1849.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



379 



fissures in the chalk, an enormous body of water may be collected 

 at a high level, and made available for practical use. This water, 

 at present, is not used either for navigation or manufacturing pur- 

 poses, but runs uselessly by subterraneous drainage to the sea. 



I shall in a future number again allude to this subject, as I find, 

 to say all I could wish, at present, would take up more space than 

 1 could reasonably ask for. 



Samvel Collett Homeksuam. 



19, Buckingham-street, Adelphi, 

 November 2itli, 1849. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS. 



Nov. 5. — Earl de Grey, President, in the Chair. 



At the opening meeting of this Society, the fallowing gentlemen were 

 elected honorary and correipondiiig members : — The Sigiior Antolini, archi- 

 tect, Prof, of the Academy of Fine Arts at Bologna ; the Abate Antonio 

 Magrini, and the Signer Miglinranza, architect, of Vicenza ; the Signer 

 Vantini, architect, of Brescia ; .Mynheer J. B. Weenink, architect, director of 

 the Academy at the Hague. — The decease of Herr de Lassaulx, of Cebleniz, 

 honorary and corresponding member, W. T. Pocock and John Woolley, fel- 

 lows, during the recess, was annouDced. Numerous donations to the Library 

 were laid on the table. 



The President, in addressing the meeting, alluded to a statement which 

 had been made some months back as to the powers of the Senate of the 

 University of London to institute examinations for certificates of special 

 proficiency in architecture, as well as in other professions. By a communi- 

 cation from that body it appears that the new regulation will not at present 

 include architecture. 



"Remarks on the earlier and later Gothic Architecture of Germany." 

 By the Uev. Dr. Whewell, Master of Trinity. 



Dr. Whewell stated that he came forward hut as an amateur. To deter- 

 mine tlte progress of styles, to trace their growth, seemed to him an impor- 

 tant object, and to aid in this it was that he strove. Deductions from the 

 exandnation of existing monuments would not of themselves suflice, — these 

 must be confirmed by reference to history. He had already put forth the 

 theory, founded mainly on the churches of the Rhine, that the leading 

 features of Gothic architecture had grown out of the necessities of structure, 

 and his object on this occasion was to carry his theory a little further, treat- 

 ing of the tendencies which had changed the character of buildings in the 

 later Gothic period. He should he assisted in this by the works of some 

 receni German writers, who had pursued the investigation to a considerable 

 extent. The rev. Doctor then proceeded to discriminate what he considered 

 the three important principles concerned in the formation of the Gothic 

 style — namely, the principle of frame-work ; the principle of tracery, — which 

 he thought quite distinct from frame-work; and the principle of wali-work; 

 but the inquiry was sufficiently subtle to prevent us from attempting to 

 convey now a general notion of it in a few words : we may perhaps be able 

 to refer to it at greater extent hereafier. He spoke at considerable length 

 of what he called the principle of upward growth. Speaking of unconstruc- 

 tive forms of the later Gothic, Dr. Whewell said that the outer portion of 

 Strasburgh spire would not hold itself together ; the joints, as he had ascer- 

 tained, vvere veitical, and could not stand ; but there were internal ribs 

 rightly constructed, which really did the work. 



At the close of the meeting a letter was read from Mr. Mocatta, asking 

 advice as tKi the means of ridding a house of a great and Inci'easing nuisance, 

 the domestic ant. The annoyance is one of great n\agnltudein London, and 

 applications are constantly heing made to us to learn the best mode of 

 getting rid of them. — The Dean of Westminster thought poison the only 

 remedy. — Several members said they had failed in all endeavours to eradi- 

 cate them. 



Nov. 19. — Thomas Bellamy, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



The Very Rev. Dr. Buckland, Dean of Westminster, delivered a lecture 

 this evening, on the subject of " Artesian Wells." There was a very nume- 

 rous attendance of mendiers of the Institute, and several strangers were 

 present by invitation, among whom we observed Lord Ehrington, M.P., Mr. 

 Mangles, M. P., Mr. R. Stephenson, M.P., Mr. Stanford, M.P, Sir F. Dwarris, 

 Mr. G. Kennle, and Mr. A. Goldsmid. 



Dr. BucKLAND commenced by observing, that the architecture of the 

 globe was a subject which he thought ought not to be foreign to the consi- 

 deration of mem'>ers of an architectural institute, for he must humbly sub- 

 mit that no architect could perfectly understand his profession unless he 

 had acquired some knowledge of the materials with which he had to deal; 

 and he hellnved no one would deny, that had their ancestors known as much 

 as they did now touching the duraliilily of various kinds of stone employed 

 in the construction of ecclesiastical and castellated buildings, they would 

 not have to deplore the ruin of so many of those edifices. It would be bis 



dnty to-night to direct their attention to the architecture of that particular 

 portion of the earth which they themselves inhabited — a subject possessing 

 an Interest literally of vital Importance. It was, as had been proved by the 

 events of the last six months, a question of life or death to thousands and 

 tens of thousands in this great metropolis, whether they should have the 

 means of obtaining an abundant supply of fresh water. It was, unfor- 

 tunately, too notorious that the supply of water was at the present time 

 awfully defective, and the last month had been fertile in schemes of various 

 kinds for supplying that defect. He would not now enter Into the relative 

 merits of those schemes, hut he would explain to them — so far as It was 

 ascertained— the structure of that portion of the earth on which they dwelt 

 in this great metropolis. He had affixed the term "Artesian Wells" to the 

 sul'ject on which he had to address them. In his Bridijewater Treatise, 

 which was published 13 years ago, he had written a chapter on this subject, 

 and he might say that the result of his observations in England had been 

 entirely confirmed by the practical experience of some of the most eraineiit 

 scientific men in Germany and France, lucluding M. Arogo. It had been as- 

 serted that sufficient water might be obtained in this metropolis, by Arte- 

 sian wells, to aflTord an ample supply to ten such cities as London; but he 

 would venture to affirm, that though there were from 2o0 to 300 so-called 

 Artesian wells In the metropolis, there was not one real Artesian well 

 within three miles of St. Paul's. An Artesian well was a well that was 

 always overflowing, either from its natural source or from an artificial tube; 

 and when the overflowing ceased, it was no longer an Artesian welL 20 or 

 30 years ago there were many Artesian wells in the neighbourhood of the 

 metropolis, — namely, in the gardens of the Horticultural Society, in the 

 gardens of the Bishop of London at Fulham, and in Brentford and its vici- 

 nity; but the wells which were now made by boring through the London 

 clay were merely common wells. He had heard it said that Artesian wells 

 might he made in any part of London, because there was a supply of water 

 which would rise of its own accord; but he could state, with regard to the 

 water obtained to supply the fountains in Trafalgar-square, that it did not 

 rise within 40 feet of the surface, it was pumped up by means of a steam- 

 engine ; and the requisite supply of water could be obtained at a much less 

 cost from the Chelsea waterworks. Indeed, the same water was pumped up 

 over and over again. No less than 18,000/. had been spent upon an Artesian 

 well which had been made on Southampton-common, but the water never 

 had risen within 80 feet of the surface, and never would rise any higher. 

 The supply of water formerly obtained from the so-called Artesian wells in 

 London had been greatly dirulnished by the sinking of new wells. Many of 

 the large brewers in the metropolis who obtained water from these wells 

 had been greatly inconvenienced by the failure of the supply; and he had 

 received a letter from a gentleman connected with a brewer's estahllbhment, 

 stating that the water In their well was now 188 feet below the surface, 

 while a short time ago it ustd to rise to within 93 feet of the surface. In- 

 deed, the large brewers were actually on the point of bankruptcy with re- 

 gard to a supply of water. There were, as he had said, more than 250 Arte- 

 sian wells, falsely so-called, In London, one-half of which had broken down; 

 and those from which water was obtained were only kept in action at an 

 enormous expense. The average depth at which water could now be ob- 

 tained from so-called Artesian wells in London was GO feet helow the Trinity 

 high water-mark; and he believed that in 20 or 25 years more, water would 

 not be obtained at a hss depth than 120 feet. This was, as he had said, a 

 subject of vast importance to the Inliabitants of the metropolis, who had not 

 now a supplv of water equal to one-fourth of what was required for their 

 ordinary use. The rev. Doctor, after going into a lengthy and elaborate 

 geological description of the soil in the metropolis and the neighbouring dis- 

 tricts, illustrating his observations with well-executed and interesting plans 

 and sections, proceeded to inquire by what means a sufficient supply of 

 water could be obtained for the Inhabitants of the metropolis .' He consi- 

 dered that an ample supply might he obtained from the Thames in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Hetdev, after' that river had been fed by the Loddon, the Ken. 

 nett, and other tributary streams The water might be conveyed to London 

 bv an open aqufduct of sufficient depth, parallel with the Great Western 

 Railway; and, as It would have a fall of three feet, it would flow without the 

 aid of any englneeiing works, and might be brought to a reservoir in a valley 

 north of Paddington. It would there be at a level of 103 feet above high- 

 water mark, and at that level two-thirds of the inhabitants of London 

 might, by means of an engine, be supplied with water at high-pressure. The 

 rev. gentleman concluded hy saying that upon careful consideration, this 

 plan appeared to him the most feasible that had yet lieen suggested for afford- 

 ing to all the Inhabitants of this metropoUs an abundant supply of pure 

 water; and he sat down amid loud and general applause. 



After a few words from Mr. Clutterbuck, in explanation of some of the 

 sections which had beea prepared by him, 



Mr. TiTE said, that, as a member of the Institute, be felt bound to tender 

 his thanks to the very rev. Dean for the Interesting paper with which he Lad 

 favoured them to-night. This was not a mere question with regard to the 

 nature of Artesian wells. He had not been aware before he heard it from 

 the rev. Dean that an Artesian well was one that was constantly overflowing; 

 but of this there could be no doubt — that what were called Artesian wells 

 required frequent deepening, and were a source of constant expense. He 

 sincerely hoped that the Government would take up this question. It ought 

 to be looked upon as a national question; for a large city like this, con- 

 taining so immense a population, ought not to be left dependent for the sup- 



49* 



