Oldalképek
PDF
ePub
[graphic][merged small][merged small]

direct access to the Picture Gallery, without passing through the private part of the mansion.

Mr. Hope's new mansion in Piccadilly is of so eccentric a character that it is almost incapable of verbal description, and perplexes criticism. It certainly excites regret, to find so much cost and elaboration bestowed upon a composition so ill proportioned both in its ensemble and individual features, that embellishment has only served to make its defects all the more glaring. The panels of polished granite add nothing on the score of beauty, for owing to the same colour not being carried out consistently, they show only as so many spots. Nor is it the least fault of all, that notwithstanding the unusual pretence made by it with respect both to materials and embellishment, there is something even undignified in the general look of this mansion. It has altogether a foreign air, and it was designed by a foreign architect.

6. RAILWAY STATIONS.

To Mr. Ruskin, who protests against railways, and every thing connected with them, the new buildings at the Euston Station (by Mr. Hardwick), on which 150,000l. or thereabouts has been expended, must be an abomination; yet those who look at it architecturally, will find in the "Great Hall" much to admire, with something also to disapprove. Of ambitious display there is enough, and, perhaps, more than enough; but it might have been more judiciously managed by being more equalized, for at present the upper part of it and the ceiling cause the lower to look bare, not to say mean, by comparison; proportion as to the quantum of decoration being not at all observed. In fact, all above the order is, if not too rich, in too heavy a style to accord with the order itselfItalian Ionic of somewhat plain character. There is, however, something both striking and pleasing in the arrangement of the staircase, or rather flights of steps which lead up to the loggia or recessed gallery at one end of the hall, whose ceiling has glazed panels that throw down light behind the columns. The effect would have been all the better, had the pedestals on which the columns are raised been lower, that is, no higher than the parapet or railing between them, for besides that an ungainly difference would have been avoided, the order itself would have been proportionably increased, and would have thereby gained in importance.

Of the Central Railway Station at Newcastle, the façade is to be commended as a more than usually picturesque, yet at the same time perfectly regular composition, therefore belonging to the true architectural picturesque. This façade, which is towards Nevillestreet, is 600 feet in length, and is formed into three equal divisions, each of which consists of seven open arches (32 feet high) between coupled columns of a bold Roman Doric order, raised upon an equally bold and unusually lofty stylobate, which is continued between the intercolumns, thereby closing up the arches below, and forming a screen between the street and the lower part of the interior of the arcade or portico. The central division is distinguished from the lateral ones, first, by advancing 40 feet forwarder, whereby a

[graphic][merged small]

clear depth of 70 feet, or double what it is elsewhere, is there given within, to the portico; secondly, whereas the columns in the lateral portions of the façade are engaged, in this central one they are insulated, and backed by pilasters, and the entablature breaks over each pair, while the stylobate is formed into corresponding pedestals below, which, however, rest upon an uninterrupted socle about seven feet high. This part of the composition is further distinguished from the rest by a boldly designed panelled attic, against which it is proposed to place colossal statues over the breaks in the entablature. All the arches, whose "reveals" are several feet in depth, have suitable impost mouldings and archivolts, and console keystones. Two of the compartments differ from the rest in one particular, the arches at each extremity of the façade being closed up so as to form a very large ornamental niche or recess; and those end compartments are surmounted by an attic, but a lower and plainer one than that over the centre. The flanks or returns of the façade, east and west, consist of a single very spacious arch (25 feet wide), with a pair of columns on each side of it. Through those arches carriages drive into the central portico, or hall for carriages-as it may well be called-its dimensions being 180 by 70 feet, and then return again, not as they entered, but through an arch in the flank of the projecting part of the plan; owing to which admirable arrangement, carriages cannot possibly encounter each other, there being a separate entrance and exit for them, whether they come from the east or west; in short, nothing can be better contrived or more complete of its kind. On the east, immediately adjoining the façade of the Station, is a large hotel, whose front is nearly 200 feet in extent, and presents a handsome elevation of Italian character. The south front of the Station, or that towards the platform, is curved concavely, being the segment of a circle struck with a radius of 800 feet; a shape rendered necessary by the junction of the various lines of railway at that point. Even here, regard has been had to architectural appearance; the whole is in a comparatively plain, yet effective style, without positive decoration, but with bold and expressive features; the doors and windows having arched heads, with moulded imposts and archivolts. The shed is 708 feet long, by 93 in width, and covers an area of nearly three acres. The whole work is highly creditable both to the taste and judgment of its architect-Mr. J. Dobson, of Newcastle.

1

249

XVII.-CHRONICLE OF OCCURRENCES.

From October 1848 to November 1849.

Oct. 27, 1848. Mr. Charles Gavan Duffy, editor and proprietor of the Nation, who had been indicted at the last Commission Court of the County Dublin, was arraigned a second time. After preliminary law arguments, which were decided in favour of the prisoner, the trial was postponed till December.

Nov. 2. near Tours.

Abd-el-Kader removed from Pau to the Castle of Amboise,

3. A deputation from the Prussian Constituent Assembly sent to Potsdam to request the King to rescind the appointment of the Brandenburg ministry. The King declined to reply, "in the absence of his responsible ministers;" but sent an answer in the afternoon, in which he refused to rescind the appointment.-A "free pardon" granted to Mr. Barber, the solicitor, who had been transported to Norfolk Island in April 1844, as an accomplice in the will forgeries concocted by Fletcher.

4. The constitution of the French Republic definitively adopted in the National Assembly by 739 votes against 30.

7. A sharp engagement before Mooltan, between the British and the Sikh troops, in which the latter were driven back to the town with great loss.

8. The Austrians, under Gen. Simonich, defeated by the Hungarian insurgents, retreat to Göding, a village not far from Vienna, where they are joined by the Croatian army under the Ban Jellachich.-The King of Prussia, by a decree, adjourns the Constituent Assembly till the 27th inst. and transfers its sittings from Berlin to Brandenburg.-Seventeen out of a large number of Irishmen, who had met for the purpose of drilling in a wood, near Clonmel, arrested by the police.

9. Robert Blum, a member of the Frankfort National Assembly, shot, as being one of the promoters of the insurrection in Vienna.-The Constituent Assembly in Berlin carries a resolution to continue its sittings in opposition to the King's decree; and declares itself in permanence.

10. Death of Ibrahim Pascha, Regent of Egypt; he was born in 1789, and was succeeded in the government by Abbas Pasha, son of Toussoun.-Gen. Wrangel enters the city of Berlin, at the head of 15,000 regular troops, and ejects the Constituent Assembly from its place of meeting.

11. Solemn promulgation of the constitution of the French Republic from the front of the Tuileries.-The King of Prussia dissolves the civic guard of Berlin. The Constituent Assembly continues its sittings in another place of meeting; it passes a motion forbidding the civic guard to surrender their arms.

12. Berlin declared in a state of siege. The president Unruh, of the Constituent Assembly, removed in his chair into the street from the Schützen-Haus, which was occupied by the military.

13. A grand procession in Bristol, to celebrate the restoration of the port and harbour of the city, and the adoption of "free port principles by the corporation."

14. The Constituent Assembly of Prussia meets in the Town-hall of Berlin, under the presidency of Unruh. Only 500 stand of arms had been surrendered by the civic guard on the expiration of the time allowed, namely, sunset of the 13th. Gen. Wrangel had under his command in the city, 26 battalions of infantry, 12 squadrons of cavalry, and 18 bat

« ElőzőTovább »