club-houses. On the contrary, however, it is stamped by a species of littleness from which they at least the Reform, the Conservative, and the Carlton-are wholly free. For want of plans, we cannot determine the fact; but the building has the appearance of being intended only for private and secondary rooms -there being no indication externally of any state apartments on a scale befitting a royal palace. While the basement is cut up into two divisions-there being a mezzanine story with a series of very small windows over the ground floor-the upper part consists of two floors whose windows are very nearly alike in regard to size as well as design. In the former respect they do not exceed those in such modern private houses as form the Carlton-garden The archway of the marble arch, on the other Terraces. Setting aside the advantage of superior material, we_question whether the new building at the Palace will look at all more palace-like' than those colonnaded façades of Nash's. At any rate, it will not possess the same degree of continuity and the sort of grandeur thence derived; the front being divided into five decidedly distinct portions, that show like so many separate residences. This is a mode of treatment exactly the reverse of that which aims at combining a series of moderate-sized houses into one architectural ensemble.

like a mere line of street houses; nor could the architect, indeed, have kept much more strictly to one uniform line of frontage had he built in a street and been obliged to adhere to the regulations of the Paving Commissioners. Had he bethought him of retaining the marble archat least the general mass of that structureand incorporating it in his own building, that alone might have led to some happy and fresh ideas. No doubt, there would have been some difficulties to contend with-but all the greater would have been the merit of overcoming them. Compared with that arch, the new centre archway into the court will be positively mean-as well as badly proportioned;-very little better than that at the Horse Guards. hand, might have been made to look larger as a feature in the new façade than it did when placed in comparatively small insulated mass and standing in advance of the Palace. Nothing more, however, seems to have been thought of by the architect, or any one else, than merely providing the rooms required, and putting a decent sort of front' to them-the public being left to grumble when grumbling should be all they could do. Surely the parties must have felt some qualms of taste who affixed their signatures to such a design for the public façade of a royal metropolitan palace; a design totally destitute of all artistic qualitynot only without imagination, but prosaic in the extreme!"

"Not a single fresh idea has been brought to the subject; although it was one to exercise ingenuity and invention as well as taste-and even to call them forth-in no ordinary degree. The problem given to the architect was, we presume, to form towards the Park a grand THE CARPENTERS' AND JOINERS' SHORT-TIME public façade which should forcibly express on MOVEMENT.-It is truly gratifying to observe that side at least the dignity of a royal palace the manner in which the carpenters and -and thereby obliterate the littleness and tri- joiners of the metropolis have obtained their viality of Nash and George the Fourth. If, on object with regard to working half-days on the other hand, merely increased accommo- Saturdays without having any recourse to that dation was the thing to be chiefly studied destructive system of settling matters like this -and of other study we perceive no signs-it which seems to be all the vogue in the prosurely would have been better to erect the new vinces. Brighter prospects would appear to range of building elsewhere; perhaps as a be dawning, when we find a numerous body of continuation northwards of the garden front artisans peacefully and respectfully soliciting a (set back a little from the line of it)-where it favour instead of demanding it; and we must would have been in immediate communication say that it reflects great credit on the masters with the present private apartments. Though who so readily granted it. On Tuesday, the it may not be any particular disadvantage, it 7th instant, a monster banquet, at which 700 cannot, at any rate, be an improvement, as journeymen carpenters and joiners partook of regards the rooms towards the front court, that a substantial dinner and its accompaniments, they should have the Park shut out from their took place in the large room at Cremorne view. If there really was no alternative from Gardens, in celebration of the event, the chair building towards the Park, the utmost consi- being taken, shortly after two o'clock, by Mr. deration should have been bestowed on the Bates, when the numerous company comdesign-since assuredly it will be jealously menced operations on the good things procriticised by-and-bye, and there will be nothing vided by Mr. Ellis, the caterer of the feast. to screen it from close examination. As far as The healths of the Messrs. Cubitt, Messrs. public opinion is concerned, sufficient warning Grissell and Peto, Mr. Baker, and of the other had been given by the unsparing condemnation hundred master builders who had entered into of the edifice in its original state-and it has the agreement, were drank with enthusiastic probably been taken for granted that, in conse- cheers; and the company, after breaking up, quence of such general condemnation, care were joined by their wives and families, and would be observed that the new building should partook of the usual amusements of the make amends; presenting in its principal- evening. Nothing could be more orderly or indeed, only public-front a degree of grandeur more gratifying than the whole of the prosuited to the residence of the Sovereign. The ceedings. disappointment will be in proportion to such

certainly not unreasonable-expectation.

A MIXTURE FOR TAKING CASTS FROM

"We have said that the new façade will look MEDALS.-Melt eight ounces of sulphur over

a gentle fire, and mix with it a small quantity of fine vermilion; stir it well together, and it will dissolve like oil; cast it into the mould (which must be made of pipe-clay or putty well oiled). When cool, the figure may be touched over with a little sulphuric acid, and it will assume the appearance of coral.

Notices to Correspondents.

Part IV. of the DECORATOR'S ASSISTANT, in an embellished Wrapper, is now ready, price Sevenpence. Parts I. and II. still continue on sale. In consequence of the great and increasing demand for the Back Numbers of the DECORATOR'S ASSISTANT, Subscribers are respectfully requested to complete their Sets without delay.

We beg to thank those Correspondents who have pointed out omissions in the "Illustrated Glossary of Technical Terms used in Architectural and Interior Decoration," now publishing in this Work, and also to inform them that such will be inserted in an Appendix, which we intend to give at the end. We shall, also, feel obliged by Correspondents favouring us with any corrections, additions, &c.

NOTICE TO OUR READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.-The article on "Varnishes," now publishing in the DECORATOR'S ASSISTANT, being intended to be rendered as complete as possible, such of our Readers as may be in possession of information or receipts, will confer a favour on us by forwarding them, and at the same time assist in disseminating useful knowledge, for which, at present, no other channel exists.

QUERIES.

[In order to collect as much useful information as possible, we have determined on devoting a portion of our space to the insertion of Queries which may be interesting to many of our Readers; at the same time we must intimate that the replies should be as brief as possible, without incroaching on their completeness.-EDITOR DECORATOR'S ASSISTANT.]

Required-I. The colours used, and the method of mixing, for painting those window-blinds like stained glass, as also the nature and preparation of the material upon which they are executed. 2. With regard to the polish in imitation of carved ivory given to plaster casts, would not white wax melted with pale drying oil and sugar of lead, so as to ensure its drying, well-thinned with a little turpentine, answer better than the process mentioned in reply to "J. S.," in page 120, ante? AJAX.-[We have not time to make the experiment with regard to the second query, and therefore we should feel obliged, should any of our correspondents do so, by their communicating the result. -ED.]

Required-The method of taking portraits, &c., from nature by means of that branch of photography called calotype.

LE PENSE PLUS.

these being ground down together with hot size, three layers are applied, the one after the other has dried, being cautious not to put any into the cavities of the work to hide the yellow; the brush for this must be a soft one; and when very dry, it must be gone over again with a stronger! brush. The next thing is gilding: you first take a pencil moistened, and wet part of it over with water; then with a squirrel's tail fitted with a handle, take the leaf off and lay it gently on the wet part, then another part, and so on. Sometimes the leaf cracks in laying it on; these breaches must be made up with small bits of leaf taken up with a pencil, and the whole to be smoothened over with the same pencil, which must be a very fine one; any little defects may afterwards be mended with shell-gold. The last operation is applying the vermeil (a composition of gum, guttæ, vermilion, and ruddy brown, ground and mixed up with Venetian varnish and oil of turpentine) in all the little lines and cavities of the frame.-Yours obediently, CHAS. CLARKE, Nottingham.

process

GILDING ON GLASS.-Sir,-" W. M." requiring the
of gilding on glass, I forward the following, which will, I
think, answer his purpose:-First, well clean the glass to
be operated upon, and then apply thinly a size prepared by
dissolving a quantity of amber or copal in its own weight
of boiled linseed oil, adding a sufficiency of oil of turpen-
tine. When this is done, the glass must be placed in an
oven until quite heated. Then take it out and apply leaf-
gold in the ordinary manner, sweeping off any superfluous
gold. The gold may be burnished when the article be-
comes quite cold by placing a piece of Indian paper
between it and the burnisher.-Yours truly, MERCATOR,
Woolwich.

DRAWING GLASS STOPPERS FROM DECANTERS.-Sir,-
In answer to "D. T." (Chelsea), I beg to state that,
knocking it gently, first on one side and then on the other,
will generally loosen the stopper; but if this should fail,
wet a cloth with hot water, and apply it to the neck, which
will be the means of expanding it.-Yours obediently,
GOLD AND SILVER INKS.-Sir,-Both gold and silver inks
JAMES MACKENZIE, Newington.
are prepared in the same manner, the only difference being
in the nature of the metals, therefore I will merely mention
the method of making the first-named:-Take of honey
aud gold-leaf equal parts, and grind together upon a por-
phyry slab with a muller until the gold is reduced to the
finest possible state of division, and the mass becomes per-
fectly homogeneous, when it must be agitated with twenty
or thirty times its weight of hot water, and then allowed
to settle and the water poured off. This process must be
repeated with fresh water two or three times, when the
gold must be dried, and thin gum-water added to the
powder, when it is fit to write with.-Your humble servant,
J. R. L., Croydon.

A PRACTICAL DECORATOR (Newcastle-upon-Tyne).-The
acanthus mollis, but the architectural ornament is widely
dissimilar to the plant as it exists in nature. This will
account for the fact you mention:

AJAX.-To your first question, by boiling. The others you
will see we have put in another place.
JOHN STEPHENS (Manchester).-Your
absurd to allow even of a reply.

proposition is too

W. M.-We have only received one letter of inquiry from
you on the subject of writing in gold on glass, which we
placed among the "Queries" last week, and which you
will find answered in the present number. Your other
question respecting colouring will shortly be answered in
an article on enamelling. With regard to the latter portion
of
your letter, your supposition seems both hasty and
flippant. If you had any suspicion of the sort, why pay the
penny instead of affixing a stamp, when the latter would
have insured its safety?

Our Glasgow correspondent is thanked for his flattering
opinion of the DECORATOR'S ASSISTANT. The book on
housepainting which he inquires about is of an octavo size,
published by Simpkin and Marshall, London, price 18.
TO SIGN-PAINTERS, &c.-Designs for Letters, Ornaments,
&c., made, and, if necessary, engraved, on the most
reasonable terms, with punctuality and despatch. For
particulars, &c., address (if by letter, post paid) to Mr.
Wm. Gibbs, Ornamental Draughtsman and Engraver,
at the DECORATOR'S ASSISTANT Office, 17, Holywell-
street, Strand, London.

ANSWERS TO QUERIES. GILDING PICTURE-FRAMES. Sir,-In answer to "An Amateur," I beg to state that the frame should first be well covered with preparatory size, mixed with a sufficient quantity of the best glue, laid on hot with a short bristled brush, and then painted eight or ten times over with a mixture of white paint and size with a stiff brush. When thoroughly dry, rub the frame over with pieces of coarse linen. The next thing to be done is to colour it with yellow ochre, well ground and sifted, and mixed up with size; the colour is to be laid on hot; and in works of London : Published at the Office of the SPORTING sculpture supplies the place of gold, which sometimes LIFE, 17, Holywell-street, Strand (where all commucannot be carried into all the cavities of foliages and orna-nications to the Editor are to be addressed); and to be had ments. Another layer is applied over the above, composed of all Booksellers.-Saturday, September 18, 1847. of Armenian bole, blood-stone, black-lead, and a little fat: Printed by W. COOLE, Lumley Court, Strand.

CHEF D'EUVRE (from the French), a master

or window jamb. To indent or channel the piece. ornamented portions of a building.

CHAMPAIN LINE, in ornamental carved work formed of excavations, is the line parallel to the continuous line, either ascending or descending.

CHAUDRY, a sort of store-room for torches, candles, &c., in palaces.

CHANNEL, a part in the Ionic capital, somewhat hollow, under the abacus, after the listel; it lies upon the echinus, having its contours, or turnings, upon each, to make the volutes.

CHANNEL-STONES, stones having a semi

CHEVRON, OF ZIGZAG (in architecture), a gothic ornament.

CHIMNEY, a passage or flue through which the smoke ascends from the fireplace.

CHIMNEY-PIECE, an ornamental projection

circular channel laid down in gutters, &c.

CHARGED, a term used to imply that one piece of architecture is sustained by another; thus, a frieze is said to be charged by the ornament with which it is covered.

over a fireplace, formed of wood, cement, or

CHARACTER, the form of a building, or the marble.

No. 19.-VOL. I.

ornamental termination of a flue, generally Brief Hints to Gas Consumers.

placed in clusters, called stacks, on the roof of properties, very dangerous accidents frequently a house.

RAILROADS IN NEW ENGLAND.-In 1818 there was not a single mile of railway in New England, with the exception of the stone quarries. Now eight hundred and fifteen miles of railroad have their termination in Boston alone.

out by each gas. The Argand burner, which a proper reverence to the simplicity of real admits the gas through a number of small beauty. While he (Lord Morpeth) must conholes, is the best species for perfect combus-gratulate both that town and the country at tion; but, which would hardly have been large upon the increase of that and similar imagined, it is found that these holes should be institutions, and while he had reason to be nearer together, and smaller, for oil gas than for coal gas. In any case, they should be so far apart, that the flame from each should just coalesce with that from the next. The gas produced from oil contains more carbon than that from coal; the light is in proportion to the quantity of carbon, and the same sized holes which completely consume the carbon of the coal gas, do not burn all that of the oil gas. It is consequently necessary that burners for oil gas should be made with smaller holes, and these holes should be closer together than those for coal gas.

pleased with the many symptoms multiplying around them of the increased attention which has been given to art, and the increased love of it which seems to prevail among the masses of our people, yet, they would find, generally, that there is scarcely any advantage, or any subject of congratulation not accompanied by some counteracting risk. Human tastes and wills are still more devious than the planets, and have not always the same regularity of centrifugal and centripetal forces to keep them in their course; so that we should, perhaps, find the mutiplication of Schools of Design and Art Unions, and similar institutions, have some of this counteracting risk attendant upon

Lord Morpeth on Schools of Design. them. He was happy to see an increasing

He

love of art among the people; but it was not the design of such institutions to make all the Ar the last annual meeting for the distribu-lovers of art artists. That was not the tion of prizes, at the Government School of scope and aim of such institutions. Design, Sheffield, the noble chairman (Lord admired the painting of portraits when in the Morpeth) said-addressing himself to the hands of such a noble artist as Titian. He more extensive and opulent manufacturers of admired the painting of landscapes, when in Sheffield on the advantages of such an institu- the hands of such an artist as Claude. But he tion to art in all its forms-that they may rest did not, on that account, wish all the pupils of assured that even the very humblest of their Schools of Design to occupy their time in workmen the men comprised among the class painting cauliflower-looking trees, or the which he was glad to find furnishes so many chubby and unmeaning faces of all their pupils to the institution-the anvil-makers, the relatives, The object of that society was to cabinet-makers, the joiners and builders, the make skilful designers, and not to turn out so carvers and gilders, the chasers and etchers, many finished ready-made Raphaëls and the die-sinkers, the coach-makers, the engra- Corregios. Though, at the same time, if these vers, the fork-makers, the gas-fitters, the glass- Raphaels and Corregios do exist, he thought it' painters, the masons, the modellers, the moul-no mean advantage that such institutions gave ders, the painters and decorators, the saw-them an opportunity of developing their hidden makers, the silversmiths, the surgical-instru- faculties, and of expanding them into the genial ment makers, and the type-founders,-it might light of public recognition and patronage. be depended upon that the very humblest of these, when he should be instructed in the MONUMENTAL BRASSES.-To the genealogist knowledge of drawing, and in the perception they afford authentic contemporary evidences; of form-when he should have acquired accu- to the herald they furnish examples of the racy of outline, and correctness of taste and original usuages in bearing arms, and authorijudgment, would be able, even in the minutest ties in the appropriation and adjustment of portions of his work, by some apt touch, by badges and personal devices; the architect some ingenious finish, to give to the whole pro-here will find, in rich variety, the details and duction grace and attractiveness, which it accessories illustrative, as well of peculiar could not otherwise have acquired. They modes of arrangement and combination, as of would do well to guard themselves, he con- the distinctive characteristics of style and tinued, against the notion that expensiveness design; the chronologist hence may deduce is any necessary ingredient of excellence. authentic data to determine, with truly remarkIndeed, an excess of ornament often mars its able exactness, successive æras and epochs; own design, and a cumbrousness and super- the artist has before him original compositions, fluity of decoration often detract from that illustrating the early excellence, and then the very beauty, which is best attained by simpli-progressive though happily only temporary, city of form and of outline, and more by decline in the art, of such pre-eminent imporabstinence than by a superabundance of tance, that of incision; to the general antidecoration in its details. As an illustration of quary, from the same source, widely diversified this, he might ask them merely to compare the information will accrue; the palæographer also outlines of such an artist as Flaxman, in his is hence enabled to fix the distinctive form of illustration of the "Iliad"-and those of them letter used at certain periods, together with the who were acquainted with classical literature prevalent peculiarities of contraction and would understand the allusion-compare the abbreviation, conformable, for the most part, Briseis of Flaxman with the Angel of Bernini to that which is found in legends depicted upon the severe simplicity of the one with the stained glass, in illuminations, or on engraved frippery and foppery of the other. Now, com-seals.-Boutell's "Monumental Brasses and parisons of this sort should teach them to pay | Slabs."