forth attractive to the tourist for two noble examples one of the Roman, the other of our ancient style. The former of these, the Town Hall is a rich specimen of the Roman Corinthian, upon a scale of considerable magnitude the height of the columns and their entablature being forty-five feet; nor is the richness of the material inferior to that of the design, the whole edifice being faced with Anglesea marble, furnished gratuitously for the purpose, by the proprietor of the quarries. The other building alluded to is that for the Free Grammar School, just commenced from designs by Mr. C. Barry, the able and tasteful architect of the Royal Institution, Manchester, the Travellers' Club-house, Pall Mall, &c. The design to which the next prize was adjudged, and which many are of opinion ought to have obtained the prefer ence, was that by Mr. F. Goodwin, architect of the Town Hall, Manchester. York deserves also to be here noticed for the additions and improvements that have been made to the Castle, by Mr. P. F. Robinson, who has here very judiciously availed himself of a style, of which almost all modern applications are generally abortive, not to say ridiculous, namely the castellated. At Brighton a new north entrance to the Pavilion, in the same style as the residence itself, is a very suitable embellishment to the town. Great advance had likewise been made here in a very unique structure named the Antheum, and intended to become a large public conservatory, when, towards the end of the summer, the roof which was composed of ribs of cast iron, suddenly fell in. In London the spirit of architectural improvement has displayed itself with unabated

perhaps increased energy, and in the city more conspicuously than even at the west end of the town, in consequence of the extremely great alterations produced by the opening a direct and spacious line of street from New London Bridge to the west end of the Bank; also by the erection of two noble public halls, viz. those of the Fishmongers' and Goldsmiths' companies, and the City Club-house in Broadstreet. The two latter are both by Mr. Hordwick, and both, seemingly, attempts to restore a taste for the Italian style. As au example of that now somewhat obsolete style, Goldsmiths' Hall may certainly compete with almost any former example of it in this country, being equally striking for the massiveness of its construction and the boldness and richness of its decoration. It is to be regretted, however, that the architect has departed from the general character of that style where it would have been particularly appropriate. Instead of bestowing a marked expression both of solidity and grandeur upon the basement floor, by introducing massive ornamental rustic-work, he has merely given it a few horizontal lines, leaving the windows themselves absolutely naked; the consequence of which is, that this part looks absolutely mean, and insipid compared with all the rest, where an air even of heaviness prevails. This error in composition is the more lamentable here because it sadly mars and impoverishes what would otherwise have been perfect of its kind; while, at present, the upper part of the building looks too much like an afterthought, as if the architect had commenced a building as plain as the opposite front of the Post Office, and afterwards changed his

ideas for something far more luxuriant. The new Fishmongers' Hall would in some respect have proved a better neighbour to Sir Robert Smirke's building, it being sufficiently in his style, and by a young architect (Mr. Roberts) who studied under him. The best that can be said of it is, that the extent, the material, and the situation, of the building render it an imposing object. Considered as a design there is little in it either to commend or to censure. It has neither striking beauties nor blemishes, unless we are disposed to quarrel with its engaged columns. The New State Paper Office in St. James's Park, which may be considered not only as the last but as the final work of Sir John Soane, is by no means the worst of his productions. On the contrary, if not quite so splendid as one or two other things by him, it is in far better taste than the majority, at the same time that it is marked by many peculiarities. Although far from striking at first view, it will be found on examination to possess much that is both original and good. The decoration of the basement deserves notice, both as presenting much difference with Sir John's general style, and as exhibiting a happy combination of simplicity and richness, and a peculiar but very pleasing mode of rusticwork, the faces of the stones being slightly notched, and the joints between them unusually broad and shallow. If not the very best modern specimen of our Old English architecture, the Westminster Hospital offers some good and picturesque features; and is certainly a very great improvement to the spot where it stands. Considerable changes have been made in the exterior of the New Palace;

but the architect now employed (Mr. E. Blore) was called in too late to do much towards correcting what had been previously built. He has indeed given greater height to the centre by continuing the attic (before confined to two very narrow pavilions) along the whole front. Yet quite as much harm as good has resulted from this alteration, because the centre portico looks more depressed and insignificant in consequence, nor does the pediment any longer detach itself against the sky, as it did at first, distinctly marking the centre of the front, and breaking the monotony of a straight line. This monotony, too, is the more striking because this front of the palace, owing to its facing the S. E. is generally seen when thrown entirely into shade. The carrying on the ground floor of the wings, whatever it may do for internal accommodations, has done very little for external appearance, because the wings themselves make no better figure than before, while these low additions to them being dwarfish and insignificant in themselves, by no means aid the general appearance of the edifice. One alteration, decidedly for the better, is that of the small Ionic entrance, on the South. Considered by itself, this is really a chaste and classic architectural bit-quite as dignified and with less of paltry pretension than any other part of this so generally and so justly censured pile of building.-As regards the metropolis, one of the most remarkable architectural undertakings of the year was the commencement of a building for the National Gallery, on the site of the mews, Trafalgar Square. Apart from all considerations of the projected building itself, it was

remarkable on account of the unprecedented interest taken in the subject by most of the public prints, and the exceedingly acrimonious remarks in which nearly every one of them indulged against the architect, Mr. Wilkins. Besides the offence of proposing to bring his building so forward as to cut off the view of St. Martin's Church, from the line of Pall Mall East, Mr. Wilkins shocked the newspaper press first by venturing to call in question the merits of St. Martin's portico, and next by instancing his own portico at the London University as a proof of the superior beauty of the Grecian style to that of the Roman. Upon this he was assailed from almost every quarter, and that, too, again and again. Among those journals which rendered themselves most conspicuous on the occasion, and which displayed the most determined hostility was the Literary Gazette. This had some how or other obtained a sketch of the intended building, from which it published a miserable cut that seems to have been considered by Mr. Wilkins the " unkindest cut of all," for he protested that it gave not the slightest idea of his design. In the heat of rancour, the Gazette committed a laughable blunder, which shows tolerably plainly the kind of spirit that dictated its criticism, for not satisfied with condemning in toto the design for the National Gallery, it took the opportunity of reviling Mr. Wilkins's buildings in general, and the London University in particular, although it had itself bestowed unqualified commendation on that very structure, on its being first opened. Equal animosity and incautiousness were displayed on this occasion by a brother architect. Whether it was, that Mr. Gwilt, himself a translator of Vitruvius

was scandalized by the opinions Mr. Wilkins had publicly expressed in regard to that venerable authority, he declared that so far was such a specimen of the Greek style as the portico of the University from being beautiful in his eyes, that its columns were a mere row of Dutch nine-pins! This remark intended to be gallingly severe was only absurd, because although levelled at Mr. Wilkins, it was in fact a blow at ancient architecture altogether, one moreover that recoiled pretty sharply upon its author, as he did not escape without some sarcastic quizzing in a periodical which is not particularly lenient in its castigations.-These circumstances are at least curious as manifestations of the very unusual excitement occasioned by a mere question of taste, and as showing the formidable opposition the architect had to encounter. The building for the Gallery was however commenced with great promptitude towards the end of the year, and without any éclat of the ceremony of laying the foundation stone. From its character, magnitude, and situation, there is little doubt of its becoming a conspicuously ornamental feature in the neighbourhood; yet whether it will ultimately prove so superior a piece of architecture as totally to eclipse St. Martin's Church, and to mortify the architect's opposers, remains to be seen.

New Gigantic Telescope.- A great work has been completed in Urzscheider's manufactory of optical instruments at Munich. It is a gigantic telescope, on Frauenhofer's principle, of fifteen Paris feet focal distance, and an aperture of ten-and-a-half inches. It surpasses in size and power, the largest telescopes made in the lifetime of the

illustrious Frauenhofer. It has been tried with the greatest strictness by the professors of astronomy in the university of Munich, and declared to be a perfect masterpiece. The clearness and distinct ness of a heavenly body seen through it, is, to that of the Dorpat telescope made by Frauenhofer, of thirteen feet focal distance and nine inches aperture, as twenty-one to eighteen, and the intensity of the light as 136 to 100. It magnifies far above 1,000 times, and the ordinary expression of bringing an object nearer may be literally applied; thus, when Saturn at its smallest distance from the earth, is 165,000,000 of geographical miles distant, it seems, when magnified 816 times by this telescope, to have approached to the distance of 192,000 geographical miles; and the moon, at her smallest distance from the earth, seems, when magnified in the same manner, to have approached within sixty-eight geographical miles, which is but little more than the distance, in a direct line, from Athens to Constantinople.

Signal Lanterns.-Captain N. de Coninck, of the Royal Danish Navy, has invented a lantern to be used for signals, that is said to give a much more brilliant light than those at present employed for that purpose. The light is obtained on the Argand principle, without the use of glass, by conveying a current of air through the lantern. The lamp will contain sufficient oil to last several hours, and is perfectly secured by the construction of the lantern from the effects of bad weather. In addition to the brilliant light obtained from the application of the Argand burner, captain Coninck has applied a circular reflector, which considerably

increases the light. He has also applied the same principle to the construction of deck lanterns, eight or ten of which, when placed amidships, are sufficient to give light to the guns on the deck of the largest man-of-war. The light is so well secured from external effects, that it withstands the concussion produced by the firing of the guns, which so frequently extinguishes the light in the common lantern. The efficacy of his lanterns has undergone a severe trial on board two Danish frigates. For this purpose, the lantern was suspended from the muzzle of the gun, which was fired with the lantern in that position. A common lantern placed by the gun was immediately extinguished by the concussion of the first discharge, while the new lantern remained steady during fourteen successive discharges, when it was extinguished by the united effects of the concus sion and the great vibratory motion it obtained.

New mode of producing heat.Mr. Rutter, already known as the author of a treatise on Gas Lighting, has obtained a patent for a new method of producing heat, which is certainly one of the most useful discoveries of modern science. The principal ingredient employed for fuel in this new process, is water! The only material required besides, is something in a liquid form which contains a large portion of carbon ; whale oil, tar, or almost anything of a similar kind will answer the purpose. As these materials are introduced into the furnace simul. taneously and in combination with each other, the one yields its carbon, while the other gives out its hydrogen, and a small portion of atmospheric air is the only thing that is then required to keep them

in a state of perfect combustion. The flame thus produced is so completely under management, that in one second it can be reduced or augmented as occasion may require. It is almost unnecessary to add, that it yields no smoke, and consequently the hideous funnel now used in steam packets may be laid aside. But the greatest advantage of all is, that steam navigation may henceforth be employed in cases, where, till now, it was altogether impracticable. A vessel may be so constructed as to take on board, without inconvenience, a supply of fuel which would enable her to circumnavigate the globe.

Communication with America by Steam. The Royal William, steamer, of 180-horse power, has recently arrived at London from Quebec. On her way she touched for fuel at Picton, in Nova Scotia, where she obtained, at 15s. per chaldron, coal raised on the spot, the quality of which is pronounced by the engineers on board to be superior for generating steam even to our English coal. From Picton, she came direct to Cowes in seventeen days. The distance is about 2,500 miles, and, therefore, this voyage is not instanced for its speed, which was not the particular object of the vessel on this occasion, but it proves three important facts: First That there is no more difficulty in conveying the mails by steam to our North American possessions, than to our dependencies in and about the Mediterranean, for which service steam-packets are used. Secondly-That the nine weeks' post-office average allowance for the sailing packets to and from Halifax, might, by the adoption of steam, be reduced to a regular passage of five weeks out and

home.

Thirdly That, for the supply of the steam packets to our North American possessions, there exist, in our colony of Nova Scotia, coal-mines yielding excellent fuel for the purpose at a cheap rate.

Blasting Rocks under Waler by means of the Diving Bell.-Three men are employed in the divingbell; one holds the jumper, or boring-iron, which he keeps constantly turning; the other two strike alternately quick smart strokes with hammers. When the hole is bored of the requisite depth, a tin cartridge, filled with gunpowder, about two inches in diameter, and a foot in length, is inserted, and sand placed above it. To the top of the cartridge a tin pipe is soldered, having a brass screw at the upper end. The diving-bell is then raised up slowly, and additional tin pipes with brass screws are attached, until the pipes are about two feet above the surface of the water. The man who is to fire the charge is placed in a boat close to the top of the tube, to the top of which a piece of cord is attached, which he holds in his left hand; having in the boat a brasier, with small pieces of iron red hot, he drops one of them down the tube, this immediately ignites the powder, and blows up the rock. A small part of the tube next the cartridge is destroyed; but the greater part, which is held by the cord, is reserved for future service. The workmen in the boat experience no shock; the only effect is a violent ebullition of the water, arising from the explosion; but those who stand on the shore, and upon any part of the rock connected with those blowing up, feel a very strong concussion. The only difference between the mode of blasting rock at Howth