252 Architecture in the United States. 



and doubtless conveyed to that of the ancient Romans, a more cheer- 

 ful idea, than is suggested by all the wealth, and pomp, and splen- 

 dor of the proud drowsy city of the East. Rome draws half its in- 

 terest from its seven hills : from the days when Romulus and 

 Remus took their auguries on the Palatine and Aventine mounts, 

 till the choosing of the present Pope, on mons Vaticanus, they have 

 figured most in its history : they mingle in our recollections of every 

 fine description or heroic deed, and were at once the defence and or- 

 nament, and just boast of that city — the queen of cities. Even the 

 forum took much of its character, and its orators much of their pow- 

 er from the Capitoline hill, immobile saxum., which overhung it, and 

 on which the citadel and the temples of their gods stood out distinct 

 and clear against the bright blue sky. Those spots still breathe a 

 thrilling eloquence ; what must they have been in the days of their 

 splendor and glory ! We have a Rome or two in our country : I have 

 never seen them, but will venture to affirm that they are built on the 

 most level ground the districts could afford. The ancients under- 

 stood these things far better. Constantinople is celebrated far and 

 wide for its beauty as it is approached. It has minarets and domes 

 without number : the minaret, tall and delicate, and always white, is 

 a beautiful thing, and scarcely less so is the white swelling dome. 

 But these alone would not produce an effect so like fascination, as 

 the scene rises first before the traveller. It is because these domes 

 and minarets rise from their proud elevation in splendid relief against 

 the sky ; because the hills bring now an ivy-draped aqueduct, now 

 a cypress grove, now a palace, now a tower into view, making what is 

 really beautiful appear so, and because that the dense mass of houses 

 below is on every variety of ground, that Constantinople takes the 

 preeminence among handsome views. New York has sometimes 

 been compared to it in regard to position, and the comparison is just; 

 but if the citizens of New York would have the comparison go fur- 

 ther, they must save their hills, which I understand, are now fast dis- 

 appearing before the levelling system, so prevalent in our land. A 

 level spot may serve admirably for a corn-field, but whether it is best 

 for a city I must now submit to the reader's judgment. I would not 

 have abrupt eminences, or high ones, or many : but should still 

 prefer them to a plain : rolling ground, with sufficient inclination 

 throughout, to give a brisk current after a rain, is probably the best. 

 I was going to say that the subject deserves further discussion, but it 



