Mr.

specimens of the ogee arch, it will be found tures; and the many others, which may be that they are carefully introduced as canopies developed from the germ of the pointed arch, over an inner arch, whether that inner arch we must reserve to another occasion. be single or foliated with cusps. There must be an interior convex figure, either expressed or suggested, over which the ogee may climb and curl. An instance of a similar idea may be found in that beautiful foliage which so generally creeps along the outline of the ogee, in the way of which the architect throws projecting balls or knobs, compelling the leaf to make its way forcibly and slowly over the convex side, and then allowing it to spring up luxuriantly into a waving point, as if glad to escape from its restraint:

Qualis speluncâ subitò commota columba, Cui domus et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi,

Fertur in arva volans, plausumque exterrita
pennis

Dat tecto ingentem: mox aëre lapsa quieto,
Radit iter liquidum, celeres neque commovet
alas.'
Eneid, v. 213.

Pugin has not treated his subject very philosophically, or with much insight into the deeper principles of architecture. But the point which he has illustrated is of great importance, and though, as we venture to repeat, he labours under the singular misconception that the beauties of Gothic owed their origin to the Papal and not to the Catholic spirit of the times in which it sprung up, there is much in his little work which is ingenious and interesting. The falsity of such a notion ought to be exposed and insisted on at a time when there seems to be too great a disposition to interest the imagination in matters of minds to palliate the corruptions of the popish religion, and so in young and uninstructed system. And, as before remarked, it might be shown at once by pointing out not only the natural connection and analogy between true Catholic principles and true taste in art; That this principle, however fanciful it may but the similar analogy between the pretenseem, was really felt and intended in the con- sions, exaggerated fancies, appeals to human struction of the ogee, may be further con- nature in its corrupt forms, and mixed inconfirmed by observing that the employment of gruities of greatness and meanness, truth and this peculiar foliage in crockets accompanies falsehood in Popery, with the same characthe ogee in its purest forms; is in itself the teristic defects, in the architecture which result of a gradual growth; and died away grew up in Italy more immediately under the with the introduction of more debased lines papal influence, and which are found less and and depressed arches in the Tudor style, in less prevalent in each country in the same which the vertical idea is almost lost, and proportion as it was free from the worst tenconsequently the effort to spring up and as- dencies of that fearful usurpation:cend is not maintained in the details any more than in the leading lines. Thus in the later Gothic the crockets become mere lateral horizontal processes, breaking the pinnacle like spurs, but not aiding the eye to climb up gradually to the apex. The same principle will also regulate the proportions between the second, or more perpendicular part of the ogee, and the convex part. It must be the proportion to be observed between an effort to surmount a difficulty, and the freedom which follows on having surmounted it, in present times. Architectural features are conorder to pronounce the real enjoyment which tinually tacked on buildings with which they accompanies such an action of the mind. If have no connection, merely for the sake of what the convex line is too prolonged, and the as-is called effect; and ornaments are actually cending ends abruptly, as in the great gate of constructed, instead of forming the decoration, Christ Church, or if, on the other hand, the convex is cut short, and the ascending part is too much lengthened, in either case the beauty of the line will be destroyed: the arch will be either too heavy, or too light and flowing according as the one idea of difficulty, or that of ease, predominates to the ex

clusion of the other.

We can touch at present only on one more Gothic feature, and that partially, which Mr. Pugin has made the subject of his two lec

The object of the present lecture,' says Mr. Pugin, is to set forth and explain the true by the knowledge of which you may be enabled principles of pointed or Christian architecture, to test architectural excellence. The two great rules for design are these: 1st, that there should be no features about a building which are not necessary for convenience, construction, or propriety; 2d, that all ornaments should consist of enrichment of the essential construction of the building. The neglect of these two rules

is the cause of all the bad architecture of the

to which in good taste they should be always detail should have a meaning, or serve a pursubservient. In pure architecture the smallest pose; and even the construction itself should vary with the material employed, and the designs should be adapted to the material in which they are executed. Strange as it may appear at first sight, it is in pointed architecture alone that these great principles have been carried out; and I shall be able to illustrate them from the vast cathedral to the simplest section. Moreover, the architects of the Middle Ages were the first who turned the natural properties of

whole charm vanished. Instead of inspiring quiet, the room filled him with uneasy and uncomfortable sensations: it was not till Canova's figures were removed that the charm returned; and he could trace the previous loss of it to the forced attitudes, strained muscles, affected expressions, and elaborate pretensions which occur so often in the best works of modern artists-with, we think, the solitary exception of the manly Chantrey. As in sculpture every figure should be exhibited, as much as possible, in that posture

apparent weariness-so in architecture every stone should be hung, where the eye will never anticipate that it is likely to fall.

the various materials to their full account, and made their mechanism a vehicle to their art.'-p. 1. These principles, so far as they go, are sound and just. True taste in architecture, as in every other creation, repudiates the attempt to please and please only. Man, even in his most self-indulgent character, has no respect for mere feeling-he is indignant at the thought of being treated as a child, and fed with sugar-plums-and his intellect finds no ground to rest on, or stimulus to curiosity, except where a depth of truth and reality is seen behind the outward veil which is pre-in which it might remain for ever without sented to his senses. And it is singular how soon even an untutored eye detects false ornament; how naturally the parts of buildings, which are not arranged upon some definite But as the construction of architecture is principles of solid utility and meaning, betray mainly intended not only to raise perpenthemselves by some striking incongruity, dicular walls and lateral protections from the which we feel, though we cannot express it. weather, but to cover in a space, the problem The illustrations which Mr. Pugin has immediately presents itself, how to hang in given of the many points in which Gothic the air the roof, which is required for this architecture, as existing in its pure form, is purpose. And the obvious solution has been free from this defect, compared even with to recur to another law, that of cohesionthe most perfect specimens of Grecian, are by which materials such as skins, tapestry, ingenious and interesting, and we may return cordage, chains, architraves of stone, and to them on some future occasion. The beams of iron or wood, may be thrown across secret of it seems to be found once more in an empty space without falling to the ground. the primary principle of verticalism-and But, as in the building of a solid wall, these when instead of Gothic, or English, or two laws concur and co-operate to produce Pointed, or even Christian, the term Ver- one effect, the gravitation increasing the cotical is applied to this style, we shall have hesion, and the cohesion enforcing the gravimade a great step to the right under- tation, so in the framing of unsupported standing of this as of its other character- coverings the two laws clash-the greater istics. The primary law, then, which must the weight of the cross materials the greater be observed in all constructions of solid their tendency to break. And although this materials must be the law of gravitation. To is not felt sufficiently to become painful, suspend a weight in the air, ready, as it may where the unsupported space is small, as in seem to the eye, to fall at each moment, is the just intercolumniation of a portico, it distressing, not merely to an educated but to soon begins to create an uneasiness in the an ignorant observer. We are little aware mind beyond a certain distance, just as we how much secret and almost unconscious feel uncomfortable in a cavern, the roof of fretting, and irritation, and weariness of feel- which may come down upon us, though, ing, is produced by the presence of any from the solidity of the rock, reason and exobject which is not in perfect repose, which perience assure us of its safety. The Greek suggests tendencies not fulfilled, or keeps the architecture endeavours to escape from the mind in a state of anticipation without grati- difficulty by preserving small dimensions in fying it and still more if there is an effort its intercolumniations-but with the inevior labour suggested by its existing position, table result of being unable either to throw or anything to be apprehended from the its buildings up into height without altering change which it threatens to make. We the just proportion of its columns, or piling were once told by an eminent architect them unconnectedly on each other, or to whose studio was surrounded with exquisite cover in an interior without crowding the copies from the finest ancient statues, that the mere presence of them threw over the whole apartment a charm of quietness, and peacefulness, which was sufficient to relieve his mind after any mental exhaustion, and compose it, as if it were thrown on a sofa. To these statues he once added a collection of Canova's works, and from that time the

space required with the bases for the necessary support. Sufficient blocks of store cannot be found to form singly the architraves required for large buildings; and though attempts are made to construct them out of smaller blocks with key-stones, the effect is painful, because the idea of a fracture and fall are thus still more forcibly suggested

With the introduction of the arch this dif-lines far more into a vertical direction, and ficulty was partially removed--a covering so adjusted them better to the law of gravitacould thus be thrown over a vast space, and tion. Secondly, by throwing off the eye yet retained in its pendent state by the law from the two curves laterally, instead of comof gravitation, with only one counter-tendency pelling it to strike a centre perpendicularly to apprehend and overcome-that of the la- from the keystone, it removed the sense of teral pressure. This, indeed, is very great. depression, and with this the apprehension of In St. Peter's, for instance, we believe no less the lateral thrust. Thirdly, by bringing fully than eight iron bands have been required to into play the vertical tendency, and throwing correct it-five in the drum, one at the the eye up uninterruptedly through all the springing of the arch, and two on the surface main lines of the building, it still further of the dome itself.* lightened, indeed removed entirely, the sense Now iron is not only in itself an objection- of downward pressure: and then came the able material to employ, from its tendency vertical principle again to correct what still to expand and contract with atmospheric remained of the lateral spread, by permitting changes, but its force depends on cohesion; the architect not only to spring up solid verand that cohesion is not infinite, like that of tical projections in the shape of buttresses, gravitation, to which we can imagine no but to load them at the very point required limit, but it is capable only of a certain re- with pinnacles and towers: so that the whole sistance, beyond which it gives way. And building is locked in and compacted at every therefore a building which depends on it point of danger by the one simple law of always carries within it the seeds of its own gravitation. destruction, and the suggestion of its own fall, however distant the event.

For the tendencies of the building, as of the eye, must to a certain degree be multiThe more indeed the existence of the la- plied and complicated from the necessity of teral pressure is felt, the more unsatisfactory having multiplied parts. As a single line the form of the arch becomes: because the cannot enclose a space, nor a single ornament two laws of gravitation and cohesion are thus describe a figure, so a single law of gravitabrought again into antagonism with each tion is not sufficient to create a building. It other; and antagonism is the destroyer of may raise a wall, but cannot construct a vault repose, and repose is essential to true beauty or a roof. How, then, are we to admit a and enjoyment. But the circular arch is at- counteracting principle without destroying tended with this evil. It compels the eye to simplicity and introducing confusion? How strike repeatedly downward in order to trace is unity to be preserved with this necessity the curve; hence the heavy, depressed feel- for a diversity of tendencies? Or, to apply ing, which Norman and Roman architecture the principle to the immediate case before so generally produce. The sense of a down- us, how is the perpendicular gravitation reward pressure necessarily suggests the chance cognized in the formation of the arch to be of a lateral spread, and then comes the un-reconciled and harmonized with the lateral easiness of feeling, unless the spread be tho- thrust? It can only be done by repeating roughly guarded against by some obvious and the same perpendicular pressure at another natural means. Hence it is that the arch part; and thus locking in the whole building supported by pillars, instead of piers, is so just as the paramount horizontal line of the meagre and unsatisfactory; and hence the Greek portico, though departed from in the impossibility, even with the aid of the arch, descending lines of the pillars, is again reto avoid encumbering the exterior, which we turned to, and repeated by the horizontal cover in, with heavy masses of support. We line of the base. In this point of view even are entering at length into this question, be- the antagonism of the opposite tendencies. cause, until the principles of architecture, as becomes harmonized and reduced into unity; of every other art, are brought back to funda- just as in a painting, a single spot of colour mental axioms, and those axioms are laid very at variance with the predominating tint is deep, seemingly in the mysteries of philoso- brought at once into order simply by being phy, art will be placed on a quicksand, and repeated. The buttresses and pinnacles are the creations which it raises will become the correlatives to the superincumbent weight quicksands themselves. But the conversion on the arch. Three tendencies are created of the circular into the pointed arch, and es- instead of two; and the two exterior tendenpecially the high vertical arch of the purest cies, being of one and the same kind, shut Gothic, did much to remedy these defects. up and overrule the middle one, so as not In the first place, it brought the covering

only to prevent discordances, but to produce harmony. The principle, we believe, is one of extensive and deep application to all crea

tions of art; but it is difficult to explain, and Holy City-the Palestine of the early pilwill be felt by those who contemplate the grimages, of Jerome and his monastic commechanical construction of a Gothic building, panions-the_Palestine of the crusades, of far better than it can be suggested merely Godfrey of Bouillon, of Richard Cœur de through the eye.

Lion, and of Saladin; we may descend still But we must close for the present. The lower-of Napoleon, of Sir Sidney Smith, principle which Mr. Pugin has illustrated is and of more recent British heroes: in every full of other curious applications. And the period, or rather throughout the whole course whole mystery of Gothic architecture is a of time, this hallowed and marvellous country subject of such interest at present, that we is connected with recollections which belong shall perhaps be pardoned if we pursue it to the unlearned as well as the learned, to the again, and endeavour to trace out still farther simple as to the wise. Every scene has its the sources of its peculiarities and excel- sanctity or its peculiar stirring emotions; lences. In the mean time the lovers of the every name awakens some association of church may be congratulated that there is wonder, of reverence, or, at least, of laudable so much need of just conceptions on these curiosity. We must confess, if it were posquestions, in consequence of the continued sible to allay or to quench this ardent interincrease of our ecclesiastical buildings; and est, it would have breathed its last under the that both the universities are contributing countless volumes of travels which have zealously to the science by the formation of their valuable societies for the express purpose of promoting it. Among the most useful and beautiful contributions to it yet made is the Glossary of Architecture,' published at Oxford; and we recommend it earnestly to those who are desirous of familiarising themselves with the technical language-without which the study cannot be pursued-and with a number of curious details, which will prepare them for entering into it more deeply and successfully.

poured, and still threaten to pour, upon us from all the gates of all the publishers in Europe. We have long been well-nigh worn out, and could hardly have pledged ourselves that even our public spirit, our heroic and self-devoted sense of the responsibility of reviewers, would not have failed at the sight of new travels in Palestine. Who is not utterly weary of the religious commonplace which every one who now steams away to the Holy Land complacently imparts to the public? Who is not still more troubled by the peremptory and dogmatic decisions with which persons, who have never seemed to consider that much previous knowledge and much seART. V.-Biblical Researches in Palestine, vere study are required to qualify a traveller Mount Sinai, and Arabia Petræa, &c. in these regions, at once settle questions By Edward Robinson, D.D., Professor of which have perplexed and divided the proBiblical Literature in the Union Theo-foundest scholars, on the mere credit of havlogical Seminary, New York.

6

ing been in the East. It is reported of a very We opened this work with a feeling of illustrious, very good-hearted, but not highlyweary despondency at the prospect of three educated personage, that in some question remore volumes of Travels in Palestine: we lating to early American history, some one closed them with respect and gratitude to the quoted the authority of Robertson. Robertauthor, not unmingled with a little blameless son! Robertson!-what should he know of national jealousy. We are not altogether America ?-was he ever there? I have pleased that for the best and most copious been!' Upon this principle we presume it work on the geography and antiquities of the is that every individual, young or old, gentle Holy Land, though written in English, we or simple, layman or ecclesiastic, by setting should be indebted to an American divine. foot in Palestine, springs up at once a divine The interest of Palestine and its neighbour-of authority and an accomplished theologian. ing provinces is, and must ever be, inex- We have not indeed been altogether for haustible the Palestine of the patriarchs, tunate, at least since Pococke and Maundrell, where the pastoral ancestors of the Jews, in our Palestinian travellers. For the poetry having been summoned from Mesopotamia, of the Holy Land, for the vivid and earnest settled with their flocks and herds among the expression of religious emotion, for pictuagricultural tribes of its earlier inhabitants-resque local description, notwithstanding their the Palestine of the chosen people, with all affectations and extravagance, we must go to their solemn and eventful history-the Pales- Chateaubriand and Lamartine; and with tine of our Lord and his Apostles-the Palestine of Josephus, with the awful wars which ended in the abomination of desolation in the

some distinction, both for 'better and for worse, and the consideration that they dwelt chiefly on the crusading associations, to

Michaud and Poujoulat.

From the former solution in the whole range of travels and of these writers no one would seek for infor- geographical treatises. The authors have mation, or suspect that they would on any brought to their task strong, may we venture single occasion sacrifice effect to truth. to say, English good sense, and piety, which Their evidences of Christianity being its pic- can dare to be rational. With the most proturesqueness and its poetry, any tradition, found veneration for the truth of the sacred however remote--any legend, however wild writings, they do not scruple to submit to the -any superstition, however absurd--is min- test of dispassionate inquiry, and of comparigled up in unquestioning faith, or boastful son with the records of scripture, every lecredulity, with the sincere truths of the Gos- gend of which this land of wonder is so inexpel itself. Among our own countrymen we haustibly fertile. Dr. Robinson has had the cannot, of course, reckon Burckhardt, who is advantage of preparing his journals for the chiefly however valuable rather for the neigh- press in Berlin, unquestionably the city of bouring regions than for Palestine proper. Europe in which at present is centred the One of the best volumes, containing, as it most profound erudition; he names some of did, real discoveries, told with simplicity and its most distinguished scholars as having asgood sense, that of Irby and Mangles, has sisted him with advice; above all, the great been retained, by the modesty of its authors, geographer, K. Ritter, whose testimony to within private circulation. The cleverest of the importance of these discoveries comes our own travellers, the late Dr. Clarke, was from perhaps the highest living authority. unfortunately possessed with the opinion that We should mention that Dr. Robinson's coleverything was wrong, and that he was sent league, Mr. Smith, having long resided in on a sort of special mission of original genius the East, was intimately acquainted with the to set it all right. But there is no instinctive vernacular Arabic, so that, instead of dependperception of that which can only be wrought ing, in his communications with the natives, out by accurate observation and patient study. on an ignorant, careless, or designing interClarke only deviated into more obstinate and irreclaimable error. It is, however, a strong proof how little real knowledge, even of Jerusalem itself, can be gleaned from our recent travellers, that we have in vain--and, we assure our readers, with most patient interest-sought for a confutation of Clarke's singular paradox, which placed the city of David on the high ground south of what has always, and rightly, been considered the valley of Hinnom. It seemed first to occur to the authors of the work before us to examine the nature of this ridge and of the country beyond. They have done so, and settled the question for ever.

preter, he might be perfectly confident that the questions would be fairly and distinctly put, and the answers reported with conscientious accuracy. By this means he has obtained much useful information as to sites of towns and other local circumstances, from the unsuspicious tradition of the names by which they are now popularly known among the inhabitants.

Dr. Robinson entered the Holy Land from Egypt, and of course the first point of biblical interest which occurred was the passage of the Red Sea. Dr. Robinson concurs with all the best modern scholars in supposing, as indeed the time allotted to their journey imperatively demands, that the Israelites set out upon their Exodus from Goshen, and that Goshen was situated eastward along the Pelusiac branch of the Nile. With Niebuhr, and all the recent authorities, he places the passage of the Israelites over the tongue of the sea some short distance above Suez. The whole of this view of the Exodus is clear, consistent, and strictly accordant with the scriptural narrative. It is singular indeed how much the advocates of a different interpretation have lost sight of the one unerring authority, have excluded or attached but slight weight to circumstances which in the Mosaic writings bear an important place, while they have imagined others without the least warrant from the sacred book.

Thus oppressed under the burthen, we will not say of annual, but quarterly and bimestrial travels in Palestine, which have turned out to be little more than the authors' confessions of faith (sincere, we doubt not, for the most part) and testimonials to their own piety (pleasing enough as witnessing to a growing sense of religion, but little more,) it has been with satisfaction, not unmingled with surprise, that we have found in the work of Dr. Robinson more solid and important information on the geography and on the topography of the Holy Land than has accumulated since the date of Reland's Palestina.' These two American travellers (for we must not deprive Dr. Robinson's companion, Mr. Smith, of his due share of the common merit), by patient and systematic investigation, have There are two classes of believers in the enabled us to satisfy our minds on many miracles of the scripture. One which looks points for which we had in vain sought a 'on them with a dim and remote reverence,