in themselves not of inelegant form, but so 'wanting all appearance of relation to any other part of the monstrous body and limbs, that, in * such association they were disgusting. The

८

figure was studded over, in formal lines, with what looked in substance like the eyes, but far 'smaller. They were in pairs, with something like a narrow bridge of a nose between every · two. Whether the monster had feet I could "not tell; but a multitude of claws showed themselves at the bottom of the robe, such as might belong to a gigantic milliped or caterpillar. Neither could I discover the exact con'nection of something like a fish's tail, extended to some distance toward Abingdon 'street, and then at length showing itself distinctly, bell-fashioned, with its hollow toward I was exceedingly surprized to see some ' handsome carriages, with coronets painted on 'them, stop at this most uninviting hole, and some "welldressed men, of all ages, alighting from 'them, go into it. supposed the monster,

us.

Some bystanders said they having no mouth, might

But I was again sur

3

'take its food that way. prized to see some equally welldressed men come out of the hole, and go away in similar 'carriages, without any appearance of injury to their persons, or even of slime or other daubing on their clothes. Many men, and some women, and some children, were about, mostly re

gardless of the monster, some viewing and talking of it, but none showing any sign of ' fear.

The bishop and Jones and myself observed it some time before it seemed to notice us " more than others. At length however, casting a glance at Jones, it immediately became infu⚫riate, and I thought would have demolished him

with a stroke of its vast club. But, the bishop then catching its eye, its countenance instantly ⚫ changed; it seemed as if it would solicit pardon for having proposed violence to one of his company; and, though with now and then an eye of malice toward Jones, it manifested to'ward the bishop a fawning servility. Wickham gave it a stern look of disdain. The monster exhibited, in various ways, extreme eagerness to court his favor; but, meeting only demonstration of determined aversion, it began to 'show an alarming vexation. Its claws assumed 'threatening attitudes; not indeed against Jones himself, whom the bishop held arm in arm; but one of them I saw extended, in an extraordinary manner, almost as far as the chapel at Whitehall; and it actually struck the Treasury, where Hans Holbein and lord Burlington were standing together. Holbein showed calmer indignation; but lord Burling'ton was in agony.

'I observed no disposition in the monster to

notice me, or any of the standing or passing 'crowd. But people said he would, at certain

times, put out innumerable small proboscides, with which he would filch money out of every body's pocket; and against this no distance gave security; but as he took only in proportion to every one's substance and in very small proportion, they would not mind it, if he was not so ugly, and if he had not such a mischievous. disposition toward such as Jones and Lord Burlington; nay, some supposed he had malice enough to knock down saint Paul's. He was

called, they said, the GENIUS of MODERN I was agitated and

GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE.

' awoke,'

1

LETTER XXVIII.

Old English Domestic Architecture.

THE land we live in,' that good old English festal expression of attachment to our country, carries a sentiment I believe as much felt in England, I am sure as justly, as in any part of the world. I say England, far from desiring to exclude Scotland and Ireland, but less undertaking to know Scotland and Ireland. Moreover Scotland has a different system of law; I suppose not better, because many Scotsmen have desired the English law in its stead; and yet I conclude not bad, because I know the country is highly flourishing. For Ireland I am farther at a loss. I remember my northern friend observing that English and Welsh and Scots are united under one good name, of good authority, for a description of all; but when we want to include that other portion of our fellow-countrymen of the United kingdom, the Irish, " What,' he asked, 'should we say? United kingdomites? Quaint 'cnough to be sure; but I never could learn

how to handle United kingdom.' Let this then be my excuse if I have used, or may use, the names England or English, as among

foreigners has always been common, to imply the United kingdom and all belonging to it.

"Every man's house is his castle" saith the English common law; meaning that there shall be equal general security, for person and property, in the frailest cottage as in the strongest fortress. The castle-gate must open, if the law requires; and only with similar warrant shall any dare to lift the cottage-latch against the owner's will. We owe surely not a little to our forefathers, who, aliké unbent by the vultus instantis tyranni,' and the

civium ardor prava jubentium,' a king at Whitehall, or a mob in common-hall, established that order of things, by which this is so advantageously distinguished among nations.

The style of sacred architecture, of the earliest known authors of our mixed blood, remains largely exhibited in massive relics, in various parts of our island, and especially in the rude magnificence of Stonehenge. What the domestic was, is intimated in the interesting narrative of their grand disturber, Julius Cæsar. When they had incircled a cluster of their habitations with a fortification of felled trees, he says, they called it a town. Such a town would have some analogy with the blockhouse-fort of our American colonies, and the more ordinary houses might perhaps resemble the Indian wigwam; differing from the Irish cabin of this day, principally because