150 ARCHITECTURE. BOOK I. 



larly from the valley or lake. The houses on each side of this 

 street are very high, but diminish as they descend toward the 

 vallies : they are all Gothic, or at least so irregular and mixed as 

 not in general to be denominated Grecian. They are black by 

 age and smoke, and from the new town form a contrast which 

 is striking and pleasing. This characteristic irregularity in 

 form and disposition, and the black colour of the old town, 

 the beautiful symmetry and regularity of the new, the spacious 

 bridge thrown across the valley which connects them, and the 

 towering hills, and romantic scenery in the immediate vicinity 

 of the whole, renders it, as confessed hy all travellers, the most 

 beautiful city in Europe. 



It will be regretted, however, by men of taste, that the ma- 

 gistrates of this city have contributed so much to its deformity in 

 point of picturesque effect, that it will probably never regain its 

 former beauty. They have clogged up and greatly destroyed the 

 grand effect of the valley, by throwing a huge mound of earth 

 across it, upon which they intend to build a street. The fine 

 character and harmonious effect of the old buildings are much 

 injured by the introduction of huge deformities of masonry, 

 under the name of Grecian architecture. Many other absur- 

 dities they are accomplishing ; and it is probable they will 

 continue to operate until they destroy all that beauty and 



