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per is Ionic, much too small for that on which it is 

 mounted, its orniinieins not proper to the order, nor 

 proportifuied wiiliiii tlieniselves. It is crowned with a 

 pediment, which is too higli for its s^pan. Yet, on the 

 whole, it is the most pleasing piece of architecture we 

 have. The ])alace is not handsome without : hut it is 

 spacious and connnodious within, is j)rettily situated, 

 and with the grounds annexed to it, iscapahle of heing 

 made an elegant seat. The college and hospital are 

 rude, misshapen piles, which, but that they have roofs, 

 would he taken for i)rick-kihis. There are no other 

 public buildings but churches and court houses, in 

 which no attemjjts are made at elegance. Indeed it 

 would not be easy to execute such an attempt, as a 

 workman could scarcely be found capable of drawing 

 an order. The genius of architecture seems to have 

 shed its maledictions over this land. Buihlings are 

 often erected, by individuals, of considerable expense. 

 To give these symmetry and taste would not increase 

 their cost. — It wotdd only change the arrangement of 

 the materials, the form and combination of the mem- 

 bers. — This would often cost less than the burthen of 

 barbarous ornaiuents with which these buihlings are 

 sometimes charged. Rut the first principles of the art 

 are unknown, and there exists scarcely a model among 

 us sufficiently chaste to give an idea of tliem. Archi- 

 tecture being one of the fine arts, and as such within 

 the depaittnent of a i)rofessor of the college, according 

 to the new arrangement, ])erha])s a spark may fall on 

 some young subjects of natural taste, kindle up their 

 genius, and produce a reformation in this elegant and 

 useful art. But all we shall do in this way will pro- 

 duce no permanent improvement to our country, while 

 the imhappy prejudice prevails that houses of brick or 

 stone are less wholesome than those of wood. A dew 

 is often observed on the walls of the former in rainy 

 weather, and the most obvious solution is, that the rain 

 has penetrated through these walls. The following 

 facts, however, are sufficient to prove the error of this 

 solution. — 1. This dew upon the walls appears when 



