184 



ARCHITECTURE. 



BOOK I. 



cause, say the objectors, the division of arts and labour is the way 

 to perfection, and not their combination. My reply is, that rural 

 designers combine only the practice of one branch of it, viz. that 

 which relates to country buildings ; and even in them it is chiefly 

 confined to design ; the executive part must always be done by 

 a builder or inferior architect, and generally inspected by the 

 proper persons who are appointed for the purpose. In this 

 branch then the picturesque improver, or, as I rather choose to 

 call such, on account of his combining this profession, the de- 

 signer, does every thing that is done by architects. Small 

 buildings in the country, as cottages, farm buildings, &c. are 

 generally both designed and executed by the masons or 

 builders of the place ; and when their employer is poor, they 

 abide by utility, and seldom disgust if they do not gratify taste ; 

 but when they have the least power of bestowing ornament, 

 they are sure to present hideous productions, which I could 

 exemplify from every part of the island. City builders also near 

 London (where it is carried to the greatest length) erect the most 

 absurd combinations under the name of cottages. Architects 

 in the capital are laudably endeavouring to overcome this evil 

 by publishing. Hence some have gone to the remote parts of 

 the country, chosen the most vulgar and disgusting forms, and 

 published them with a view to correct the prevailing taste. Others 

 have not travelled so far, but chiefly in their closets have com- 

 bined all sorts of forms and parts of architecture, whether from 



