Fine Arts. 427 



But while they fall short la splendour and magnifi- 

 cence, they are probably much superior to most 

 of the ancient specimens of architecture in sim- 

 plicity, convenience, neatness, and real elegance. 

 This difference probably arises, in some degree, 

 from the well known fact, that most of the monu- 

 ments of ancient taste and skill in architecture be- 

 long to countries and times when despotic sove- 

 reigns were able to command the property and 

 the labour of millions, and when building cities 

 and temples was one of the standing habits, and 

 chief honours of great potentates. Since the re- 

 vival of the arts these circumstances have so seldom 

 met together, and particularly in those countries 

 which have been most capable of profiting by 

 them, that buildings on a plan of great splendour 

 and magnificence have been undertaken compara- 

 tively seldom. But convenience, neatness, and 

 simple elegance, as they are within the power of 

 taste in all nations and ages, have been displayed, 

 it is believed, with peculiar frequency in the last 

 century. 



The other peculiarity in the architecture of the 

 last age is, that Private Dwellings^ during this pe- 

 riod, became, in general, more spacious, conve- 

 nient, and agreeable to a correct taste, than ever 

 before. In all preceding ages, even those which 

 were most favourable to the arts, the number of 

 large and convenient private houses was smajl. 

 While public buildings w^ere studiously extended 

 and ornamented, only a few of the most wealthy 

 possessed large, comfortable, and beautiful habita- 

 tions. The number of this description has greatly 

 increased in modern times. The manifest aug^ 

 mentation, in the course of the last century, of that 

 respectable and useful portion of society usually 

 called the Middle Class, has, no doubt, led to ihis 

 improvement. It may probably be asserted thatci 



