to have been in favour of 

 the expression of architectural style in building, rather than of the 

 expression of use or purpose. This circumstance has influenced the 

 general taste; and hence it is, that the critical observer, when looking at 

 what is considered a fine building, instead of first examining whether it is 

 expressive of the purpose to which it is aj)plied, considers only whether it 

 is intended to be in the Grecian, Roman, or Gothic style ; and, having 

 determined to which of these styles it belongs, he next examines whether 

 the details of the building are in strict conformity with the best practice 

 and precedents in that style. But according to the principles we have laid 

 down, it will be seen that the Grecian and Gothic styles arc mere accidents 

 in Architecture ; and are nothing more than the language which the Archi- 

 tect makes use of to convey his ideas. The expression of the purpose, for 

 which every building is erected, is the first and most essential beauty; and - 

 should be obvious from its Architecture, altogether independently of any 

 particular style ; in the same manner as the reasons for things are altoge- 

 ther independent of the language in which they are conveyed. As in lite- 

 rary compositions, no beauty of language can ever compensate for poverty 

 of sense; so, in architectural composition, no beauty of style can ever 

 compensate for the want of expression of purpose. Every reasonable 

 mind must feel this ; for, as we have said before, the foundation of all true 

 and permanent beauty is utility. 



These principles we shall gradually developein the four following Parts, 

 into which this work is divided. 



Part I. Designs for Dwellings in various styles of Architecture, and 

 with different tiegrees of acconnnodation, from the cottage of two rooms 

 to the villa of the English gentleman of wealth and refinement in the nine- 

 teenth century ; accompanied by analytical and critical remarks, illustra- 

 tive of the principles of Architectural Design and Taste on which these 

 designs are composed, and of Landscape-Gardening with reference to their 

 accompaniments. 



Part II. The Geographical History of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Archi- 

 tecture. 



Part III. TheLiterary History of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture. 



Part IV. The (irammar and Principles of Civil Architecture generall}'. 



Glossarial Index. Every technical term and professional expression 

 made use of in this work will be, the first time it occurs, exj)lained and 

 illustrated, if necessary, by an Engraving; and in the Glossarial Index, 

 not only will all these terms be brought together alphabetically, but other 

 terms of Architecture, and such terms of engineering, and of the fine arts, 

 as are connected with Architecture and Landscape-Gardening, will be 

 explained and illustrated in a similar manner. The study and comprehen- 



