g6 ARCHITECTURE. 
If we pvopofe ii feet for tlie height of the room, pro-, 
ceed as above. Yet it fhould be obf'erved, that the double 
cube proportion of a room upon this fcale would be 12 
feet in height and width, and 24 in length, which, though 
admitted amongft the number of the harmonic proportions 
for rooms, is liable to approach too near the form of a gal¬ 
lery ; and, on the other hand, the cube, form might fome- 
times be pronounced by the judgment of light too broad. 
This however is to be underflood only when a room is of 
large dimenlions ; for, when fmall, it is quite agreeable and 
convenient. It is evident, then, that the double.and lingle 
cube are the two extreme proportions for rooms, and that 
each of them requires a certain fcale of magnitude to ren¬ 
der them beautiful and ufeful ; the former being applica¬ 
ble to a large room, the latter to a fmall one. It is alfo 
evident, that the doctrine of harmonic proportions of 
rooms is not quite perfect, otherwife there could be no 
exceptions taken in any cafe. It is not fo in the propor¬ 
tion of founds ; every chord is alike pleating upon any 
fcale ; and, though fome of the chords are lefs perfeCt than 
others, yet all oi ; them produce harmony to every ear ca¬ 
pable of the fenfations of mufic. We therefore are dif- 
pofed to conclude, that, though there exifts a conliderable 
agreement between the doctrine of founds and the dimen- 
fions of a room, yet they are not perfectly parallel, confe- 
quently the judicious architect will make his own excep¬ 
tions. With refpeCt to the figure of rooms little need be 
faid, as it is felf-evident that thofe of four (ides with right 
angles are beft adapted for the reception of light and the 
distribution of furniture. Thofe, however, of, the circular 
or regular polygonal kind are preferable, when the light 
comes in by an aperture in the roof or deling. 
With regard to the external proportions and fronts of 
hottfes, an ingenious author has the following remark: 
“ To fee, on a conliderable eminence, the length of a front 
trifling, and the height difproportioned, would be as ab- 
furd as to behold a front in a vale long and extended, and 
elevated only one flory. Proportion (lays he) requires our 
niceft choice, which muft be dependent upon rules; for, 
as the jarring of inftruments by blind chance cannot pofli- 
bly pleafe the ear, fo the dilproportion of the parts of any 
objeCt muft naturally fliock the eye ; and in both, unerring 
rules muft fo proportion the founds, and difpofe the parts, 
as the whole may be in complete harmony. Nature has 
taught mankind, in mufic, certain rules for proportions of 
founds; fo architecture has its rules dependent on thofe 
proportions, or at leaft Inch proportions as are in arithme¬ 
tical harmony ; and thofe we take to be dependent on na¬ 
ture. The fquare in geometry, the unifon or circle in 
mufic, and the cube in building, have all an infeparable 
proportion, the parts being equal, and the Tides and angles, 
&c. give the eye and ear harmonic pleafure.” Yet even 
this theory, when applied to the whole fabric, gives way 
to exceptions; for the cube muft not exceed 50 feet; the 
cube and half 60 feet; and the double cube 80 feet front. 
The general rule is as follows : if the cube be 50 feet 
front, the depth and height will be the fame. The cube 
and half is when the front is 60 feet long; the depth and 
height each 40 feet. The double cube of 60 feet will be 
30 feet deep and 30 feet high. In the country, where 
gentlemen’s houfes are detached, and are ealily viewed in 
front and depth by an approaching traveller, a ftriCt re¬ 
gard to proportion becomes neceflary ; for, if the cube 
form be adopted in very large houfes, it will appear un¬ 
couth and heavy ; vvhilft, on the other hand, it is equally 
difagreeable to fee a dwelling-houfe approach to the ap¬ 
pearance of a lofty tower. Very high dwelling-hoUfes 
prove exceedingly expenfive and inconvenient; and there¬ 
fore, where beauty of proportion is connected w ith utility, 
they ought rather to afliime the figure of a parallelopipe- 
don refting on its larger bafe. Hence that form of build¬ 
ing which rather fpreads upon the ground than rifes in 
height, fhould be always preferred. In towns, the houfes 
being generally attached to each other, they unitedly com- 
pofe a regular ftreet or fquare; in which cafe, the propor¬ 
tions of an individual front are lefs obvious, and their depth 
in this refpeCt immaterial. The great objeCt of concern is 
the uniformity of the whole when completed ; or of one 
individual houfe with the whole. In thefe lituations, the 
proportions of houfes, and the length and extent of Streets, 
are rather fubjeCt to acts of parliament than to architec¬ 
tural laws. There are four different rates into which the 
proportions' of houfes in town are divided or clafled by the 
iegiflature. The firft rate, or jioufes of the largeft fize, are 
fucli as exceed nine fquares of building ; thofe of the fecond 
rate, are from five to nine fquares ; thofe of the third, from 
three and a half to five fquares; and of the fourth, not 
exceeding three fquares and a half. Their height is rege¬ 
lated in like manner, and the thicknefs of their walls and 
chimneys. Under fuc'n reftrittions the architect muft 
often proceed under great difad vantages, and muft occa- 
lionally call forth the good quality of docility recom¬ 
mended by Vitruvius. 
Situation is alfo a fubject highly worthy of the notice and 
choice of an architect. It muft be obvious that a riling 
ground is much better fu i ted for a magnificent palace than 
a concealed valley ; and that it would be incongruous and 
abfurd to ereCt a fumptuous building on a wild, unculti¬ 
vated, and barren, ground, deftitute of water, woods, hills, 
or other natural beauties, which nature has affigned to va¬ 
rious and even exteniive portions of the earth. Where 
fuch lituations are left to the choice of the architect, it 
becomes him to apply his tafte in fixing the precife fitua- 
tion or bearings of his intended work, in the execution of 
which he muft attend to the four cardinal points. In the 
firft place he muft obferve, that every internal divilion or 
room may receive a due degree of light and heat, fuited 
to its intended ufe, and the different feafons in which it is 
more particularly to be occupied. Here the (kilful archi¬ 
tect muft exercife feveral of thofe qualifications enumera¬ 
ted by Vitruvius, as effentially requifite to the formation 
of his character. And indeed, whatever qualifications are 
neceflary in the proper choice of the fituation and plan of 
a town or city, the fame will be wanted to complete a 
country refidence. The firft and grand objeCts of human 
concern in this life, are health, pleafure, and convenience; 
and whatever contributes to thefe muft be ftudied with at¬ 
tention. Hence the neceffity of a filiation beft adapted for 
good air, a fuffieient l'upply of wholefome water for family 
ufe, fertile grounds, whole produce in fummer may im¬ 
pregnate and render falubrious the element in which we 
breathe. Directly oppofed to thefe confiderations are 
murfhy, low, and barren, lands, where even the hardy 
brute animal will fcarcely thrive. Stagnant waters muft 
more efpecially be avoided. 
Palladio fays, the infallible marks of a good fituation for 
health, are where the cattle thrive, and the inhabitants 
look ruddy and cheerful. In fixing on the precife fpot of 
ground, that which is moderately elevated, if it be conti¬ 
guous to fome river, will be beft adapted for health, plea¬ 
fure, and molt probably for convenience too. In fuch a 
fituation, the air acquires a conftant motion and free cir¬ 
culation, by which it purifies itfelf as water does by a 
current, and becomes more falutary to the human frame. 
And nothing can fo much contribute to the excellence of 
a profpeCt as a river, efpecially a winding one ; the beauty 
of which will, in idea, be heightened by its utility, as the 
means of fupplying water for family ufe. Thefe rnoft ef- 
fential preliminaries being fettled, the architect proceeds 
to confider in what direction his front and flank are to be 
placed with refpeCt to the fouth or north points. This, 
in many inftances, will be clolely connected with the in¬ 
ternal divifion of the houfe, which alligns to each room its 
particular ufe and feafon. Cool drawing-rooms are fuit- 
able for fummer; and for this purpofe they fhould be 
large, and fituated towards the north, or fo as to be fereen- 
ed from the fcorching beams of the fun. Warm drawing¬ 
rooms are adapted for winter ; and therefore thefe fhould 
be fmall, and have a place towards the fouth, or where 
the reviving rays of the fun can have free accefs. Rooms 
appropriated 
