viii 
is so natural to man, that it extends from religion and politics to the 
arts and sciences of a country. Thus, in philosophy, in poetry, and in 
all the liberal arts, a difference of opinion is supported or condemned 
with all the zeal of party bigotry. The admirers of Grecian Architec- 
ture, and those who have studied the ruins of ancient Italy, from the 
time of Inigo Jones and Sir Christopher Wren to the Artists of the 
present day, speak with contempt of all other styles, and reproachfully 
call them Gothic ; while those who have directed their attention to the 
variety and beauty of forms among the old English remains; glory in 
changing the term Gothic to ancient English Architecture, as a 
style doing honour to their country. Whatever is written in praise of 
one style, will be condemned by the partisans of the other. What then 
must an author expect, who dares to become an advocate of a style 
totally different from either? especially where his opinions appear under 
the high sanction with which the following pages have been honoured ! 
So far, therefore, from regretting the brevity of this work, it may be 
feared that I have said too much on a subject which few can under- 
stand, and in which my own knowledge must have been derived from 
the representations and drawings of others, and not from an actual view 
of the existing models. This naturally leads to the third objection, viz. 
That there are no certain data for the style recommended; that in our 
knowledge of Grecian forms, we have the most minute admeasurements 
of the detail of ancient buildings; that in the Gothic forms we can have 
recourse to a thousand examples in the remains of various dates ; but in 
that of Hindustan we have few or no details, and those from drawings 
made by Artists who considered the subject as Painters, and not as 
Architects.' This objection I shall answer by observing, that, although 
the Grecian proportions are nearly reduced to fixed rules, yet such 
occasional deviations may be discovered in every fragment remaining, 
that no two writers on the subject exactly agree. Therefore in the 
application of Grecian forms, both in modern Italy and in this country-, 
the correct eye is continually offended by' false proportions to suit mo- 
dern purposes of habitation ! But in India, the same forms are applied 
1 Allhough the Works of Mr. Thomas Danicll hitherto published relate to the general forms and picturesque 
effect of Hindft Buildings, yet he has measured many of them with such accuracy on the spot, and has collected 
such ample materials for the detail of this style, that the Architects who have access to them can be at no loss 
for the minutite. These he means to lay before the public; and after the unreserved manner in which lie has 
permitted me to avail myself of his sketches, it would be unpardonable in me to do any thins; which might inter- 
fere with his future views respecting the detail of Hindi! Architecture, of which my knowledge is chiefly derived 
from his liberal communications. 
