Retrospective Criticism. qq'j 



species in blossom in the London nurseries. A judicious planter of such a 

 garden would have had shrubs in flower every month in the year. A mass 

 of the hardy heaths alone would have produced this. What a fine effect a 

 compartment of .<^lthae'a frutex would have had at this moment ! (Sep. 7. 

 1829.) 



To the exterior of the architecture of the palace we cheerfully yield our 

 unreserved admiration : on whatever side we view it, we feel it to be a 

 whole ; and that every part is of the same kind, and contributes to one 

 kind of expression. This expression is every where sufficiently powerful to 

 prevent its absence for a moment from the spectator's mind. This is what 

 cannot be said of Buckingham palace, which, on the north side, might be 

 mistaken for a part of a street, and after having passed the east side and 

 imagined it to be the grand entrance, we come to the south side, and are 

 puzzled by a semicircular colonnade, an evident afterthought, which seems 

 to be another entrance; and yet, both in proportions and in style, the 

 second entrance seems to have no connection or harmony with the front 

 which it is placed against. However the architect of Windsor may have 

 failed in the garden, no one will question his success with the exterior of 

 the building. Every one must feel also the suitableness of the main 

 entrance to such a castle directly at the grand avenue. — Cond. 



.L. 



n'r 



Art. VI. Retrospective Criticism. 



Fowler's Thermosiphon.' — Sir, In your Magazine for August (p. 453.), I 

 have read the notice of Mr. Fowler's thermosiphon. In the year 1812, when 

 in Philadelphia, I had the pleasure of being introduced to a gentleman, one 

 of the Society of Friends, who showed me his plan for a warm bath, in a 

 room situated over the kitchen ; the water was conveyed to it from the kit- 

 chen fireplace, on a principle, as nearly as I can recollect, similar, if not the 

 same, to that mentioned in Mr. Fowler's pamphlet. I have frequently men- 

 tioned this method of procuring warm baths in our dwelling-houses, as both 

 easy and unexpensive, and as a thing much wanted, whether regarded in a 

 medical point of view, or as adding to domestic comfort. I am glad it has 

 been made public, having long contemplated giving it publicity. 



Brown's Gas Engine. — I beg to add, that, in the same year, 1812, the 

 Rev. Dr. Allison, a resident in Philadelphia, suggested to me the practica- 

 bility of using gas instead of steam for engines. You will, I doubt not, 

 allow this communication a place in your useful publication, of which I have 

 the happiness to be a constant reader, and remain, yours, &c. — William 

 Johns, M.D. F.L.S. Aug. 1829. 



The Anson or Otaheite Pine. — Sir, I beg leave to trouble you once 

 again respecting the Anson or Otaheite Pine, as I observe a Mr. C. F. 

 Webster has written a very ingenious letter respecting that pine in the last 

 Number of your Magazine (p. 466.), and which is only calculated to mislead 

 the public ; but it is to be hoped that truth and justice will always over- 

 come caprice and falsehood. Since my last letter respecting that pine 

 appeared, in No. XIX. of the Gardener's Magazine, in pages 231, and 252,, 

 I have found such evidence, that there cannot be the least doubt but that 

 that pine was first cultivated at Shugborough. I am now authorised to 

 state from Mr. Dermott, who is at present living as gardener at Tixall Hall, 

 that he very well remembers the pine in question growing and fruiting in 

 the most luxuriant state at Shugborough in the year 1795. At the first sight 

 it struck Mr. Dermott very forcibly that it was a distinct variety ; and, on 

 enquiring of Mr. Tyley (who was then gardener to Thomas Anson, Esq., of 



