596 Hints for the Improvement 



We would strongly recommend that the town of South- 

 ampton should imitate the city of Philadelphia, and have a com- 

 mittee of taste, composed of architects, engineers, and amateurs, 

 with power to call in the assistance of professional men from 

 London or elsewhere, to which all designs for buildings what- 

 ever should be submitted before any attempt was made to carry 

 them into execution. We wou.ld by no means have all the 

 designs connected by one ai'chitect, as is the case in some 

 cities on the Continent, however great the genius and abili- 

 ties of that architect might be, lest we should introduce a same- 

 ness of manner ; but, when a design was disapproved of, we 

 would desire the parties to bring fresh ones, pointing out the 

 faults of those that we rejected, by which means we should 

 hope to unite a certain degree of originality with sound sense 

 and good taste. 



It seems that in Southampton there is a great objection to 

 employing any other talent than that of persons located in the 

 town, which is a most contracted idea, calculated to perpetuate 

 things as they are, and impede every great improvement ; in 

 short, calculated to have the same effect as the doctrine of pre- 

 cedents, which is now held up as an infallible guide in Gothic 

 architecture by the Camden Society, which may truly be called 

 a society for impeding the progress of architecture in the Grothic 

 style. Precedents, whether in architecture, agriculture, or any 

 other art, we hold to be the greatest bane to all improvement. 



Public Walks. — These should be provided for in different 

 parts of the town, and especially all along the shore from one 

 end of the quay to the other. It is a delightful thing to see 

 trees growing vigorously along the sea-shore ; bvit in addition 

 to the elms and limes, which are the only kinds growing there 

 at present, we would add common, Neapolitan, Norway, and 

 other maples, hoary poplars, Turkey oaks, and a number of 

 others which stand the sea breeze. Some broad streets might 

 be planted with rows of trees on each side ; and something of the 

 nature of a boulevard or of a zone, such as we have recommended 

 for the extension of London (Vol. for 1829, p. 687. fig. 171.), 

 with trees and broad expanses of turf, might be carried from the 

 quays up to some open places in the New Town, so as to 

 form very handsome drives and walks, and to insure breathing- 

 places of several acres of turf, and ventilation for all the in- 

 habitants. The walks which now exist are very deficient in 

 good seats : and there ought also to be covered seats along 

 the quays for protection from the sun during summer, or the 

 rain during winter. 



If a suitable situation could be found, an arboretum, or a 

 complete collection of trees and shrubs, would be a very de- 

 sirable addition. We hope, however, that no attempt will be 



