Sod or earth might serve, but the superiority of stone was obvious. Stone, accordingly we find, was very early used; and probably the art of Masonry originated in the construction of altars.

Where the art of Masonry was known, and stone of any advantageous quality for its purposes could be readily procured, that material could not fail to be preferred to wood, for both CIVIL and MILITARY architecture. Stone failing, if bricks could be had, they would be next in preference: timber would be the lowest resource.

But, for MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE, while letters, if known, were little extensively cultivated, stone had no equal superiority. Wood was a material abounding with disadvantage. Earth, in one important quality, its incorruptibility, was greatly preferable: if heaped in a form adapted to duration, it would hold that form for ages. Where letters were unknown, and art for representation in sculpture failed, the monumental barrow, of simply heaped earth, was as effective a memorial as a building of stone.

This rude kind of monumental architecture, of which instances are so numerous in various parts of our own country, not only has been very extensive over the world, but remained in common use, to times when arts were so advanced that we should hardly expect it. Not only, among the Greeks, in Homer's time, sepulchral monuments,

of even the most illustrious dead, were commonly of earth, or of stones rudely heaped together, but Herodotus furnishes an instance of the practice, among the wealthy and polite Persians, so late as the time of the invasion of Greece by Xerxes.

Nevertheless where the arts were in any degreecultivated, and where leisure was found, stone would be preferred for every kind of monument. The earliest instance on record, what appears to have been, not indeed properly of a building, but a first step in the progress toward monumental architecture, is the erection of a stone by Jacob, as a pillar, in commemoration of his dream concerning the way from earth to heaven. The first sepulchral monument noticed is that of Rachel; styled also a pillar, and raised also by Jacob.

The rude barrow of earth or heaped stones, appears to have been the leading step toward the construction of the pyramid; which is in truth but a barrow, of superior material and higher art. Those magnificent early monuments in Egypt, which so excite the admiration, of the traveller on the spot, and of all in description, now scarcely more tell their story than Silbury hill, or any other barrow of Salisbury plain.

LETTER II.

Gratification of the mind through the eye, the object of a second class of Principles of Design in Architecture.Connection and Discord of the Useful with the Beautiful and the Picturesk,

YOUR approbation of my outset, reserving your criticism, as you kindly say you do, for time when I may have farther explained myself, sufficiently encourages me to proceed.

The First Principle of all architecture, we have observed, is UTILITY. But this first essential and characteristical purpose, in the several kinds of building, being attained, the mind of man would soon begin to look farther; for, though woman may be eminently, yet she is not alone the ornament-loving animal. Nor surely is this disgraceful. On the contrary it is among the honorable privileges of reason; and then only becomes matter for reproach, as everything, good in moderation, will be, when carried to excess.

But the Greek word which, in the witty definition I have alluded to, has been commonly considered as meaning ornament, we know means also order, decency, the becoming, the graceful. May we not then be allowed to say that Man, including woman, is an order-loving and beauty-loving animal? Architecture, I think,

could not be carried far, before it would be observed, of forms, and proportions, and distribution of parts, in buildings, that some are generally pleasing, others displeasing; that some impress an idea of grandeur, others of meanness; that some partake of the beautiful, others of ugliness. Hence would arise a second Principle of Design in architecture: it would be desired, with the useful to connect the graceful, the splendid, the awful, and to avoid the offensive and the mean.

It has been questioned, among the learned and ingenious, Whether Utility has any essential connection with Beauty, or with picturesk effect? Gilpin, discussing the subject, has shown himself strongly inclined, though without complete decision, to say No. On the contrary Akenside

asks,

Can beauty dwell

Where health and active use are wanting?

That the useful however is often found directly thwarting both the picturesk and the beautiful seems obvious enough. Thus the cultivation of the soil, necessary for supplying the wants of mankind, is highly adverse to the beauty of landscape:

Juvat arva videre

Non rastris hominum, non ulli obnoxia curæ.

Ye, in the midst of their greatest hostility, will

I think, be found occasional truces and agreements; and, like warring mankind, they will show many marks of consanguinity, and derivation from one stock. The most picturesk of poets, as Gilpin I think justly calls him, appears to me to show, in the lines immediately following those just quoted, that he thought so:

Ipsæ Caucaseo steriles in vertice sylvæ

Quas animosi Euri assidue franguntque feruntque
Dant alios aliæ fœtus; dant utile lignum,

Navigiis pinos, domibus cedrosque cupressosque, &c.
Virg. Geor II. 443.

An unbalanced tree, even Gilpin has said, is offensive to the eye; the failure of balance, in its appearance, unqualifies it both for the beautiful and for the picturesk. But certainly the quality of Balance belongs to Use: it is essential where utility is the end. Belonging also to Grace and Picturesk effect, here is clearly a connection between the useful and, the graceful and picturesk.

If we look to animal life, the frequent connection of use and beauty is obvious, however any necessity for their connection may be questionable. Strength and speed rarely fail to accompany beautiful limbs and graceful proportions. It may seem as if this was intended by the bounty of heaven for the gratification of man, while it might also be useful to him in directing his choice among animals, his subjects. But it is observed, of the