298 
Glasgow. fitted up in an elegant manner, from designs by Mr 
—Yo" David 
Lord Nel. 
amilton. 
The citizens of Glasgow were the first to erect a mo- 
gon’s monu- Ment to the memory of the immortal Nelson. Imme- 
ment. 
Hunhterian 
Muséum. 
Gagl ‘and 
court 
houses, 
diately after the hero’s fall, a subscription was opened, 
and on the first of August 1806, the foundation of a so- 
lid ashlar obelisk, 142 feet six inches high, of chaste 
proportions, was laid at the west end of the high green, 
with great masonic solemnity : the subscription at that 
time amounted to £2075. Onthe 5th of August 1810, 
the upper part of the obelisk was completely shattered, 
and the greater part of its shaft rent during a violent 
storm of thunder and lightning. It is very remarka~ 
ble, that although the ashlars of the upper part were 
thrown out of pa beds, and so suspended that a pas- 
senger could see through the obelisk, yet at the pre- 
sent moment, after a lapse of five years, they seem to 
be still in the same situation. 
The Hunterian museum was erected in 1804, and is si- 
tuated at the west end of the college garden, infront of 
the common hall.. This was the first public building 
erected by Mr Stark, who must be considered as singu- 
larly fortunate at the commencement of his professional 
career, in having such an opportunity of displaying his 
talents and his taste. He was no less fortunate also 
in being employed by a society, which, from full con- 
fidence in his abilities, avoided every interference with 
his arrangements. 
Mr Stark chose the Roman Doric for the portico, as 
the gravest and most imposing order that could be em- 
ployed in so confined a situation ; and he made its parts 
as simple and large as that order could properly admit. 
Behind the portico he: formed a recess, divided from it 
by a second row of columns, like the pronaos of an an- 
cient temple. By this arrangement, securing great 
depth of shade, without projecting his columns too far 
into the narrow court, he produced a very rich effect in 
the angular view, and to so small a portico giving won- 
derful dignity ona near approach. : 
The merit of this building, however, is not confined 
to the portico; its general proportion, the simplicity 
of its parts, and the elegance of its form, render many 
views of it from the garden, little if at all inferior to that 
of the principal front. The interior, likewise, .corre- 
sponds in a remarkable degree with the exterior ap- 
pearance. There are, throughout, the same simplicity, 
the same elegance, and the same attention to pictu- 
resque effect. The saloon for paintings, is particularly 
beautiful in its form, proportions, and decorations, 
while it is at the same time well contrived for exhibit- 
ing to advantage the collection which it contains. With 
the exception of the staircase, which is too small and 
too plain, a man of taste will discover, in this elegant 
building, a unity and consistency rarely to be met with 
in modern works: no part is neglected, and no part 
charged. 
The gaol and court houses, situated on the west end 
of the Green, were built in 1810. The magistrates 
having resolved to erect a new gaol and court house, 
applied to several architects, and from their designs, 
of which were too expensive, they made a se- 
lection and arrangement according to their own ideas. 
Mr Stark was then desired to adapt his elevation 
and court hall to the new design, The former has 
been executed exactly from his drawings ; but in the 
latter, some deviations were afterwards made by or- 
der of the committee. Every consideration pointed 
out the Grecian Doric, as the proper order for such a 
building, and particularly in so open a situation. But 
architects have seldom succeeded in adapting this order 
GLASGOW. 
afront, in part of which the columns are to give . 
to a simple wall. Either they have ed the 
massiveness of the entablature, on which the magnifi- 
vets the attention, and diverts the mind from what may 
be less perfect in the other divisions of the facade. 
The portico-exhibits very nearly the proportions of 
the Parthenon, and may serve to give some idea of that 
celebrated temple, divested indeed of the i 
it derived trom the most exquisite sculpture of ancient 
times. As in the Parthenon, the columns are placedon 
colossal steps, the dignity of which cannot be conceived 
without having been seen; and there is a recess divi- 
ded from the portico by a screen of columns, like the 
pronaos of the temple, which adds greatly tothe rich- 
ness and grandeur of the effect. It was subject of re- 
gret to the architect, that the portico could not be pro- 
jected farther from the side wall of the building, and 
the screen of the pronaos. But such a projection would 
have destroyed all affinity between the centre and the — 
wings, in which porticos, on account of their expense, 
were inadmissible. : 4 beste 
In so flat.a situation, it may also be 
greater elevation could not be given to 
consistently with theemployment of the Grecian Dorie. 
This defect would ly, however, have passed un- 
oe am had it not ’ ropa rg oom more observa= 
le by a parapet and rail, w ve carried along 
the front sess ale Stark’s death, and which, while‘ 
sink the building, conceal the cblossal steps on whi 
the grandeur of the portico so much depended. Were 
this obstruction to the view removed, there can be no 
doubt that the want of elevation in the general form 
would be far less conspicuous ;. though to: have avoided 
it entirely was perhaps impossible, 
A Grecian Doric portico of six columns is necessa- 
rily long in proportion to its height ; and to have short- 
ened the compartments, by which the centre is connect+ 
ed with the wings, would have crowded the facade, and 
destroyed all affinity among the forms. and proportions 
of its several parts. 4 
In contemplating so magnificent a portico, small de+ 
fects pass unnoticed ; and if'they could not be remedied 
without adopting a less imposing order, the most fasti- 
dious taste will applaud the architect, for having sub- 
mitted to what was unavoidable, for the purpose ot pro- 
ducing so sublime an effect. 
These buildings contain halls for the several courts, — 
and ample accommodation for the civil and criminal 
establishments. The entry to the gaol is by the west 
front. This department consists of two spacious cou 
74: fire-rooms, 58 cells, and 2 apartments for prisoners 
under sentence of death, so completely cased with iron, _ 
that it is not necessary to subject the criminals to 
sonal irons, as is done in almost every other jail. T 
are. also a chapel, a mili guard-house, and apart- 
ments for the keeper of the gaol’s family. Four cast+ 
iron cisterns, calculated to contain 14,776 gallons of 
water, are placed on the top of the eee 
losets are sup- 
which the several apartments and water- 
plied. Prisoners are received from .‘the! counties of 
that - 
building, 
. 
B; 
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A 
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