276 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[AufiUST) 



ferred, since every p^ge in which I treat of the ohhqne arch, has the 

 words 'on the oblique arch with spiral j'^ints,' placed in capitals over 

 it" 



Kow Sir, I assert that the application of a problem is not deter- 

 mined by the capitals jjl.iced over it, hut by the principles on which 

 the construction is founded, and this problem is based on the following 

 assumptions, namely, that "the bed and joint lines on the face are 

 perpendicular to the curve which is the intersection of the cylindric 

 surface and the plane of the face," (I quote Mr. Xicliolson's own words). 

 Also that the joint lines in the face are straight lines, and that they 

 divide the curve of intersection into equal parts : all of hIucIi assump- 

 tions are incorrect, and not even an approximation to the truth in an 

 arch of much obliquity, that is to say, with spiral joinls, while three of 

 them hold good for an arch with phiiic joints, namely, that the joint 

 lines in the face are straight lines, that they are perpendicular to Ihe 

 curve of intersection, and that they divide the curve of intersection 

 into equal parts. I think therefore it will be admitted that there leas 

 some difHculty in guessing what sort of arch the author wished it to 

 be understood he was referring to. One point, however, the reader 

 may rest quite assured of, namely, that whatever species of oblique 

 arch the problem was intended for, it is about as near the truth for 

 one sort as it is for another, which is an advantage in the construction 

 the public will no doubt appreciate. The fact is, it is only correct for 

 a square arch, and the more the arch diders from the scjuare or the 

 greater the obliquity, the greater will be the error in the construction. 

 Mr. Nicholson gives it as a "near approximation," and says that "its 

 simplicity is ample compensation for its introduction ;" but if he really 

 is practically familiar with the subject on which he has written, he 

 must be aware that in cases of much obliquity, particularly in arches 

 which are semicircles on the square section, this construction would 

 lead to very great error, and could not be made use of. 



The other discrepancies I pointed out in his book, w ith the excep- 

 tion of two to which he confesses, are only answered by personalities, 

 which may go for what they are worth; it is not my intention to re- 

 turn them in kind, and I can only regret that Mr. Nicholson's resjurces 

 suggested no other way in which he could reply to my remarks. 

 I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 



William H. Barlow. 



Manchester, July 1", 1840. 



YORK MINSTER. 



Sir, — As no account of York Cathedral has appeared in your valu- 

 able Journal since the late lamentable fire, probably your readers may 

 feel interested in the following short notice of its present state, which 

 I am enabled to give from personal inspection. The newspaper ac- 

 counts have led many to suppose, that the last caused little less de- 

 struction than the former fire: but though the damage has been most 

 appalling, this has been by no means the case. The fire did not extend 

 eastward of the central tower, which, together with the transepts, 

 remain entirely uninjured ; these portions are now walled off from the 

 nave, ready for the commencement of repairs in that part of the struc- 

 ture. On first catching sight of the exterior, it would hardly be per- 

 ceived that any fire had ocurred, since the only parts to be observed 

 wanting are the roof of the nave, and the niullions of the top windows 

 in the south-west tower, that in which the fire commenced. The 

 tower has sustained considerable damage, there being, I am given to 

 understand, several large cracks in the masonry ; but as the blocks in 

 ancient works are united with a tenacity unknown (?) in modern erec- 

 tions, it can hardly be necessary or expedient to rebuild entirely this 

 part of the edifice. The side aisles are untouched, but the roof of 

 the nave is open to the sky its whole length. Though the heat of the 

 burning timbers must have been excessive, the clerestory windows are 

 perfect, and their stained glass is, I am happy to say, but little broken. 

 The beautiful west window, the glory of its date, remains as before, 

 but the wooden door beneath it was destroyed. The columns and 

 capitals have received less injury than might be supposed, though not 

 one has entirely escaped. The restoration will be attended with 

 little difficulty should the requisite funds be obtained, and it is a mat- 

 ter of surprise that more vigorous exertions, in furtherance of this 

 object, have not been made by the profession, who should look upon 

 the cathedral as their own property. Viewing it in this light, I felt 

 much chagrined at being refused by the dean, though in a very polite 

 manner, the free range of the edifice, having visited York Minster 

 ■with the express intention of studying closely its decorative and con- 

 structive beauties. All true lovers of our noble art must ardently 

 hope the day may soon arrive, when no fee will be required for the 

 inspection of any national monument. Since the former fire, all the 

 screens in the choir have been glazed with plate glass, and the most 



happy eftect in the reflection of the stained glass is caused. At Be- 

 verlev the artist meets with no impediment to the prosecution of his 

 studies, and is allowed to wander about at his will, without the pay- 

 ment of any fee. Perhaps too little care is taken to prevent plunder, 

 and it would be better if a few attendants were stationed about the 

 Minster, who should not, as at Hampton Court, be allowed on any 

 account to exact money. But at York, au<l indeed at other cathedrals, 

 the choir is kept locked, and you are admitted by the verger; so that 

 sketching, unless you ha])])en to be personally known to the dean, is 

 out of the question. If you think the foregoing remarks worth notice, 

 I shall feel obliged by their insertion. 



And am. Sir, 



47, Loner Stamford Street, Your very obedient servant, 



Jitlij 20th, 1S4U. A Lover of the Beautiful. 



[The Institute and the Society should endeavour to remove such 



obstacles as our correspondent complains of, and obtain permission 



for members of the profession to take sketches and drawings of 



cathedrals and public buildings. — Editor.] 



MR. GODWIN'S PAPER ON STAINED GLASS. 



Sir — Mr. Godwin has entered with such warmth and energy on the 

 advocacy of the claims which the art of jjainting on glass has upon us 

 for protection and encouragement, that it is to be hoped he will not 

 allow his eflibrts to stop where they have begun, but that he will con- 

 tinue to call public attention to the present languishing state of the 

 art, until it appear to be in some degree roused. 



"There is a further reason for supervision just now, if it be true, as 

 stated in your last number, that the Dean and Chapter of Westminster 

 are about to glaze some of the windows in the Abbey with stained 

 glass. LTnless the old method be pursued in the design and execution 

 of them, they may as well put up a few painted blinds, and save the 

 money the glass would cost. 



A Lover of Art. 



REVIE'WS. 



Second Series of Railieay Practice, a collection of Worlcing Plans of 



Public Works. By S. C. Brees, C. E. London: Williams, 1841'. 



The success of the first series of Mr. Brees's work called Railway 

 Practice has produced the present continuation, which, although under 

 the same title, is extended to engineering works in general. The 

 present volume is calculated to be of great use, as the author has 

 profited by the experience gained in his former essay, and successfully 

 catered for the wants of the public. Most of the illustrations are from 

 recent works, with the exception of two or three of works by Telford 

 and others, and include, besides railways, the Southampton and Croy- 

 don locomotive engines by the Rennies, the swing-bridges at St. 

 Katharine's and the London Docks, and Grand Western Canal, locks 

 on the Forth and Cart Caual, and River Cam, Quay Wall and Cotfer- 

 dara of Sunderland Harbour, pile-driving machine at the new Houses 

 of Parliament, &c. The i)lates are well executed, and exhibit very 

 learly all the minute portions of the work. Appended to the workf 

 there are several specifications, which form a valuable portion o 

 the volume. The work is one which we can with justice recommend 

 to our readers. 



Glossary of Terms in Civil Engineering. By S. C. Bree, C. E. 



A dictionary of engineering terms was one much wanted by the 

 student and the public. The architects have had dictionaries for 

 some time, and it was certainly required that the other profession 

 should be as well provided. Mr. Brees's work seems carefully com- 

 piled, and is extensively illustrated; as it is not yet in its complete 

 form, and we have had merely the proof sheets submitted to us, we 

 shall defer the farther consideration of it until next month. 



Architectural Remains of the reigns of Elizabeth and James \st. By 

 Chari.es James Richardson, Architect, F.S.A., M.l.R.A. Part 2. 



This second part is decidedly an improvement on the former one, 

 it contains some very excellent specimens of the style, and will prove 

 to the lover of Elizabethan architecture a rich treat to peruse. We are 

 compelled to defer our remarks until next month, when we shall exa- 

 mine into the merits of the work more minutely. We shall here do 

 no more than remark that the perspective views are treated more 

 tastefully and more pictorially than in the first part. The mansions of 

 Burghley, Kirbj', and Agnes Burton, furnish the principal subjects ; 

 and whichever opinion may be entertained in regard to their style, 

 several of them are fine specimens of it, and eminently picturesque as 

 compositions. 



