1846.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



every other interior of the same class. Instead of the whole space 

 that is surrounded by the colonnade being entirely open, so as to be 

 fully exposed to view from every part, and be completely covered by 

 a dome, the centre of the rotunda is occupied by a mass of cylindrical 

 form, whose diameter may be about a third of that of the larger 

 circle. Thus the rotunda assumes quite a different character from 

 what is usually understood by that term, it being converted into a 

 spacious 'n«g gallery' enclosing and running round another portion of 

 the structure. Now, there is such a general prejudice in favour of 

 having as much open and uninterrupted space as possible, that most 

 persons may be apt to consider it a pity that the structure was not 

 planned as a simple rotunda or single circular hall. Those who af- 

 fect connoisseurship may eveu go further and say that we have here 

 only [the noble idea of the Pantheon spoiled by the excrescence in 

 the middle of it, obstructing a perfect view of the colonnade in its 

 entire expanse and circumference. Happily, however, or else un- 

 happily for ourselves, we do not hold with such narrow and one- 

 aided criticism which, instead of estimating things according to what 

 they are, depreciate them very summarily for not being what they 

 are not designed to be. The same flower cannot be both a lily and a 

 rose, nor can the same fruit give us the flavour of both the peach and 

 the pine-apple. But for a circumstance which we shall presently 

 explain, we might have had a copy of the interior of the Pantheon- 

 nay, one that might in some respects have been rendered an improve- 

 ment upon the original ; yet, though that would have been positively 

 and exceedingly good in itself, we should not then-by have acquired 

 something altogether new in character, and which, if iliey are able or 

 care to profit by it, opens quite a fresh train of ideas to architects 

 for hitherto untried and unadopted combinations of plan. Had 

 the striking peculiarity of plau in this structure been chosen solely 

 for its own sake and that of the effect attending it, we should even 

 then have been disposed to welcome so graceful a caprice; instead of 

 which, it was a matter, not of choice, but actual necessity — a most 

 fortunate necessity — compelling the architect to deviate from all pre- 

 cedents, whether he would or no, it being indispensable to obtain a 

 staircase in the centre of the building, leading up to the platform 

 gallery, from which the panorama is viewed. That staircase is 

 accordingly concealed within the upright cylindrical mass, or tower- 

 like shalt, that forms what may be called the core of the entire struc- 

 ture ; and this staircase encloses within itself, and winds round ano- 

 ther shaft, which is also hollow, and which is turned most admirably 

 to account. Within it is a small octagon room, or cabinet, capable 

 of containing seven or eight persons, and fitted up in a fanciful yet 

 tasteful manner, having, among other decorations, a transparent ceil- 

 ing of coloured glass, through which it is lit up by means of a gas- 

 burner fixed over it. You enter this very fairy-looking closet, seat 

 yourself on one of the velvet-cushioned benches, and before you have 

 finished examining its embellishments, the door opens, and yon find 

 yourself at the top of the building — that is, on the platfurm of the 

 panorama — without having been sensible of any motion during your 

 ascent. Here then, we have not only a quite novel idea and most 

 ingenious contrivance, but one that may occasionally prove essen- 

 tially serviceable. Most assuredly Catherine II. would have liberally 

 rewarded the inventor of such an enchanted flying cabinet; for when 

 she began to grow infirm, and found it too fatiguing to go up and 

 down a staircase, her architect was ordered to construct one that 

 should be less toilsome of ascent, but he could hit upon no better ex- 

 pedient than that of substituting a series of inclined [ilanes, or slopes, 

 for steps, which, besides being not very satisfactory in itself, was 

 attended with the inconvenience of rendering the distance to be 

 walked over very much greater; whereas an ascending chamber, like 

 the one at the Colosseum, would have spared Her Imperial Majesty 

 the trouble of walking, or even standing. There are also others be- 

 sides empresses who would be glad to be spared the trouble of going 

 up a great number of stairs. To ascend, for instance, to the top of 

 the Monument, toiling up a frightfully narrow, dark, and winding 

 staircase, is not only a laborious task, but a somewhat formidable ex- 

 ploit : an ascending closet, or even mere platform, within the shaft of 

 the column, instead of stairs, would have obviated all dilhculty 

 and danger — though, we ought to observe, it would have required a 

 different mode of construction for the shaft itself, as there would 

 have been neither newel nor steps within it, which now serve to hold 

 it together. But there are far more probable and frequent occasions 

 where the same mechanism might be employed: a single visit to the 

 top of the Monument, or other structure of that kind, is sufficient for 

 the curiosity of most persons; but, if it is to answer its purpose, a 

 lofty prospect tower, or belvedere, whether in the grounds of a man- 

 sion or attached to the mansion itself, ought to be as easy of access 

 as possible, or it will very rarely be made use of; whereas it would be 

 most pleasant and couvenient to be able to step at any time into a , 



handsome little closet adjoining your sitting-room, and a minute or 

 two afterwards step out again into another room in the upper story 

 of a lofty belvedere tower, where, secure from intrusion, you might, 

 like the tower-loving Bcekford, enjoy both the wide expanse of sur- 

 rounding landscape and literary study, merely glancing your eye from 

 the book in your hand, or the well-stored portfolio on the table befors 

 you, to the prospect stretched out below and around. But halt! or 

 our readers will fancy that we ourselves have ascended into an alti- 

 tude, and taken a flight very far away from our proper subject; so we 

 will descend as expeditiously as we can, without so much as stop- 

 ping to speak of the "Panorama of London," which part of the Co- 

 losseum remains w statu quo — that is, in the day-time, for in the even- 

 ing it produces quite a different effect, it being then transformed into 

 a veritable bright moonlight night. However it be managed — and of 

 course there must be a good deal of artifice besides the painting 

 itself — this view is the triumph and perfection of scenic skill, for the 

 full moon actually shines out from the picture, shedding its radiant 

 light upon the platform and the spectators themselves; its beams 

 flicker upon the surface of the Thames, while the mighty labyrinth of 

 streets presents a flaming network of gas-lights gradually dying away 

 into the far distant horizon. Happy magic ! that can create for us 

 brilliant moonlight on any or every night in the year, in the despite 

 of the almanac. Bidding adieu to the upper region of the Colos- 

 seum and its moonshine, we again enter the Rotunda, and find it 

 quite as charming as at first ; nor must we hurry through it, for though 

 we have already reconnoitered it, there is more to be said concerning 

 it, — very much more, in fact, than can even be touched upon 

 in an article like the present. One thing which we have notyet told 

 our readers is, that which is now denominated the Glyptol/ieca (or 

 Repository of Sculpture), in consequence of its being made to serve 

 as an exhibition room, for casts of statues and groups by many of our 

 principal modern English sculptors, including one or two by Thorwald- 

 sen, and other foreign artists ; all of them disposed in the most tasteful 

 manner between the columns and within the recess, so that the mere 

 arrangement of them becomes in itself a picture; the architecture and 

 sculpture mutually set off each other to advantage, and both together, 

 thus harmoniously combined, render this Glyptolheca the most 

 admirable sculpture gallery in the world. It would be absolute folly 

 to pretend to compare it with many others either for its magnitude, 

 or for the value and excellence of the works of art which it contains ; 

 what we mean is, that taken in its ensemble and as an architectural 

 picture, it has no rival, if only because there is nothing at all similar 

 to it. The sculpture galleries at the British Musenm are very little 

 more than very large yet blank-looking rooms, that would be quite 

 empty were it not for the sculpture itself; and many other places of 

 the kind also, look very little better than so many statuaries' ware- 

 houses, or show-rooms, when their works are exhibited for sale. As to 

 the sculpture room at the Royal Academy, that is so utterly unfit for its 

 purpose, so wretchedly confined, and contemptibly mean, as to be little 

 if at all better than a mere lumber-room, into which things sent to be 

 exhibited, are stowed away during the exhibition. Yet that dismal 

 " black hole," as it has been called, belongs to an academical body 

 rejoicing in the ear-tickling epithet "Royal," where the delicious 

 Glyptotheca, — and "delicious" is the epithet it truly deserves — to- 

 gether with all the rest of the Colosseum, is merely a private specu- 

 lation, of course with a view to ultimate profit, which it richly 

 deserves, but entered upon in a most liberal spirit, and carried through 

 with admirable ability. It is moreover no less striking an instance of 

 sound economy than of liberality, the best of all economy being to do 

 well what is worth doing at all; although it is a species of it, which 

 very few seem to understand ; for how frequently do we observe 

 some little paltriness suffered to peep out amidst splendour, some 

 mark of penny-saving niggardliness to betray itself amidst extrava- 

 gance, some jarring deformity to obtrude itself amidst beauty. 



RtjNCORS. — STDPEsnous BEinoE. — We have been favoured with a view of 

 the pliins of the Graod Junction Extension Railway from Astou-griicge to Huyton, and 

 also with those for the bridge in comiexion therewith, to cross the river Mersey at Ilua- 

 corn. Our readers may form idea of its magnitude when we state that there are to be live 

 wet arches of 2riU feet span, 101) feet above high water mark at spring tides, and \fiS dry 

 arches of 'M feet span, and 51 feet high, making a total of 2,4aO yards of arching, which 

 will be, when cumpleled, the greatest work of the kind in Europe. This great a'chitec- 

 tural design will be a boon to the counties of Chester, Laneastei-, and Stafford, giving the 

 required laciUty to the Potteries and to the fertile mines of Cheshire. We predict that 

 the risirig port of Runcorn is destined to becoma a great emporium of commerce; and 

 Lord Francis Egerton. with a desire to meet the coming exigency, is about to erect docks 

 of great extent on the shore of the Werseyi and will also apply, at the next session of 

 Parliament, for a trunk railway ; thus affording the port a ready transit for goods, in ati- 

 dition to the two canals in his lordaliip's possession. We are credioly informed that it Is 

 the intention of Lord Francis Egertou to erect a new Custom-house, the present editice, 

 now in use tor the Customs, being tound most inconvenient for the growing trade of this 

 tliriving port. We congratulate the otEcers who are immediately concerned, and the 

 trade generally, upon tins wise and judicious measure, and are much pleftBed to find that 

 hi^ LordfiUip Uteods to act with so tuuch liberality. 



