476 Architecture. 



have to point out York House near St. James's Palace, the new entrance 

 into Hyde Park from Piccadilly, and many of the spires of the new 

 churches, as unsuccessful efforts. We have no objection to the elevation 

 of York House, as high as the balustrade ; but the roof and its superincum- 

 bent lantern destroy the harmony of the form, raise it too high for what 

 may be called the beauty of length, and yet not high enough for what may 

 be called the beauty of height ; two ideas are thus raised in the mind, and 

 there leave two contending impressions, because one of them is not car- 

 ried far enough to leave a prevailing sentiment or emotion. We could say 

 a good deal more, but prefer referring our judgment to the feelings of such 

 of our readers as have an opportunity of personal observation. 

 . The entrance to Hyde Park we object to for reasons already given 

 (p. 571.); farther observation and reflection confirms us in our opinion; 

 the architect who has been so successful in designing the lodges at the dif- 

 ferent entrances to this park, seems to have completely failed in this species 

 of design. Whoever can bear in mind the gate leading to the Thier Garten 

 at Berlin, and some of Guaringi's portals in Petersburgh and Moscow, 

 will not wonder at our dissatisfaction. We question whether the triumphal 

 arch into Buckingham Gardens will please us better ; but it is not yet suf- 

 ficiently far advanced to admit of forming an opinion. But these failures 

 appear to us as almost nothing, when we look at the spires of most of the 

 new churches. Happily we do not know the names of the architects of 

 one of those to which we object ; but if we did, we hope we may be 

 allowed to differ in taste with an artist, without having any improper mo- 

 tives or feelings ascribed to us. Of all these spires, one which strikes us as 

 the least to be commended is placed at the end of Portland Road, on the 

 north side of the New Road. But there are a number of others nearly as 

 bad. The spire by Mr. Nash in Regent Street, much as it has been ridi- 

 culed, we consider superior to most of them, and only regret the barn-like 

 roof of the church which rises behind it. The spire which has our entire 

 approbation, and of which we would rather have been the architect than 

 of all the other new spires put together, is that of the new church of 

 St. Pan eras. 



The street architecture of the metropolis seems to make greater pro- 

 gress in improvement than the architecture of public buildings. Proofs 

 may be seen in most places where extensive new buildings are going on, as 

 in the Regent's Park, Belgrave Square, Gordon Square, Hammersmith, &c. 

 Messrs. Cubitt of Gray's Inn Road, perhaps the most extensive and judicious 

 builders and designers that have ever appeared in London, have contri- 

 buted hot a little to this improved taste. Another cause is the more general 

 use of Roman cement as a stucco, and its external application in imitation 

 of stone. Next to Roman cement the most valuable invention is that of 

 kiln-burned artificial stone, by which the capitals of columns, and all imit- 

 ations of carved work, statues, urns, therms, fountains, cisterns, and other 

 architectural and garden decorations can be made of greater strength and 

 durability than of the natural material. This invention was first brought 

 into notice by Messrs. Coade and Sealy, but has been subsequently greatly 

 improved by Messrs. Cubitt, who now manufacture it extensively, and at a 

 very moderate price. 



Roman Cement. — This material, which may be reckoned among one of 

 the most useful discoveries of the present age, for all purposes in building 

 which require to be solid and durable, and for the most complete imit- 

 ation of stone, has, like every other material much in demand, given rise 

 to spurious imitations, which, as the late Mr. Rennie predicted before the 

 House of Commons, has been productive of the most disastrous conse- 

 quences. " The cement which is of a dark colour, approaching nearly to 



