Retrospective Criticism. 519 



always contended for ; an authorised minister or commission to superintend 

 all public changes in London and the suburbs ; keeping in view convenience, 

 heahh, and ornament, matters which at present are in a great measure left to 

 chance. — Cond. 



Ricauti^s Rustic Architecture, reviewed p. 355. — In forwarding the third 

 part of my work, entitled " Rustic Architecture, or the picturesque and 

 pleasing Appearance of Rough Wood and Thatch, when applied as the only 

 Decorations of Rural Buildings," I must certainly avail myself of the oppor- 

 tunity afforded by your kindness and liberality in allowing an author to do so, 

 to correct one or two errors that have crept into the " Review " of Parts 1 and 

 2, In the first place, the number of plates is stated as being 147, whereas 

 the whole work will be completed in 42 plates ; these are divided into 6 parts, 

 giving 7 plates for each design, as follows : — Part I. A Peasant's Cottage, 

 on a gentleman's estate; or for the accommodation of a very small family. 

 Part 2. A Forester's Cottage ; or for the residence of a small private family. 

 Part 3. A Gamekeeper's Cottage ; equally suited for the residence of a small 

 family. Part 4. A Gardener's Cottage ; or for the accommodation of a small 

 family. Part 5. For the residence of a small genteel family ; or a Baihff^s 

 Cottage on a gentleman's estate. Part 6. For the residence of a genteel 

 family ; or a Steward's Cottage on a nobleman's estate. 



I must also beg leave to state, that the sills, lintels, and reveals to the 

 windows, &c., instead of being of " unbarked trees," are described in the 

 specification as being " sawed out of old oak, or elm timber." This mode of 

 construction was adopted to avoid the expense of stone dressings ; and from 

 the sheltered position of the doors, and the protection afforded to the windows 

 by the projection of the thatch above, it will be seen that in most instances 

 they are amply secured from the injurious effects of bad weather. But it is 

 almost needless to observe that, if more strength and durability were required, 

 the labels should be omitted, and the sills, lintels, and reveals formed of stone 

 rudely hammer-dressed. 



There is another error, of which I must decidedly acquit myself; and that 

 is, of placing " stone mullions behind the rustic ones." The whole being 

 formed of wood, and the rustic mullions fixed to them as shown in drawings. 

 If brick or stone walls are objectionable on account of the incompatibility of 

 the other material, both the designs may be executed entirely of rough timber^ 

 and lath and plaster roughcoated, as Design No. 3. The details of the frame- 

 work, &c., are given to the scale of three quarters of an inch to a foot, plate 

 19. Part 3. — S. J. Ricauii. 47. Great Russel Street, Bloomsbiiry, July 30. 1840. 



The Conical Boiler of Mr. Rogers. — In my last communication (p. 227.) on 

 this subject, the form of a limekiln, or inverted cone, was suggested or hinted 

 for future consideration ; and as better than that of the upright cylinder as 

 recommended by Mr. Beaton. The reason was, that, as the object in burning 

 lime is to obtain the greatest extent of combustion with the smallest quantity 

 of fuel, it might happen that the form universally used for that purpose might 

 possibly supply the same result in one case as in the other, where the same 

 object is to be attained. If there were no other objection than that made by 

 Mr. Rogers, of the orifice at the lower extremity being liable to be choked by 

 clinkers, &c., it might easily be remedied by a little attention in the construc- 

 tion ; but I am satisfied, on consideration, that the objections to the inverted 

 cone are of a much more serious nature. The reason is this : In burning 

 lime, the object is to apply the principle of combustion equally, and gradually, 

 over the mass of materials, chieflj' towards the centre, and the sides are made 

 consequently of non-conducting substances. In the present instance the focus 

 is required to be at the bottom and sides, and removed from the centre, from 

 the principle on which heat is received by the water, whilst the motion com- 

 mencing at the bottom, the heat gradually ascends by the metallic surface, and 

 escapes just as its power is no longer required by the diminution of the diameter 

 of the boiler, and a great economy of fuel is the result. These reasons appear 

 to me decisive as to the superiority of form of the cone, which has not im- 



