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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



[September, 



results were to be obtained, although the undertaking was laborious. The 

 results of the observations were most important and satisfactory. Two dis- 

 tinct set off tide waves visit together the east coast of Scotland, but one of them 

 has hitherto been much neglected. One goes round the north of Scotland and 

 runs south ; a second comes northward from the Straits of Dover. These 

 were demonstrated on two charts ; the progress of these was exhibited. Their 

 presence was seen in the whole Frith of Forth down to the open sea ; but in 

 the npper part of the Channel these double tides were thereby distributed, 

 and rendered more visible. These tides had opposite inequalities which 

 indicated their age and origin. The paper was of very considerable interest, 

 and it was stated by Mr. Russell that the Ordnance survey had just been 

 conducting a series of similar observations in Ireland. 



Mr. Hopkins read a paper " On the Motion of Glaciers." Glaciers are formed 

 on inclined planes by the gradual fall of water, which is converted into ice. 

 As the ice increases it gradually expands, but in the fust instance the motion 

 is scarcely visible. He said he had made several experiments to illustrate 

 this snbject. An inclined plane was erected, on which he placed a box of 

 ice, which he then elevated to an angle of 3 degrees ; the motion was at 

 the rate of 7 inches per day ; on being raised to degrees, the motion in- 

 creased to 12J inches; at 9 degrees it increased to 23i inches; and at 12 

 degrees to 48 inches, increasing in a very large proportion afterwards. He 

 then endeavoured to ascertain the least inclination at which the ice would 

 move, aud found that it would proceed down an inclination of half a degree. 



OBITUARY. 



Mb. James Hakewell. 



Died at his apartments in Adam Street West, Bryanstone Square, May 28 

 1843, in the sixty-fiftn year of his age, James Hakewell, architect. This 

 gentleman was principally known by publications on architectural anti- 

 quities and the fine arts. His fi st work was a novel, entitled " Coelebs 

 suited; or, the Stanley Letters," 1812. In 1813 he produced a large volume 

 in imperial lto. called "The History of Windsor and its Neighbourhood," 

 with twenty-one engravings and fourteen vignettes from his own drawings, 

 price five guineas. The views were from his own pencil. It was well re- 

 ceived at the time, and many years after he was much gratified on receiving 

 the thanks of Sir Jeffry Wyatville for the publication, coupled with the as- 

 surance that, in his alterations in that abode of royalty, he had endeavoured 

 to carry out his suggestions. When the general peace opened the Continent 

 to English travellers, he went to Italy, accompanied by his wife, whose taste 

 and talents qualified her thoroughly to enjoy all the beauties of nature and 

 art that were displayed before them, and there they passed the greater part 

 of the years 1816 and 1817, which afforded the materials for a "Picturesque 

 Tour of Italy," which was published, with sixty-three plates, in twelve parts 

 quarto and folio, 1818-1820, illustrated by parallels of Dorton House, Hat- 

 field, Longleat, and Wollaton, in England ; and the Pallazo Delia Cancel- 

 laria, at Rome. This is an interesting work, both in its literary matter and 

 in illustrations. Among the latter are some engravings from fine drawings 

 by Turner, one of which, a composition of Roman edifices, surpasses any 

 picture by Pannini. This work was brought out with great care, and imme- 

 diately obtained a high rank in the estimation of the public, which it is well 

 qualified to retain, as, for accuracy of delineation, and excellence of en- 

 graving, it does not yield to auy that sprung from that fruitful field. In 

 1825 he published, in folio, " A Picturesque Tour in the Island of Jamaica, 

 from drawings made in the years 1820 and 1821." In 1828, "Plans, Sec- 

 tions, and Elevations of the Abattoirs of Paris, with consideration for their 

 adoption in London," 4to. In 1835, " An Attempt to determine the exact 

 Character of Elizabethan Architecture," 8vo. In the year 1810 he was en- 

 gaged in furnishing drawings for a projected work on the Rhine, which it 

 was intended should have been a counterpart to his " Italy," hut which has 

 never been published, the drawings remaining in the hands of the engraver. 

 Gentleman's Mag. 



THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. 



The interest which this extensive undertaking has excited in this country 

 and on the continent, has rendered any information upon its present state 

 and condition, and upon the progress that is now being made towards its 

 completion, a matter of some value. A correspondent of the Times has fur- 

 nished the following details, by which it will be seeu that the undertaking is 

 proceeding in a satisfactory manner. 



Without going into the general plan of the work, which is, perhaps, more 

 easily gathered from the descriptive plates, which are to be found in every 

 shop window, delineating the figure and outline as also the ground plan of 

 the building itself, it will be necessary only to call public attention to such 

 parts of the works as are actually finished, or which are in course of progres- 

 sion at the present moment. In the first place, looking at the river front, 

 the divisions of which it is composed (commencing from Westminster-bridge) 

 will be found in the following state : — 



The North Return, or Serjeant-at-Arms' Residence, — The greater portion 



of the parapet is completed and ready for the roof, which is now preparing, 

 and which will be of cast iron, covered with Westmoreland slates. The 

 present height from the ground level is about 70 feet. 



The North Wing and Towers, or Speaker's House — which are intended to 

 be about 140 feet high, are proceeding rapidly, their present height being 

 about 66 feet above the ground level. 



The North Curtain, or Libraries and Committee-rooms of the House of 

 Commons, are advanced to about the same height as the north return. 



The centre portion, which will comprise the conference-hall, the public 

 waiting-hall, the upper waiting-hall, the staircase and various large com- 

 mittee rooms, is fast proceeding, its present level being about 66 feet above 

 the ground, but it will be eventually carried up considerably above the cur- 

 tain portions, thus forming beautiful and effective towers over the peers' and 

 commons' entrances to the terrace. The carving upon this part of the work 

 will be of the most elaborate character. 



The South Curtain 01 Peers' Libraries and Committee Rooms, are at present 

 about the same height as the north return. 



The South Wing and Towers, or Black Rod's and the Librarian's of the 

 House of Lords residences, stand about 63 feet above the ground level, aud 

 will be precisely the same as the north wing. 



The South Return, or the Lord High Chamberlain's apartments, are also 

 about 63 feet above the ground level. 



The exterior ornamental work and carving upon those parts of the build- 

 ing just described are perfectly astonishing, both from their extent, their 

 minuteness, and the enormous amount of human labour lavished upon them. 

 No description, however, will give more than a faiut idea of the exceeding 

 beauty and elaborateness of this part of the work. 



Extending throughout the whole length of the river front or principal ele- 

 vation, may be observed a band over the principal floor windows, containing 

 a series in bold relief of the arms of the sovereigns of this country, com- 

 mencing with William the Conqueror and terminating with those of her 

 present Majesty. In the early arms, where there were no supporters (that 

 is to say, from William I to Richard II), figures in the appropriate costume 

 of the time have been introduced to fill up the spaces, and at the same time 

 to illustrate some principal event in each reign. On each side of the royal 

 arms are panels composed of sceptres and ribands, with mottoes aud foliage 

 peculiar to each house. Underneath the windows is a narrow band, with 

 inscriptions in the style of black letter, bearing each king's name, when he 

 began to reign and when he died, with its initials on each of the buttresses. 



The principal cornice is enriched with figures of grotesque animals over 

 small shafts, and the intermediate spaces are filled in with patera composed 

 of heads, badges, and foliage, whilst over the whole of this there runs an 

 enriched parapet having niches containing angels holding shields, with ini- 

 tials, Ac. In the centre portion above the cornice, and over the two-pair 

 floor window, are badges of the orders of the Garter, Thistle, and St. Patrick, 

 surmounted with crow us ; the panels on each side of which are enriched with 

 the roses of York and Lancaster, with labels and mottoes. 



On the Wing Towers. — On a level with the royal arms are panels with shields 

 and crowns, bearing the crosses of St. George, St. Patrick, and St. Andrew, 

 with the proper mottoes under each, and on either side of them are other 

 panels similar to those on each side of the royal arms. The arms of Queen 

 Victoria are on all the oriels with panels in side lights, composed of shields 

 with the royal initials entwined with the rose, thistle, and shamrock, sur- 

 mounted alternately with the crests of the three kingdoms. On the return 

 of the wing towers in the same level arc panels with the badges of the three 

 kingdoms, with angels bearing swords of state, &c, and the four patron 

 saints in four tiers of niches. Between these and in a band over the one- 

 pair floor windows are their arms arranged separately, with roses and crowns 

 in the intermediate spaces, and the different badges used by each separate 

 house from the Conqueror to the present time. On the return of the river 

 front, or principal elevation, we see on a level with the royal arms devices of 

 the different sovereigns from the time of the Heptarchy to the death of 

 Harold, both included, divided between the buttresses by four tiers of niches, 

 with statues of each king together with their queens ; underneath which, on 

 a level with the same, is a small band containing inscriptions of a similar 

 character to those on the river front, divided with shields and ribands, the 

 shield bearing a monogram of " Anglia," and surmounted with a crown. 

 The cornice is similar to that in the river front. In the parapets are niches 

 over the statues, containing lions, holding shields, bearing initials, &c. 



It is necessary to be particular in describing the various ornaments intro- 

 duced on the external parts of the work already finished, not merely to show 

 the wonderful labour, talent, and richness lavished upon the outside of the 

 building — for, be it remembered, that these ornaments are neither of com- 

 position or of plaster, but hewn out of the solid stone — but also as an act 

 of justice to a very young but deserving artist (Mr. Thomas), from whose 

 design (subject to the approval of the architect) the whole of these wonder- 

 fully elaborate ornaments have been executed. 



The general effect of this part of the work is exceedingly imposing, and in 

 point of beauty and minuteness, is equal to that of any other Gothic structure 

 in this or any other country. Amongst the other parts of this wonderful 

 building is the Victoria tower, which is now progressing rapidly, and which is 

 at present about 10ft. above the ground. Much expense has been incurred, 

 and great labour required to obtain a proper foundation for this portion of 

 the work, owing to the quicksands and land springs which were found under 

 it, but which have been entirely cleared out to a depth of 24 feet from the 

 surface, to a good gravel bottom, which being surrounded, with large elm 



