1849.J 



THE CIVIL EXGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



43 



courses of lectures may differ in each, but to all of these insti- 

 tutions may be applied the words of a printed statement re- 

 specting the Putney College, in which it is said that "the founda- 

 tion of the system is laid in a knowledge of the exact sciences and 

 properties of matter — i.e., upon mathematics and chemistry." 

 The mathematical course includes, among the sciences above re- 

 ferred to, as forming a necessary part of the education of the 

 engineer, Geometry, Analysis (including the Differential and In- 

 tegral Calculus), Statics, Dynamics, and Hydraulics. Fortunately 

 — most fortunately — in all three colleges, the Mathematical lectures 

 are delivered by matliematidans, not by mathematical pretenders, 

 whose acquirements consist in a certain impudent dexterity in 

 dazzling the eyes of those who are more ignorant than themselves, 

 by a display of mathematical jargon. The practical classes of 

 Chemistry afford the student the o])i)ortunity of analysing and 

 assaying minerals by direct manipulation. The lectures on 

 Geology include the practical application of the science to archi- 

 tecture, marine engineering, and mining : there are also lectures 

 on civil engineering, machinery, mechanical drawing, &c. We 

 will not venture to assert that this course of instruction altoge- 

 ther supersedes the necessity of further pupilage in the office of 

 a civil engineer; on the contrary, tlie student is strongly urged 

 to avail himself of that advantage, for without it he never will 

 be fit to cope with any work of magnitude. 



We cannot close this account without referring to an incidental 

 advantage of these colleges, in promoting the improvement of 

 engineering literature. For the wretchedly inaccurate works 

 which were palmed on the practical mechanic a few years ago, 

 we have new and admirable treatises on the various applications of 

 the sciences, by Mr. Hodgkinson at University College, Professor 

 Moseley and Mr. Hann at King's College, and of the Putney lectu- 

 rers, by Professor Ansted, Dr. Lyon Playfair, Professor Davies, &c. 

 It is also gratifying to add to this list, the name of Mr. Cowie, as he 

 has announced the publication of his lectures on Hydraulics, com- 

 bining his own researcheswith the results of the eminent continental 

 writers on the subject. The vexatie quextiones of hydraulics are so 

 many and so perplexing, that this work can scarcely fail of ren- 

 dering important service to science. Truly the labours of such 

 men are wanted to bring the engineering literature of tliis 

 country up to the same standard which in France the splendid in- 

 vestigations of Poncelet, Navier, and others scarcely less illustri- 

 ous, have attained. 



THE DUNDEE COMPETITION. 



By the time that this article appears in print, the designs for 

 "an Ornamental Building to be erected at the Harbour of Dundee, 

 commemorative of the landing of Her Majesty at that port in 

 1844," will have been sent in. In one respect, there is no differ- 

 ence between this and nearly all other competitions, the time allowed 

 for the preparation of designs being absurdly short. Committees 

 seem to think that architects are improvisatori, — that they require 

 only to have a subject proposed to them, when their stock of ever- 

 ready inspiration will enable them to pour forth ideas as happy as 

 they are unpremeditated. They seem, moreover, to fancy that 

 architects are alwaj^s at leisure to sit down to their drawing-board 

 at once, as soon as they have read an advertisement inviting them 

 to compete. Not only quite unnecessary and absurdly preposte- 

 rous, but this hurry is deplorably mischievous in its consequences; 

 nor is it at all to be wondered at that so many crude designs should 

 be produced on such occasions, since no time is allowed for due 

 study and leisurely consideration of the subject. Committees are 

 not at all aware that what are carefully-executed drawings may 

 nevertheless be exceedingly careless, unstudied designs, — even the 

 best of them inferior to what they would be were time allowed 

 for correcting first ideas. It is only by attributing it to ignorance 

 of its consequences, that we can account for the lamentable hurry 

 with which competitions are managed, we being unable to imagine 

 that any set of men would knowingly frustrate their own object — 

 viz., the obtaining a really good design — through their own childish 

 impatience, and their not affording architects leisure for properly 

 conceiving and maturing what they are required to do. Many times 

 have committees been strongly suspected of, if not openly charged 

 with, unfairness towards competitors: at least, it shows some grace 

 in them to be equally unfair to themselves, by defrauding themselves 

 of the benefit of artistic study. At the same time, too, that it is 

 contrary to the interest of those who invite — at least, pretend to 

 invite talent to their aid, the very uncalled-for haste imposed 

 upon architects in almost every instance of competition, is a real 



grievance to them. It frequently compels them either to forego 

 competing altogether, or else to sit down to an additional task 

 after the avocations of the day are over, and perhaps to sit up 

 nearly all the night — not merely once, but two or three nights toge- 

 ther — in order to be able to send off their drawings before the ex- 

 piration of the term allowed. Thus, what should be cheerful em- 

 ployment is converted into mere toil, attended with feverish 

 anxiety. Nor does the hardship stop there; for even toil may be 

 patiently endured, if we feel assured that we are earning something 

 by it. To cheer those who engage in architectural competition, 

 there exists no such assurance: on the contrary, they have to bear 

 up against the disheartening assurance that they are exerting them- 

 selves for a mere chance, since only one can possibly be the suc- 

 cessful man. 



There are surely unavoidable vexations enow attending compe- 

 tition, without their being increased by the heartless inconsiderate- 

 ness and aibitrary whims of committees, who seem to pride them- 

 selves upon showing that the power they possess is irresponsible. 

 Greatly would architectural competitors be relieved, were mere 

 sketches, instead of finished drawings, to be reipiired of them. 

 Such draughts would exhibit the ideas of their respective authors; 

 and when the best, or what should be judged to be the best, idea 

 had been selected, it would then be time enough to ask for a fair 

 and finished copy of it. Not the least advantage attending such 

 mode would be, that it would compel — at least lead, committees 

 to give their attention to ideas and matters of actual design; 

 whereas now, it is to be apprehended, they frequently suffer them- 

 selves to be biassed and misled by the mere manual ability 

 shown in drawing.* In fact, it may be said that, according to the 

 present system, while they exercise their power very arbitrarily, 

 they generally exercise it so as to dupe themselves in the end; 

 which, thougli it may be some, is but very sorry, satisfaction to 

 those wlio may have been, if not always exactly duped, toiled and 

 taxed by them. 



These general and preliminary remarks have detained us longer 

 than we expected, wherefore we will not detain our readers by 

 apologising for tliem ; but continue without farther interruption 

 to notice the very unusual circumstances attending this particular 

 Competition. So far from there being the slightest vagueness or 

 ambiguity on the part of the Committee's invitation to architects, 

 it tells them exactly what it is that is wanted. In the case of the 

 Nelson Monument, the competitors were left to adopt whatever 

 form they pleased — arch, column, fountain, obelisk, trophy, pyra- 

 mid, temple; — a kind of freedom that was not a little embarrass- 

 ing, and which must have chilled by the perplexing doubts and 

 misgivings attending it. Unlike the "Nelson" one, the Dundee 

 Committee honestly inform architects that the "ornamental build- 

 ing" which they require is to be an arch ; so that there can be no 

 mistake in that respect. Besides which, the foundations being 

 already laid, the plan is shaped out, and its dimensions fixed : so 

 that the task extends to no more than that of designing a super- 

 structure upon it. There are to be three openings or passages, the 

 centre one 21 ft. wide, the smaller ones 10 ft. 6 in. each, and the ex- 

 tent of the whole rather more than 80 ft. These dimensions are so 

 considerable, that they seem to indicate the intention of producing 

 a monumental work; as will appear from comparing them with the 

 corresponding dimensions of some other structures of the same 

 nature. 



Centre Arch. Side Arches. 



Width Height. Width. Height, 



tt. in. ft. ill. It. III. tt. III. 



Arch of Conslaiifine 21 4 38 2 11 24 



Arch of Titus 19 26 6 none 



Porte St. Denis 26 50 none 



Marseilles 20 37 none 



Arch, Green Park 16 6 32 none 



Marble Arch. Buckingham Pa!. 15 6 29 9 19 10 



Arch of the Tuileries 14 23 8 3 10 6 



These instances may suffice, although we should have liked to have 

 given the corresponding dimensions of the Arco della Pace, at 

 Milan, but cannot at the moment find our memorandum of them. 

 We believe, however, that its principal opening does not exceed 

 IS feet by 36 feet, consequently falls short of what is fixed for the 

 one in the intended structure at Dundee. As the width of this 

 last is to be 21 feet, hardly can it be under 40 feet in height, unless 

 it is to vary considerably from the usual proportions, and conse- 



* Instead of operating as a recommendatiun, particular caretulnesa or merit in point of 

 mere drawing ought to be received with suSf.iciou, as iut^ndeU to cajole the judgment, 

 and divert from an impartial consideration of the design itself. Besides, iu all probabi- 

 lity, the author of a design has had no hand whatever in the lair copy of it, it being 

 now-a days a notorious practice for architects to employ other people for the purposu : 

 as is divulged by the advertisements of parlies who offer them their services in "the 

 getting-up of Exhibition aud Competition Drawings 1" 



