the latter; about which such innumerable theories have been put forth, and all of them equally unworthy of credit. Neither vault, nor arch, nor dome, was admitted into their structures. The circle was to be found no where, but in the prop or pillar, and in their hieroglyphics.

The western front of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, is most unquestionably splendid, and, according to my taste, nearly perfect. The pillars which are seen supporting the dome are, however, inadmissible upon any established principle; unless we may consider them to be trees rooted midway up the mountain, and that cavities in the rocksw ere the primitive asylums of man.

Of cupolas-and I have seen every one worth looking at that of the cathedral of which I have last been speaking is, to my taste, the most beautiful. The crying blunder however is, that the arched windows are made subordinate to the square ones; that airy lightness is placed beneath rectangular stability: for thus the principle of strength is violated. To range insulated columns, in situations where trunks of trees can by no possibility be made to grow, is an anomaly in architecture. Therefore the

stout plank, or split pillar, with its foliated

1

capital should, as it appears to me, be exclusively appropriated to second or third tiers or stories; the curves to keep increasing even up to the circle, as the building ascends. And here again we have authority. The luminous orbs of heaven meet the sight when the eye looks up and therefore, in architecture, ought the arch, the oval, and the sphere to find their stations aloft. The temple of Minerva at Athens, and other early magnificent erections, put the spectator in remembrance of a grove; a horizontal line is described by the termination of the leaves, while the bodies of the trees are the columns.

In England, the science of architecture is amazingly confined. The houses of private individuals are as painfully similar to each other, as if an immutable decree had regulated their figure and dimensions. A few lordly habitations are indeed exempt from this peculiarity: but, as for a noble, stately, hospitable-looking staircase, it is so rare a thing, that the owner of the mansion seems to have had no very strong inclination that any of his guests should, undirected, find their way through, or even into, the premises. In very few houses can the stairs be readily found. But the spirit for society in this country is very limited; and, to say the truth, not without reason; if we are to credit

the reports, as to the demoralized state of the mass of the population. Be this as it may, a secluded, domestic life is, after all, in times like the present, undoubtedly the best. But-do our English males, of the higher and the lower classes, live much in the bosoms of their families? I confess I should pause, before I ventured to answer in the affirmative.

On the contrary, in Italy, a noble staircase, and stately and spacious saloons, were indispensable features in the palace of every patricianat least it was so in Venice; and this for pretty obvious reasons. The entire aristocracy amounted to about nine hundred or a thousand families; and, as they all became equal, from the moment their title deeds were enrolled in the Libro d'Oro, and were all liable to be appointed to high situations, it was imperative on each of them, when so appointed, to send round invitations to the rest. No private grudge was ever suffered to interfere with this politic measure. There was no limitation or exemption-nothing paltry, nor personally offensive, nor invidious. And thus was this noble body, by frequent meetings and collisions of this sort, not only made cheerful by entertainments and diversions, but cemented more closely together by the captivating smiles of urbanity, and the pleasures of

the banquet. The married ladies were always invited, but le nubili never. To accommodate so numerous an assembly, it was therefore necessary that the saloons should be spacious. Even on the upper stories it was usual to fit up capacious apartments.

The entertainments at Venice consisted neither of a dinner nor supper. There was a cold collation, a sort of déjeuné à la fourchette, consisting of every delicacy and rarity; as those who were in affluent circumstances spared no expense upon these public occasions, either in the way of parade or of luxury.

The magnificent palace of the Doge, in the Piazza di San Marco, is raised upon pillars; but the design having been considered too bold, from the number of vaults or arches, the ground about was raised, so as to encroach somewhat on the building, thereby sinking it a trifle, and the centre ones were filled up. At first, however, this wonderful edifice stood upon columns, having the appearance of a forest of trees.

CHAPTER XVII.

VENICE.

Some of the magnificent Edifices at Venice described...... The Basilica, or Church of San Marco......The Four Brazen Steeds of Lysippus......A few Words on the Hyde Park Achilles......Saint Mark's Square......The Campanile...... The Procuratia.......The Public Library.......The Ducal Palace...... The Italians particularly fond of Pictures...... A few Words of Advice to the Quakers and other Contemners of the Fine Arts......A Comparison between the Society of Friends and the Sons of Israel.

I SHALL NOW offer a few words on some of the most magnificent edifices to be seen in this most singular and beautiful city.

The Basilica, or church of San Marco, was begun in the year 977, and finished, in the superb style in which we now behold it, in 1071. It has ten outer gates of Corinthian brass, besides five more within, of the same material, all richly ornamented; and between them there is a gallery, or piazza, for the people to promenade in. Roofs, walls, pavement—the whole of the interior of this stupendous temple, is inlaid with mosaics, in gold and colours, or adorned with