best securities for the committee in forming its judgment will be to insist upon having not only the general designs, but the working drawings submitted to their inspection. Indeed, Gothic architecture is so different from the Italian, or Grecian, as it is commonly called (or Pagan, as Mr. Pugin has aptly termed it), and our workmen are at present so little accustomed to the endless variety of Gothic details, that it is almost always necessary to give them drawings of all details to the full size, or twelve inches to the foot, as they term it, instead of perhaps half an inch or an eighth of an inch to a foot, which is the common practice, to save the architect trouble.

We rejoice that the present movement has originated in our two universities, and that the study of Gothic architecture seems likely to take firm root there. Such is the fascination of the study when once fairly entered upon, that we have no doubt it will go on and prosper, and will speedily become part of the necessary education of a gentleman, if indeed it is not so already; for now that the eyes of the public are becoming a little opened to the "wonderful science, skill, and taste of our ancestors," every body, from the Prime Minister of England to the youngest undergraduate in either University, is desirous of knowing something about the subject, and has more or less taken up the study of it. Much of this movement is to be traced to the influence, direct and indirect, of the Oxford Society, chiefly perhaps through the means of their very popular Glossary of Gothic Architecture, which has found its way everywhere, but more especially into the hands of the highest and most influential classes of society; and the subject has become a favourite topic of conversation even in the drawing-rooms of our nobility, where five years ago any one who had ventured to talk of the beauties of Gothic archi

*Whilst we attribute much influence to Mr. Parker's Glossary, and particularly to its excellent illustrations (for all people are fond of pictures), we must not forget the knowledge, and the system, which Mr. Rickman's work had inculcated for some years before, and particularly at Cambridge. Nor must the literary la bours of Britton and (the elder) Pugin be forgotten, the Tyndale and Cranmer, as John Carter was the Wicliffe, of our Architectural Reformation.-Edit. Gent. Mag.

tecture, would have been looked upon as an idle dreamer. Much good must result from this great change in public taste and feeling: the rising generation of patrons and of rectors will look with much more favourable eyes upon a proposal for building a new church, or restoring a decayed chancel. Much indeed may be expected from the love of Gothic architecture, which, when once generated, is almost sure to become an enthusiastic passion, combined with that strong religious feeling of attachment to the Church which seems also to be everywhere spreading with wonderful rapidity and steadiness.-(Oxford Herald.)

MUSEUM OF GEORGE III.

The establishment of the Royal Observatory at Kew has been broken up, and the collection of mechanical models and apparatus in Natural aud Experimental Philosophy and Astronomy, formed there by King George the Third, together with the cabinet of specimens in Natural History, has been presented to King's College, London. It is a condition of this grant (made by the late Government), that the collection should form a separate museum in that institution,-that it should remain unbroken, and have associated with it the name of the royal founder. The apparatus, independent of its intrinsic value, possesses, in some instances, a high degree of historic interest; it includes the original apparatus of Boyle -a complete series of apparatus, made under the directions of Desaguiliers, and described in his Lectures-a rude and early model of Watt's steam enginea complete apparatus, made by Atwood, to illustrate his theory of the arch, including his celebrated model of a large elliptical arch of polished brass voussoirs, made by order of a Committee of the House of Commons. The apparatus has been for many years under the joint care of the Rev. Mr. Demainbray and the late Professor Rigaud, who held the appointment of Astronomers Royal at Kew. It was last month delivered up by the former gentleman to the custody of Professor Wheatstone. The Observatory itself has, we believe, been granted to the Royal Society, to be used for magnetic observations; it was first erected by King George, to observe the transit of Venus over the The large zenith sector, and transit instrument, have been sent to the Observatory at Armagh.

sun.

ARMOURY AT THE TOWER.

Much credit is due to the officers of the Ordnance Department at the Tower, for their attention to every good opportunity of improving the museum of arms and armour. Among the recent additions to the collection are-A suit of plated armour of the time of Henry the Seventh; another of the period of Richard the Third; a suit of engraved and gilt armour, formerly the property of Count Hector Oddi, of Padua, together with the horse and horse-armour belonging to it; a suit of cuirassier's armour of the time of Cromwell; together with several other suits, partial equipments, and sundries; among which are two English long-bows, recovered from the wreck of the Mary Rose, sunk at Spithead in 1545 (as noticed in our May number, p. 527).

ROMAN PEDESTAL.

A discovery of high interest has been made in St. John's Wood, about three miles north-west of Wansford, on the Northamptonshire property of the Duke of Bedford. Some labourers in digging gravel turned up two stones which are confidently believed to have formed part of the pedestal of a Roman statue of Diana. One stone is carved with a human figure in the act of throwing a spear, and the other has the representation of two running females, having in their hands coupling leashes for hounds. The situation is one in which it is probable three roads formerly united; and the statue therefore might be dedicated to the goddess under her title of Trivia. The stones are now in the possession of Mr. Wilson, of Wansford. The Rev. Dr. Bonney, of Cliffe, has inspected them, and is of opinion that a temple of Diana existed near the spot where they have been discovered: this is about five miles from the eminent Roman station, Durobrivæ, now Castor, part of the present fine parish church of which place is thought to have been a temple for Pagan worship. Near the spot at which the above reliques were turned up, a Roman pot and some small portions of human bones were also found; and further search is to be carefully made.

SAINTE CHAPELLE, PARIS.

The restoration of this chapel is going on most actively and judiciously. The fine state of preservation in which the trefoiled arcades, formerly concealed by the cases for the archives, have been found,

is very cheering. It is all painted and gilt, from top to bottom, and would put to shame those who cry out against the admirable painting of the Temple church in London, lately executed by Mr. Willement. The municipal council of Paris have voted 100,000fr. or £4000 per annum for the works of the chapel alone, as long as the architects deem it necessary, and £360,000 for the whole of the Palais de Justice.

ANCIENT STATUARY.

M. Boeswilwald, a young architect, has discovered two very interesting statues at Saint Germer, near Beauvais. They are of the close of the fifteenth century, painted and gilded all over; and both represent the Virgin, one before and the other after the Nativity. The blue robe and red mantle of the one, and the violet robe and blue mantle of the other, are alike embroidered with leaves and flowers in gold; and, enclosed within medallions of foliage, are heraldic griffins and lions, also pointed in gold. On the violet robe of the Virgin mother, a series of medallions are charged alternately with two crowing and two fighting cocks, exactly resembling the cocks sculptured on the white marble zodiac, which forms the frieze of the cathedral at Athens, of which M. Didron brought home a model. Both statues are nearly the life size, and have blue eyes and golden hair.

ROMAN TOMBS IN FRANCE.

At the late meeting of the Scientific Congress at Lyons, the Abbé Croizet read a paper on some sarcophagi, discovered ncar a very old church in the department of Puy-de-Dôme. One of these sarcophagi contained a skeleton, which was covered, 1st, with a layer of earth; 2nd, a layer of lime; 3rd, one of charcoal; it was enveloped in linen bandages, and was laid upon green and red argil, and aromatic plants, some seeds from which have reproduced rosemary and camomile. By the side of this sarcophagus there were eighty others, each bearing a marble tablet with an inscription; the most remarkable was VIXIT ANNUS LXX, instead of annos, a solecism which M. Guillard explains by the Saxon pronunciation of u in on. At the same meeting M. Martin mentioned that the villages of Arbigny, Saint Benique, Boz, &c. on the banks of the Saone, are inhabited by descendants of the Saracens.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Sept. 27. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, in a Committee of Ways and Means, that 2,467,4321. was to be provided for, there being a deficiency to that amount. He then introduced a resolution

for funding the recent subscriptions of 3,500,0001. in the 3 per Cent. Consols. Oct. 7. The first session of the present

Parliament was closed, when the Lord

Chancellor read the following Speech:"My Lords and Gentlemen,-We are commanded by her Majesty to acquaint you that it appears advisable to her Ma. jesty to bring to a close the present session of Parliament.

"In conformity with the advice of her Parliament, and in pursuance of the declared intentions of her Majesty, her Majesty has taken the requisite measures for the formation of a new Administration, and the arrangements for that purpose have been completed by her Majesty. "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,- We have it in command from her

SPAIN.

Majesty to thank you for the supplies which you have granted to her Majesty for those branches of the public service for which complete provision has not been made by the late Parliament.

"The measures which it will be expedient to adopt for the purpose of equalising the public income and the annual expenditure, and other important objects

connected with the trade and commerce of attention at an early period after the recess. the country, will necessarily occupy your

"Her Majesty has commanded us to repeat the expression of her deep concern at the distress which has prevailed for a considerable period in some of the principal manufacturing districts, and to assure you that you may rely upon the cordial concurrence of her Majesty in all such measures as shall appear, after mature consideration, best calculated to prevent the recurrence of that distress, and to promote the great object of all her Majesty's wishes, the happiness and contentment of all her people."

An insurrection in favour of the Queen mother Christina has taken place in the city of Pampeluna, where General O'Donnell seized the citadel. Some troops sent against him joined his side; and the towns of Santona and Bilboa also declared for the revolt. In Madrid a party which attempted to seize the young Queen was driven back and defeated by Espartero in person, not without much bloodshed on both sides. General Diego Leon, the leader of the insurrection in the capital, has been tried and shot. O'Donnell has since abandoned Pampeluna, and taken refuge in France. Louis Philippe is charged with having given his sanction to this movement.

VENICE.

A bridge is about to be constructed at Venice, in order to unite that celebrated city with the continent, and to connect it with the railway to Milan. The expense is estimated at 4,830,000 livres Austrian. The bridge will also contain an aqueduct, intended to supply Venice with fresh GENT. MAG. VOL. XVI.

water, which has hitherto been supplied in boats from the continent, the city being unprovided with wells and fountains, and having but few cisterns.

TURKEY.

On the 29th of July the whole populaslumbers, one hour after midnight, by the tion of Smyrna was roused from their alarming cry, Smyrna is on fire! The flames rolled on from that hour till sunset which no human efforts could arrest, of the same day with a violence and fury sweeping through the entire length of the devoted city from west to east, reducing to cinders and ashes, in their fearful progress, 3050 Turkish and 157 Greek houses, 500 large Jewish houses, containing 1500 families of that nation, 17 Armenian houses, 42 mosques, 7 synagogues, 15 khans, 7 baths, 17 flour mills, 2437 shops, 29 Turkish and Greek public schools, and 5 tekes or Dervish places of prayer. The devouring element has reduced nearly onehalf of the city to a mass of ruins, leaving nearly 35,000 of its inhabitants without home or refuge, of which number 7000 are preserved from actual starvation by

3 Y

the hand of charity. A Committee of Succour was opened at Smyrna, on the very day the fire occurred, and subsequently at Constantinople. His Highness the Sultan made a donation of 1500l. and the committee are now making a general appeal to the charitable of the Öld and New World. The London Treasurers are George Hanson, Esq. 28, Great Winchester-street, and Francis Ede, Esq. 16, Bucklersbury.

UNITED STATES.

President Tyler has vetoed the second Bank Bill, stating his reasons at length in a Message to the Congress on the 9th Sept. The matter caused an extraordinary sensation in the whole Union. In consequence, the Members of the Cabinet all resigned, with the exception of Mr. Webster, who has expressed himself as coinciding entirely with the President on matters of foreign policy. On their resignations being accepted, the President nominated Mr. Walter Froward to be Secretary of the Treasury; Mr. Hugh St. Legare, Attorney-General; Judge Abel Upshur, Secretary of the Navy; and Mr. J. M'Lean, Secretary of War. The last has since declined. Mr. Everett has been appointed Minister to England.

In Canada, the "Patriots" have been creating fresh disturbances, and have attempted to blow up two of her Majesty's steamers by a floating infernal machine, which, however, providentially burst before reaching the vessels. On the night of the 19th Sept. a party of Canadians crossed the American boundary, and carried off a "Colonel Grogan," This affair has caused great excitement on the frontier, and the papers assert that it will do no good to Mr. M'Leod, whose trial was to come on on the 4th Oct. and was thought likely to last through thirteen or fourteen days, great numbers of witnesses having been called on behalf of the prisoner. It was feared that unless the American Government sent immediately a sufficient body of troops to keep order on the frontier, enterprises would be set on foot against the British, which would eventually involve the two countries in a war, which it should be the aim of both nations

to avert.

NEW BRUNSWICK.

The neighbourhood of St. John's, New Brunswick, already more than once scourged by fire, has suffered another terrible visitation. A ship carpenter by chance dropped a red hot bolt on some shavings which lay against the bows of a freshly tarred vessel; the ship was instantly enveloped in flames, and the sheds

of the dock-yard presently becoming ignited, the whole village of Portland was shortly on fire. Fifty-three houses have been entirely consumed, worth 17,5007; a Wesleyan chapel, worth 20001.; a ship on the stocks, partly rigged, 7000.; a mass of rigging in the yard, 10007.; and furniture and goods to the value of 2,5007.; or in the whole, 30,0001. worth of property. Two hundred families, counting 1150 people, have been driven into the streets; 600 of these may be said to be ruined, and without any means of staving off want from day to day.

INDIA.

Nusseer Khan, the young chieftain of Khelat, has at length come to terms with the British agents, and has surrendered himself to their protection. This is looked upon as an important event, as it will contribute to the tranquillity of the districts west of the Indus, besides placing a large force at the disposal of the Government for fully settling disturbances in Schah Soojah's dominions. Those disturbances are likely to be diminished from another cause-viz. the surrender by Shere Singh of the province of Peshawur-a valuable one-to the British. The Sikh districts are comparatively tranquil under the Government of Shere Singh, which appears to be consolidated, particularly as the young widow of Now Nehul has brought forth a son still-born. The refractory tribes in Affghanistan have also been overpowered.

CHINA.

Despatches of great importance have been received from General Sir Hugh Gough, commanding the land forces, and Captain Sir H. F. Senhouse, the senior naval officer of the fleet, detailing a series of brilliant operations against Canton. In consequence of the warlike preparations made at Canton, by the Chinese, Capt. Elliott proceeded thither on the 10th of May, and on his return, he countermanded the expedition that was to have sailed to Amoy; on the 17th, Captain Elliott again went towards Canton, and Sir H. Le Fleming Senhouse, and Sir Hugh Gough, were ordered to move the expedition under their command up the river, and to anchor under the walls of the city. On the 20th, the contest began by the Chinese firing on the British ships, and some fireships were let loose, which, however, did no damage. On the morning of the 21st the fort of Shaming was silenced by the British guns. During the attack on the fort a fleet of junks came out, but on seeing the Nemesis approaching them, they fled back into a