154 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



[May, 



On the other hand the mild and equable temperature of the east 

 was favourable in effecting for the ancients that perpetuity at which 

 they aimed; they did not suffer from frequent frosts and sudden 

 changes; their beautiful statues were not injured by that quantity of 

 coal-smoke which accumulates in our dense cities ; nor did they see 

 a Parthenon or Erectheium perishing in the lifetime of its founder. 

 Instead of a few years altering the appearance of their temples, they 

 remained as firm and perfect as ever after the lapse of centuries, 

 and promised to be as lasting as the rocks out of which they were 

 originally hewn. The immense size and weight, moreover, of the 

 stones which their architecture demanded, contributed, independent 

 of the cement, to the stability and breadth of the masses. And 

 as the site of their cities was generally on the tops of lofty hills, 

 it being the custom with idolatrous nations to offer sacrifice on 

 such places, it is evident that to raise such huge blocks to the re- 

 quired height, betokened some degree of mechanical skill. Besides, 

 when they knew the grandeur of effect which would be conferred on 

 their buildings from an elevated position, and the advantages it would 

 give them over invaders, they needed not a further stimulus to exer- 

 tion; nor would they be slow in applying the principles of geometry 

 to the carrying forward those great works. The Egyptians were un- 

 questionably masters in this science. But their simplest and most 

 effectual method in transporting their vast monoliths (as may be 

 learned from one of their own paintings) was the use of rollers and 

 the incline; in fact they would sfcid these obelisks, and by means 

 of proper tackle, set them up just in the same way as modern 

 labourers. 



If we consider their cement, we find, as in the aqueducts, it pre- 

 sents a hardness that is impenetrable to water; and this through no 

 less than 2000 years. The Romans and Greeks were particularly 

 careful in the making of their mortar and in the use of it; with us, 

 on the contrary, it is deemed a second rate consideration, especially 

 in house-building, and is usually committed to the least instructed 

 class of men. Allan Cunningham, in his life of Wren, speaking of 

 St. Paul's, says : — " Though the stones are hewn with the greatest 

 nicety, and the masonry seems all firm and compact, yet the mortar 

 which should unite the whole into one solid mass, is in many places 

 decayed and become as dust. This is the case even with some of 

 those piers against which the public monuments are erected ; when 

 the outer line of stone is cut through, the mortar comes gushing 

 through the aperture; the. sand is sharp and good, but the lime, like 

 too much of the lime used in London, has been deficient in strength." 

 Notwithstanding this defect, every one who knows that the architect 

 endeavoured to give permanence to his works and secure the praise 

 of posterity, will be glad he is deaf to the voice of his biographer. 



Of the religious edifices of the middle ages, there are some which 

 retain, despite of time and tempest, so much of their original beauty, 

 that most of their ornaments and rich carving seem as if they were 

 the work but of yesterday. There are even preserved to us those 

 curious devices with which the early sculptors were wont to decorate 

 their handy works; and whether they alluded to the mysteries of 

 their craft, or were emblematic of some moral truth, were yet always 

 used to mark and identify a favourite subject. I regard their sacred 

 architecture with feelings of reverence; for cold, indeed, must be the 

 bent of that man who is insensible to the sublimity of the Gothic, 

 when looking upon the roof at King's College, the Minster at York, 

 or the magic groining and tracery of Henry Vll's chapel. There is 

 something so ennobling in this style, that it is peculiarly adapted to 

 our Christian churches. It is easy to point out its claims upon our 

 admiration. The Gothic architects, well knowing that devotion would 

 be heightened by great size, loftiness, and durability, preserved all 

 these characteristics of grandeur ; and it is when surrounded by them, 

 we are impressed with the religion of the place, and feel that we are 

 in a building dedicated to the worship of Jehovah. Everything is 

 calculated to excite the most profound emotions. Worldly feelings 

 die away, and piety grows warm when we view its consecrated walls 

 through the obscure and subdued light which streams through the 

 painted windows; when the voice of prayer alone breaks the stillness 



of its ailes; and, as the sounds of the organ thrill through our souls, 

 we listen to the beautiful and affecting chaunt: — 



Stabat mater dolorosa 

 Juxta crucem lacrymosa 

 Dum pendebat filius, &c. 



During the period of the building of these magnificent structures 

 art was the favourite study of the monks, and the most eminent ar- 

 chitects were bred within the walls of the cloister. The abbeys, 

 the cathedrals, and conventual churches, were planned and superin- 

 tended by successive abbots and bishops; for learning then was a kind 

 of monopoly, and chiefly confined to the clergy, and the nobles of the 

 land. But this was a propitious era for architecture, inasmuch as 

 there was less fear of its being debased by illiterate men. The 

 knowledge of its principles, too, seemed to operate far more power- 

 fully, when concentrated in such a circle, than when scattered in 

 various forms over a whole community. It is thus that the noblest 

 style and the most perfect system of architecture, as seen and uni- 

 versally adopted throughout Europe, is supposed, and with every 

 probability, to have originated among the fraternity of freemasons. 

 For such could only have been accomplished by many different minds 

 acting in concert. 



Nor were wealth and labour among the least causes which contri- 

 buted to this end. To command them is indeed the object of every 

 nation eager of renown, and desirous to distinguish itself by iU 

 public institutions and monuments. We admire the beautiful villas of 

 I t;il v, her lakes and gardens, her palaces and academies for the arts, 

 and we think of the rich cardinals and noble families who built them; 

 we look at other stupendous fabrics and are reminded of the wealth 

 of the Roman patricians. The prelates, too, of the great Catholic 

 churches, from being prohibited to marry, had no motive for accumu- 

 lating property, but expended it on the service of the altar; and 

 aided by the munificence of princes, the donations of the people, and 

 the revenues arising from monasteries, they were enabled to seek out, 

 from both at home and abroad, the most skilful artists, for the purpose 

 of making those edifices in all respects worthy of religion. Such a 

 capital was applied by the Gothic architects for their embellishment. 

 That unrivalled skill in construction — that elaborate ornament in 

 sculpture, and those beautiful allegorical and legendary decorations, 

 arose from this source. The interior of their churches became one 

 mass of splendour; to compose them, the priests exhausted their 

 knowledge of the passions ; and with it they exhausted their for- 

 tunes. 



The time and labour which were bestowed upon them equally de- 

 serve our attention. In our contemplation of any object to which 

 genius has given all the excellence it is capable of, we seldom reflect 

 upon the numerous difficulties through which it has struggled to per- 

 fection; although what appears as the effect of enchantment or pro- 

 duced without any effort of the mind, is generally the fruit of many 

 years of painful toil. Those who witnessed the foundation laid of one 

 of these great piles, and those who saw the last stone raised for its 

 completion, were almost two distinct generations. During this long 

 interval, separate portions were built at different times and by dif- 

 ferent hands; and this was especially the case under the Papacy; so 

 that we find in the history of the cathedrals, a succession of bishops 

 who added some screen, shrine, tower, or transept, in the design of 

 which, they acquired great fame as architects. 



This mode of building by degrees is at present rare amongst us. 

 It has been lately followed in one or two parts of England ; but the 

 recommendath n of it by the " Incorporated Society for promoting 

 the Building of Churches," is likely to lead to its more extensive 

 practice. The only evil that is to be feared will result from it, is the 

 want of unity in design; as we see it in St. Peter's anil other works 

 in which this system was pursued. 



( Tv U coiUiruttd. ) 



