PREFACE. Vll 



tional or theoretic notions) is shown in the recent coloured 

 designs of the North American Indians ; who for the old 

 simple patterns, and the use of primary colours, have substi- 

 tuted an imitation of real flowers and the abundant introduc- 

 tion of green, in order to suit the artificial requirements of 

 European purchasers. 



I could have wished that the coloured specimens I had 

 made of the various combinations mentioned in Sections XVI. 

 and XVII. of Part I. could have been introduced, as well as of 

 those mentioned in Sections XVIII. and XIX., and of the 

 coloured papers in Section XXI. ; but this has been found 

 impossible from their number, and the expense of printing so 

 many colours, hues, and tones. Any one however may easily 

 make experiments on the particular effect produced by them, 

 from the names of the colours I have indicated. 



I have had much pleasure in offering my meed of praise 

 to our institutions for the instruction of students in deco- 

 rative art ; and the efforts now making for the general 

 diffusion of taste cannot be too highly commended. Ex- 

 cellent opportunities are also given, by the exhibition of the 

 drawings of competitors in architectural, monumental, and 

 other designs, of showing the talent of the designers, and of 

 accustoming the public to the habit of forming some opinion 

 on the merits of each ; and these exhibitions give a far fairer 

 estimate of the talents of the candidates than the usual 

 " competitive examinations " in various branches of learning ; 

 which, useful as they are, often lead to a questionable con- 

 clusion respecting the real talent and sound knowledge of a 

 successful competitor. 



If I have sometimes repeated the same remarks I offer this 



A 4 



