260 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[AUSVBT, 



principles, and have confined myself to form and arrangement But 

 ft anpears to me, from examination of the works of the Middle Age 

 architects, that the latter considerations had an infinitely greater influ- 

 ence upon their structures than the relations of pressure, then very 

 little understood, and about which they made manifest and sometimes 

 fatal errors; so that this omission may be fairly allowed, or at least 

 the discussion of this part of the subject may be carried on separately. 

 Also with respect to the elaborate and beautiful class of vaults which 

 I have termed Lierne Vaults, I propose, at some future time, to otter 

 to the Institute a supplementary paper containing many observations 

 upon them, and probablv additional remarks upon the entire subject. 

 Lastlv, since the methods which I have explained in this paper have 

 been 'for tlie most part elicited from an examination ot the existing 

 vaults, it may he worth while to compare them with those that are 

 recommended and taught in the books of stone-cutting already quoted 

 and referred to, as well as with modern actual practice." 



Mr Poynter's paper "On the contemporary styles of Ciothic 

 architecture in England and France," supplies what has long been a 

 desideratum. Considering the novelty and importance of the subject, 

 we could wish, as we have already hinted, that it had been treated 

 more at length, but we must accept it according to the intention of 

 the author, who professes no more than some observations " oi slight 

 texture, as an index to more diligent inquiries." A chronological 

 table (which, with some account of the paper, was inserted in the 

 Journal at the time it was read,) exhibits a parallel of the styles of 

 French Gothic, as distinguished in the treatise of that eminent and 

 candid antiquary M. de Caumont.with those of the English, as divided 

 and designated bv Rickman, and the characteristics of each are rapidly 

 traced in the essay. It is a masterly sketch, like the illustrations by 

 which it is accompanied. We are not aware that any representation 

 has ever before been given to the public of the magnificent tower at V er- 

 neuil.a view of which forms the frontispiece to the volume. The other 

 engravings appended to this paper are, the eastern view of the cathe- 

 dral of Coutances, and the doorway of a small church near Dreux. 

 The latter is designed to illustrate a peculiar form of pediment 

 common in the Tertiary or Flamboyant Gothic of France, but un- 

 known in England, and a custom in French architecture of making the 

 portals of the smaller churches occupy the whole height of the centre 

 compartment, "an arrangement which producing an excellent ettectby 

 its simplicity, may," as the author pointedly observes, " reprove a 

 tice too eoramun in modern Gothic architecture, of executing 

 designson a smallscale, and little designs on alarge one." Sumraa 

 the subject is handled in this paper, it will be found a most useful chro- 

 nological guide to the student who is about to examine the mediaeval 

 architecture of our neighbours. 



One of the marked peculiarities of foreign Gothic, glanced at in a 

 few words in the last paper, forms the subject of the next, in which 

 Professor Willis has treated of " The characteristic interpenetrations 

 of the Gothique Flamboyant." The fanciful intricacy of parts which 

 characterizes the later continental Gothic, and distinguishes it Irom 

 our contemporary perpendicular style, has given rise to the excessive 

 employment of interpenetrating surfaces. In English Gotliic, examples- 

 of this sort of composition are confined to the interference ot adjacent 

 architectural members, and even these are not common ; but in the 

 Flamboyant style, members are introduced and accumulated one upon 

 another, for the express purpose of showing interpenetrations. •' X hus 

 two difterent bases mav be given to the same shaft, or even two or 

 more difterent turretswith pinnacles may be placed in an identical 

 position on the plan, and made to interfere and interpenetrate through- 

 out their entire height, from the base upwards, in a manner that 

 defies description, and can only be illustrated by drawings." 



We shall, therefore, not attempt to follow the various specimens ot 



internenctratioii which are displayed iu the diagrams but merely 



notice the iirincipal illustration— a doorway in the t^athedral ot 



Nevers, flanked by pinnacles, or rather heaps of pinnacles, the com- 



' position of whicli appears at lirst sight to set at nought all attempt a 



' developement or classification. Mr. Willis has, however, unravelled 



this strano-e tangle of architectural details, and has shewn its compli- 



' cated eftfct to be produced bv " the co-existence upon the plan o 



1 three distinct architectural members, each having its own set ot 



' mouldintrs." These members, whicli are represented in the plate 



< both combined and separate, are two square shafts with their separate 



< pinnacles, caps, bases, &c., set diagonally, so tliat the angles of the 

 ' one pierce through the faces of the other, and these are enveloped in 

 ' a cylindrical column, round which are twisted spirally four shalts, each 

 \ with its separate cap and base. 



j C To he concluded in the next Journal.) 



prac- 

 great 

 Mimraarily as 



Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Societu of JUanchester, 

 Second scries. Vol. VI. London : John Weale. 



Tins Society has long stood eminent for the value of its papers, and 

 the high character of several members for the extent of their literary 

 and scientific attainments; it therefore affords us much pleasure to 

 receive the present volume, which contains 23 papers, several of 

 which are of the utmost value, both to the architect and the en- 

 o-ineer. The researches and able experiments of Mr. Fairbairn on the 

 strength and properties of cast iron, are particularly deserving of a 

 careful iierusal. This paper contains " a laborious inquiry into the 

 transverse strength of cast iron from various parts of the kingdom, 

 and also an extended investigation into the less cultivated field of 

 their relative values, as regards their adaptation to the arts." From 

 this paper we hope to liave an opportunity of giving some extracts, 

 and a more extended notice. There is also another paper by Mr. 

 Fairbaini equally valuable— that on the strength and properties of 

 anthracite cast iron. He first makes some observations on the nature 

 and properties of anthracite used for the melting of iron, in Vi^ales, 

 France, and America ; and after detailing several experiments on the 

 strength of iron, he concludes by saying— "I consider the use of 

 anthracite coal rather favourable than otherwise to the manufacture 

 of iron ; and provided some well conducted experiments were made 

 to ascertain the requisite proportions of flux and ore to this descrip- 

 tion of coal, much might be done to improve the quality of the iron, 

 and to bring into useful operation a valuable and important mineral 

 production." 



In last month's Journal we published Mr. Greg's interesting paper 

 on Sepulchral Monuments; by the same author we have another paper, 

 entitled " Remarks on the Mural Architecture of remote ages. 

 There is a paper containing some observations on Sculpture by Paul 

 Moon James Esq., in which he takes a review of the works of our 

 modern sculptors; and there is also one containing a curious inquiry 

 into the orit^in of the " Babylonian arrow-headed character," by Mr. 

 James Nasmyth, which mav be read by the antiquary with much 

 interest. From the press of other matter, we are precluded from 

 giving a more extended notice of this varied and extapded volume, 

 but we shall not omit future opportunities of turning ^ur attention 

 to it again, by giving a few extracts from some of the papers which 

 are connected with the profession. 



^ .Series of Diagrams Published by the Society for the Di_^itswn of 

 Useful Knowledge. Drawn on Stone by H. Chapman, and Printed 

 ,n Colours by C. F. Cheffins. Part II. London : Chapman and 

 Hall, 1842. 



These diagrams not only maintain the high character with which 

 we hailed them on their first appearance, but give an earnest ot 

 possessing even more extended utility. In the present number the 

 delineation of the mechanical powers is continued, and is accompanied 

 with the section of a fire engine. We should suggest that the value 

 of the work to students would be increased if each plate were accom- 

 panied with descriptive letter-press, explaining the power ot the 

 screw, pullev, &c., as appUed in the diagrams. 



.4 Treatise on Engineering Fieldwork, and Levelling. By Petkr 

 BiiUFF, C. E., A. Inst. C. E. London : Simpkin and Marshall, lb42. 



Students have no cause to complain of the want cf books on 

 surveying, but of the embarras ele choix, for among so many works 

 they must certainly find themselves at a loss. The book before us 

 forms the second part of the second edition of Mr. Bruff's treatise, 

 with many valuable additions and improvements. When it is complete, 

 we shall notice it at some length. 



NcLv Cemetcr„.--\V^ understand that the designs for laying out the nov 

 cemetery on the lands of 15angholm. recently lued from the Governors ot 

 (™r"e Heriot's Hospital, have been considered by the committee ot the 

 eemeTery company, who have awarded the first premu.m to Messrs. Cousm 

 indGale architect .Royal Kxchan^e, and the second to Mr. Ihoraas Tayloi 

 arcbUet Mackenzie Place-all of this city. There wee 1, Jesigns sen 

 f,reom.elton inchuling several from London ; it thereture retiects great 

 r duTo re'siientartrsts, ihat their works should have heen pre erred, 

 ,11 1,1 manimouslv in such a competition ; and there could be no tavou- 

 ; ism br tCname; of t le successful competitors only became known after 

 yw,U\,-nrtt ere preferred That for «hich tlie first premium is au;arde( 

 nlheGothi sty and includes a chapel wherein ihe usual services ot 

 Episcopahans. at the interment of the deadVill be pcrlormed when required. 

 —Edinliurgli Observer. 



