1840.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



411 



mentioned. The front is divided horizontally by a bold string course, 

 and surmounted by a massive but suitably proportioned plain attic 

 wall, vpitli its cornice and blocking. The impost moulding of the 

 upper windows is also carried through, vfhich lightens, without too 

 much cutting up, the massive and substantial piers which divide them. 

 There is a good height of plain wall between these windows and the 

 cornice, which, in my opinion is a great assistance towards gaining 

 dignity of aspect, giving me always the same kind of impression as a 

 lofty forehead surmounting a human face. The solid and void are, 

 I think, very happily apportioned in this front, and though I could 

 wish for a better description of rustic work than the horizontal chan- 

 nels in the basement, still the effect of the whole is simple, s\ibstantial, 

 and dignified. Here, and here only, does a cupola, supposing it to be 

 something very different from that which really exists, not appear 

 misplaced. The attic wall hides the roof completely, and conveys 

 the idea of a solid support for the mass above it, and the breaks 

 dividing the front are so proportioned as to carry the eye easily 

 upwards to the plinth or stylobate of the cupola, which falls just 

 enough within their line to give the appearance of a proper degree of 

 stability. In the article of decoration, which I mentioned as the third 

 requisite to fill up my idea of magnificence, the Liverpool Custom 

 House offers but little for our consideration, and the quality of what 

 exists can hardly, I imagine, excite a wish that there was more of it. 

 It is difficult to conceive that Greek details could be applied with a 

 more complete absence of all classical effect and feeling. Unfluted 

 Ionic columns, with fluted tori in their bases, composed each of eleven 

 stones; pilasters with capitals, whose mouldings are certainly copied 

 from Greek examples, and enriched, according to established use, 

 with water-leaf, &c., but which mouldings, alas, project more than 

 three times as far beyond the faces of the pilasters, as the pilasters do 

 from the wall, the projection of these latter being barely 3i inches to 

 a diameter of 4 ft. <i in. The projection of the entablature follows, of 

 course, that of the pilasters, and shares in their meagre aspect. In 

 the architraves of the porticoes it appears that stone could not be 

 obtained in sufficient lengths to bear from column to column, and the 

 architect has had recourse to the method of notching shown in Fig. 2. 



Fig. 2. 



Plan of joint at C. 



The effect of this mode of jointing is, that in one portico the. part 

 marked a has broken through and tne stone fallen considerably out of 

 the horizontal, a defect which is only too clearly shown by the broken 

 lines of the tenia moulding and the faces of the architrave ; and in 

 another a fracture has occurred as shown at b, but not to the same 

 extent. Might not these evils have been avoided by showing a vertical 

 joint in front, and backjointing the stones as shown by the dotted lines 

 at c. This must be considered a digression as it belongs rather to 

 the constructive part of the matter; but it was mentioned for the 

 purpose of calling attention to the bad practical effect, of a mode of 

 construction which is in itself an eyesore, and which is enhanced in 

 the present case by the fact, that the stones resting on the columns are 

 almost uniformly some degrees darker in colour, than the intermediate 

 ones which are notched into them. Through some defect, as I ima- 

 gine, in the foundation, a very serious fracture is visible in the 

 N. W. wing over one of the windows within the recess. But to return 

 to the details ; the stylobate so much commended by Eder is a plain 

 square plinth, projecting just sufficiently to receive the bases of the 

 very slab-like pilasters 1 have described, whose moulding is also, as 

 noticed by yoiu- correspondent, carried entirely round the building, 

 with the exception of the south front and wings. This stylobate is 

 certainly much too low to be in proportion to the order — as to the 

 doors and windows, I marvel much what any one can find to admire in 

 them. The windows, except those I have mentioned in the south 

 front, and similar ones under the north poftico, are either plain oblong 

 holes, or have a meagre ghost-Uke architrave, without even the 

 knees or projections at the upper angles to be found in the only genu- 

 ine Grecian example of such features in the Erectheum. The doors 



may be copied from Greek examples; but who can say that the up- 

 right unenriched cyma, is not an ungraceful member ? I imagine that 

 the very vertical profile of these mouldings, was adopted in the origi- 

 nals for the better display of the ornamental surface, which decorated 

 them ; but as here applied, in their naked state, they are positively 

 ugly. '1 he trusses of the doorways are, to my eye, little less unpleas- 

 ing, and the nature of the stone and quality of workmanship, give no 

 great effect to what ornaments they can boast. I have as yet said 

 nothing of the interior, or of the details of the cupola. The whole of 

 the former is not yet opened to the public, the fittings of the long 

 room being incomplete. Having had a view of this room, I can only 

 say that it seems to me no great improvement on the exterior. The 

 plan is confused and choked, and the effect of space destroyed by the 

 numerous columns,, which, in their disposition, evince a singular disre- 

 gard to any regular arrangement. The internal cupola, which springs 

 from pendentives rising upon the entablature of the Ionic order of 

 this room, is spacious, and considerably enriched, but claims no notice 

 on any other grounds. On its exterior companion I must decline 

 making any rema.iks, as my disclaimer of prejudice might perhaps not 

 avail me, were I to say all I think of it. I believe, however, the ori- 

 ginal design of the architect was not so utterly tasteless. That part 

 of the interior already occupied is sufficiently and fairly described by 

 Eder, being very dark and inconvenient. I have trespassed long on 

 your valuable space ; my excuses are that a great deal of unmeaning, 

 and I think ignorant admiration has been bestowed on this structure, 

 both by residents and visitors; that I li ive never heard a reason given 

 for any thing which has been said in its favour; that all that is the 

 least good in it seems to have been uniformly overlooked ; and that 

 it is one of the most extensive and costly buildings which have been 

 erected in this country of late years, having occupied more than ten 

 years in completion, and having cost, as I have been informed, a sum 

 approaching £400,000. In conclusion, I hope I have said nothing to 

 impugn my opening professions of impartiality. Let those who liave 

 seen this building judge for themselves, and if, in comparing these 

 remarks with the original, they consider the objections urged beyond 

 the bounds of just and fair criticism, I hope they will, as I have en- 

 deavoured to do, give the reasons which influence their opinions; 

 should such meet my view or that of others who think like me, I hope 

 they will be judged of in the spirit of candour, which I trust has 

 guided my pen in the foregoing observations. 



Your's, &c., 

 H. 

 Liverpool, Nov. 9, 1840. 



Since the above remarks were written, the Long Room has been 

 completed and opened for business. I have only to add, as regards 

 this room, that, although a vista is preserved through its entire length, 

 the effect is destroyed before one third of that length is traversed, by 

 the confused appearance presented by the columns. This arises from 

 the strange indifference here manifested to regularity of intercolum- 

 niation, which is such that, looking on either side of the room, no two 

 pairs (not couples, for there are no really coupled columns, however 

 nearly they approach such an arrangement) of columns seem equally- 

 far apart. The coffers of the cupola appear much too shallow, and 

 the mouldings as much too large for the depth of the coffers, though 

 perhaps not so when viewed, with respect to their surface, rather than 

 their depth. 



VICTORIA ROOMS, BRISTOL. 



Sir — The portico of the Victoria Rooms, Bristol, although correctly 

 placed in the Octastyle Class in the table of porticoes given in the 

 Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal for this month, is therein 

 stated to have five intercolumniations, a contradiction which you may 

 not perhaps think it necessary to explain ; allow me, however, to add 

 that there is an important omission in the description of it, as the 

 pediment I am happy to say is sculptured, or more properly is being 

 sculptured, from a working model by Mr. M. L. Watson, the principal 

 relief from the face of the tympanum being 2 feet 3 inches. I shall 

 feel obliged by your attention to this letter. 



And remain, Sir, your most obedient servant, 



Charles Dyer. 



36, Guilford Street, Nov. 11, 1840. 



3 K 2 



