186 



ARCHITECTURE. 



BOOK I. 



Greece and Rome as models of perfection*, and must study 

 equally with architecture the character of landscape, the nature 

 of its materials, and the principles of its composition. This points 

 out the necessity of what J propose, — the uniting the profession of 

 rural architect with picturesque improver ; and at the same time, 

 to every candid mind, it will be a complete justification of the 

 innovation proposed ; which will, no doubt, be disputed and 

 rejected by a certain class of men. There are some architects, 

 however, with whom I have the pleasure of being acquainted, 

 that justify these arguments both by their consent of opinion 

 and their example in practice. 



* " The antique is to the architect, what nature is to the painter," says Sir 

 William Chambers ; and 



" Learn for ancient rules a just esteem, 

 " To copy nature is to copy them," 

 says Pope ; but both are equally wrong. A too great reverence for antiquity,, 

 and dependence upon rules, have ever been the most fatal adversaries to improve- 

 ment. None of these can deserve attention, but such as have been derived from na- 

 ture ; which is still the same inexhaustible fund of knowledge and improvement. 

 Even rules derived from her laws should never be exclusively enforced, because 

 they always tend to shackle the mind ; but, to shut out nature, by imposing rules, 

 systems, or models, in her room, is in the last degree unphilosophical and dan- 

 gerous. It is evident from the best ancient edifices, that they did not adhere 

 strictly to the same proportions of columns, though the moderns are constantly en- 

 deavouring to find out some of these proportions, as perfect standards. But such 

 is the natural propensity in man to establish rules and systems, that even in Gothic 

 architecture, the great superiority of which over Grecian is that it is unincumbered 

 with artificial regulations, and consequently admits all kinds of effects, a late writer 

 has endeavoured to discover proportions which he thinks may be applied to all the 

 English cathedrals ! ! But, 



" Such formal coxcombs let us still defy ; 



" And dare he pleas' d although we know not why"' 



