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the Schools, so far from directing education, appears to divert it from its natural course; it opens the first class alike to men who neglect Mathematics for other studies, and other studies for Mathematics; and, with unhappy want of foresight, leaves each to pay most attention to the branch which he likes best, and therefore needs least.

These evils the proposed alteration is calculated to remedy; and it will be observed, that their reality and extent is independent of any such distinction as has been drawn between ancient and modern Mathematics. This may or may not be deemed subtle and refined, without affecting the necessity of such a change as shall give some Mathematics or other a part in education.

In conclusion, supposing it admitted that some portion of Mathematics should be introduced into the General Examination; a question may still arise as to the stress which should be laid on it. Of this persons will judge differently, as they attach more or less importance to the discipline of mind it affords; on such a point each of course will trust his own experience. The writer's belief is, that most persons engaged in education have had occasion to regret, in many of their pupils, a disinclination to these studies, which they had no means of overcoming; and he feels no doubt that the supposed incapacity for Mathematics in persons highly qualified for most other studies, is in reality little better than a fancy. With these impressions, he

would wish to see the first six books of Euclid considered indispensable to a first class; and would regard high attainments in the philosophy of Mathematics, just in the same light as great proficiency in logic or history.

A difficulty will of course suggest itself as to the selection of Examining Masters, which obviously arises from the bad system we have hitherto pursued; for in consequence of the disconnection between Mathematics and Classics, which has so long prevailed, we find very few persons at once qualified to judge of proficiency in both. Yet it will be observed, that this difficulty is of a temporary nature, and only partial extent. There are very few persons of any attainment who do not understand the six books of Euclid; and there is generally one at least on the board of Examiners who could appreciate much greater proficiency. So that Mathematical merit, even at present, would be liable to no other disparagement, than that which any other merit is occasionally exposed to, when it happens to be drawn out by an incompetent Examiner.

But to say more on a point of detail such as this, does not fall within the range of these considerations. Their object will have been sufficiently answered, if they assist the discussion of the two points, which have been principally dwelt on, viz: The expediency of opening the scholarships to all Under-graduates and of acknowledging Mathematics as a constituent subject of the General Examination.

CHURCH ARCHITECTURE'.

PART I.

It is well known, that previous to the introduction of the arch, the leading features of ornamental architecture exhibited a very remarkable similarity. In the caves of Elephanta, and the temples of Upper Egypt, we may discover almost all the leading characteristics of the classical remains in Greece

1 [These remarks on the history of the pointed arch, which are reprinted from the British Magazine of 1832, 1833, were originally read at one of the meetings of the Oxford Ashmolean Society on April 22, 1831, before the Author had met with Mr. Whewell's observations on the same subject, in his "Architectural Notes, &c." As both writers professedly derive their theory from the same source, (Archæol. vol. xvii. Art. 1.) there is of course much similarity of view between them. The principal differences are these: that the writer of these pages assumes without remark Mr. Saunders's opinion that Canterbury Cathedral was the first English building in which the pointed arch was used, which Mr. Whewell in a note, page 39, (ed. 2.) condemns as untenable; and that he derives it and the groinings from the unskilful attempts of Gothic architects to imitate skilful Roman models, but Mr. W. from an inability common to them and the Romans to construct the vaulting formed by the intersection of a cylinder and cylindroid. Mr. W. accordingly has been obliged to modify his theory, p. xxi. (ed. 2.) on finding that "this problem had been solved by the Roman masons,” a fact of which the Author was perfectly aware, and mentions, as in no way interfering with his hypothesis.]

and Sicily. The column, the capital, the architrave, and the cornice, appear very unequivocally in these early and curious relics; and the modifications which the different features afterwards underwent, are little more than what might be expected from the united influence of economy and skill; the one transferring men's attention from the magnitude of the materials to the quality of the workmanship; the other inducing them to seek for the greatest effect with the least expense of labour. Thus, in the progress of the art, we find the shaft of the columns gradually lengthened, and the capitals and cornices more elaborately worked; but no form was introduced which could claim to be a decided novelty.

Now, when we consider how remote from one another in time and situation were the persons in whose designs we trace such uniformity, it is inconceivable that an arrangement so universally adopted can have been merely arbitrary. It must in some way approve itself to uninstructed taste, from an inherent propriety,—a propriety belonging to it, not in common with other imaginable arrangements from which it has been selected, but as its distinguishing feature. And thus the respect we owe to such a composition as the Parthenon, cannot fairly be measured by the impression it produces on our own minds. Its claims on our admiration are, not only what we feel them to be, very great, but in a manner exclusive. We see in it the perfection of a very ancient system-the most

polished specimen of an arrangement, which, as far as experience goes, may be called the natural one.

It was not till after this high refinement had been attained in the ancient style, that the principle of the arch was discovered. Here, then, a new element was all at once introduced, just at the time when its introduction seemed precluded. Every thing had been settled without reference to it. What place remained for it to occupy in a system which had been completed?

It will be the object of the following remarks to trace the process by which this introduction was effected, and the modifications which the previous arrangement underwent, as the arch gradually found its proper place, and was at last completely blended with the architectural system.

It is obvious, at first sight, that such modifications must be very considerable, and that, under the most favourable circumstances, to effect them must be a work of time. As a matter of fact, they were not perfected in less than twelve centuries, dating from the first application of the arch on a large scale at Rome, to the time when it assumed its proper place in architecture in Salisbury cathedral. However, we must not suppose that the process of adjustment occupied the whole of this period. The interval between the Augustan and dark ages may be considered as entirely lost in a hopeless attempt, which led to no results. The time from which the beginning of a new system

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