of ornament), and to the intentions of Govern The Government School of Besign. ment and Parliament, and the amount of the THE "Special Committee of the Council of the Government School of Design" has at length published its report on the subjects which it was appointed to inquire into, in the shape of a very valuable statement, whether viewed in its relation to a Government institution, founded for the ostensible purpose of advancing decorative knowledge, or as a criterion by which to judge of our present progress; for where the fountain-head is impure, the stream flowing from it can hardly be expected to be healthy. With regard to the school, complaint is made, "That the principles of ornament, and the practice of original design as applicable to manufactures, are not efficiently taught." And, "That a knowledge of manufacturing processes, so as to enable the students to unite fitness and practicability in ornament, is not communicated." funds devoted to this purpose, we think that we should endeavour to devise and carry into effect a systematic and complete course of instruction, which should embrace the theory and principles of ornamental design (including the history and explanation of the different styles), and the application of those principles to the various kinds of manufacture, to the end that the power of making original designs may be acquired by the pupil, and may be exercised by him, whilst in the school." With respect to the director, whether he serves under that or any other designation, the committee esteem the services of an indi-" vidual in his situation indispensable; and in order to meet any objections that may be raised upon the part of the masters to serving in a subordinate rank, the committee recommend that their duties should be accurately defined, and that the director should have no power of interference with them in the management of their classes; but by reserving all such interference to an instruction committee, and by allowing the masters to communicate freely and directly with such instruction committee, and also to report respecting their classes and their own branches of instruction, to the council. The committee also state that they "approve of the principle, that the masters to whom classes are entrusted should each have the full credit of success of his class, and the discredit. of failure." SINGULAR DISCOVERY IN MISSISSIPPI.-The There are, also, several others made, chiefly concerning the economy and arrangements of the school, some of which we append, namely; "That in consequence of the space occupied by the elementary classes, there is not sufficient accommodation for painting." "That there is not sufficient accommodation for modelling, and none for casting.' "That the collection of works of art, and books of prints, belonging to the school, are, from inaccessibility, and want of the means of reference, by descriptive catalogues, of less use to the students than ought to be the case." "That the directorship is a barrier between the council Louisville Journal, says "In the southand the masters; prevents a direct communi- western part of Franklin County, Mississippi, cation of the masters with the council, and the there is a platform or floor composed of hewn prompt application of remedies to incon- stone, neatly polished, about three feet under veniences complained of; thus diminishing ground. It is about 108 feet long, and 80 feet their sense of responsibility, by depriving wide. It extends due north and south, and them of the credit of success, or discredit of failure, with the classes entrusted to them." "That, under the present arrangements, the council is burthened with the management of many official and financial details, which might be left wholly to some official person, reserving the time of the council for the consideration of the more important matters relating to the general arrangements of the school, its main objects, and the best mode of carrying them out." its surface is perfectly level. The masonry is said to be equal, if not superior, to any work of modern times. The land above it is cultivated; but thirty years ago it was covered with oak and pine trees, measuring from two to three feet in diameter. It is evidently of very remote antiquity, as the Indians who reside in the neighbourhood had no knowledge of its existence previous to its recent discovery; nor is there any tradition among them from which we may form any idea of the object of the There is one circumstance mentioned in the work, or of the people who were its builders. report that sadly requires remedy, namely, There is also a canal and well connected with "That a large proportion of the students it, but they have never been explored. Furreceive instruction only in elementary draw-ther explorations may throw some light upon ing, and, consequently, that an expensive its origin.' class of masters are employed, especially in the morning school, in that elementary instruction, instead of in teaching the higher branches of art." OVENS IN DWELLING-HOUSES.-A correspondent of the Builder draws attention to the impositions practised by many bakers, and The committee recommend several plans; suggests that every six houses, built in future, but we think the one contained in the fol- should have a bread oven for the use of the inlowing paragraph will best serve us for ex-habitants alternately, one day in the week. A tract:-" Having regard copper for brewing might be added. to the principal object for which the School of Design was instituted (the teaching of design with a view to the improvement of those branches of manufacture which are susceptible * * ELECTRO-GILDING STEEL PENS.-It has been suggested to us that, if steel pens were electrogilt, it would prevent corrosion, and, consequently, materially extend their durability. water, then with verdigris, ammoniac, and finished by decoction in a liquor compoundedof quick lime steeped in rain-water, strained, and to every pint an ounce of Brazil wood added. In this decoction the ivory is to be boiled till sufficiently red. Z.-We have so much upon our hands already, that it would be impossible to comply with your request at present. We will, however, in a short period, do so. S.-The part of the work you mention is out of print; but we have a complete volume left for sale at the office for eight shillings. To a correspondent (from Glasgow) who, under the signature "Isaac," wishes for some practical information on the art of photography, we beg, for the present, to reply that it is our intention, in future numbers of the DECORATOR'S ASSISTANT, to furnish complete practical instructions for obtaining photographic impressions, and for the management of the necessary apparatus. To the inquiry in his postscript "Whether we intend to devote much of our work to ornament, and to the decorations more particularly required by house-painters?" we answer in the affirmative. THE VICTORIA LOBBY OF THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.-At the south end of the House of Lords is the Queen's hall or lobby, communicating, still further southward, with the Victoria gallery and the robing room. A. This apartment is one of the three finished. The decorations are very rich; carving, gild-R. ing, and colours uniting, as in the House of Lords and the peers' lobby, to produce a brilliant effect. The ceiling is panelled by the intersection of moulded beams; the ground is rich blue, on which are painted quatrefoils, containing the quarters of the royal arms surrounded by gilt crowns; the mouldings of the ceiling are painted subdued gold colour, partly gilt, and the foliage bosses are illuminated in colour. The upper part of the walls are covered temporarily with a maroon stuff pow-W. dered with roses and crowns, in panels, but is intended for painting. The wall, to two-thirds By Cross Multiplication, of its height, is panelled with wainscot, finishing with an enriched cornice and battlement; in the frieze are blazoned the shields of the succession of sovereigns from William the Conqueror to the Queen; the upper range of the panelling is intended for paintings of figures on gold ground, and is now hung with a paper in imitation of leather hangings. The archway on the left opens nto the Victoria gallery; that on the right is immediately behind the throne.-The Builder. The new Roman Catholic church in St. George's-fields, by Pugin, has been advertised as open to the public. Notices to Correspondents. GENERAL NOTICE.-In reply to numerous correspondents, we beg to state that, in addition to much other valuable information, practical articles will appear from time to time on Architecture, Building, Furnishing, Cabinet Making, Joinery, Carpentry, Masonry, Bricklaying, Plastering, Painting, Plumbing, Glazing, SignPainting, Slating, Tiling, Bridges, Gates, Fences, Garden Architecture, Road Making, Engineering, Calico Printing, Ornamental Iron-Work, Carving, Pottery, Gold and Silver Working, Jewellery, Cutlery, Chasing, Engraving, Bookbinding, Ornamental Glass-Cutting, Paper-Staining, and House Painting and Decoration. These articles will be illustrated in the first style of art, and every other means taken by which to retain those flattering opinions already passed upon the DECORATOR'S ASSISTANT by its Subscribers and the Public Press. We shall be happy to oblige any Correspondent with any information he may desire to possess. Letters to be prepaid, and addressed to the "Editor of the DECORATOR'S ASSISTANT," 17, Holywell street, Strand. A LOVER OF ART.-Upon receipt of your letter, we wrote to W. R. Deverell, Esq., the secretary of the Government School of Design, for the required information, and that gentleman returned for answer that you had better call upon him at Somerset-house, when he will supply you with all that you desire to know. W. T. (Manchester).-Smith's "Art of House-painting" is a very good book; but there are some excellent works lately published, which any bookseller would procure for you. We will treat on house-painting in all its branches. See "General Notice." A. O. Z.-To stain ivory red, is begun by boiling it in alum OONT. ft. in. 5 3 long. 5 3 19 3 03 1 7 3 0 20 10 3 0 First Example. By Decimals. ft. 5.25 1.8333 1575 1575 1575 4200 525 9.624825 57748950 57748950 57748950 9624825 19249650 20.8531458450 20ft. 10in. 4. Gothic or Pointed. ARC, any part of the circumference of a circle. (See "Definitions," in " First Steps to Geometry," DECORATOR'S ASSISTANT, page 14, ante.) ARCH, an aperture formed of bricks or stones of a wedge-like tendency, by which it is adapted to resist perpendicular and lateral pressure, so as to support the edifice built over it. An opening in a bridge through or under which the water or vessels pass. A concave ceiling or floor of any material or on any principle of construction. A tunnel or excavation. The following are illustrations of some of the various forms of arches at present in use. 1. Elliptical. 5. Straight. (To be continued.) IRON-WORK IN MASONRY.-The failures attendant upon employing iron cramps in masonry are too well-known to require any lengthened remarks. Sir Christopher Wren forbade the use of them when exposed to the air, but permitted them if within nine inches of air (See Parentalia, p. 286). The writer, however, is of opinion that they ought not to be resorted to at all, and he regrets to find among architects of the present day, their constant employment. When he constructed the domes to the turrets of the wings of the National Gallery, in Trafalgar-square, neither iron cramps, nor iron chain bars or cross bars were used, nor were they in the bell-turret of the Temple Church, recently built by him. The stones were so worked, that when placed in their several positions, they overlapped each other (and in such a manner as to prevent the rain from penetrating), forming a continuous band from the bottom to the top; the finial was then put on, which completed the spire, forming a key-stone and tie to all. He was not aware of a stone dome being so constructed before; he believed that the chain bar or cross bar was always used.-From a Paper by Mr. Mallcott. NEW MOTIVE POWER.-Mr. Fox Talbot has taken out a patent for a new plan for generating and applying motive power, by exploding gun-cotton alternately on each side of a piston. At the bottom of the cylinder, on each side, are two circular holes, in which the explosive material is supplied by a tubular slide. Passing through the cylinder is a platina wire, for the purpose of being excited by the galvanic battery, and thus exploding the cotton. Restorations in Takely Church. Review. On the Resistance of the Atmosphere to Railway Trains, and a Means of Lessening the same; together with an Account of some Improvements in Railway Carriage Axles. By H. Bessemer, C. E. London: Weale. Want of space has prevented our noticing this work before the present time. It is a small quarto work of some sixteen pages, very prettily got up, and containing, for its brevity, body should be in possession of. We cannot a vast fund of useful information, which every THERE has been from time immemorial in the parish church of Takely a beautiful font cover, carved in oak, of pyramidal form and elegant proportions, but which, from the lapse of time and neglect, had become much mutilated, and for a long period had been defaced by a thick coating of red paint. This interesting relic is a specimen of the florid gothic style, ornamented with three tiers of niches, rising above each other, and terminating with a beautiful finial. Each niche is surmounted by a canopy of elaborate open tracery work, and adorned with a profusion of pinnacles, crockets, and do more in this place than give a very imfinials. Flying buttresses, of light and airy portant hint, which, we doubt not, will be character, separate the niches from each acceptable to our readers. In remarking upon other. By the care of the late respected vicar, the atmospheric resistance offered to railway the Rev. Charles Clarke, it has been restored, trains, Mr. Bessemer touches upon a point to and is now worthy the inspection of every namely, the custom of heaping luggage on the which, hitherto, no attention has been paid, lover of ecclesiastical architecture. By an ingenious contrivance, the cover is raised or tops of carriages:-"Take, for example," says depressed at will. The counterpoise of a very length by one foot high, presenting a surface our author, a portmanteau three feet in large weight, concealed above the ceiling, is of three superficial feet: at thirty miles per hung by spectacle pullies, from which two hour this gives a resistance of 13.5lbs., and, chains, running through the weight, are affixed to the finial of the cover; this is assuming that 10lbs. will draw a ton, we have locked to the font, but as soon as detached by equal to a weight of 2,880lbs. inside the cara resistance caused by this single portmanteau the turn of a key, it rises immediately to a certain height, and is as easily brought down riage! And if we apply this rule to express when required. There being also in the church trains, moving at sixty miles per hour, the a large quantity of antique carved oak panel- resistance increasing as the square of the ling, having tracery of the same character as velocity, we have 2,880-2x2.11, 520lbs., or the font cover, and which had long been cast little more than five tons, as the equivalent load inside the carriage.' In order to do aside as useless lumber, the Rev. Charles Clarke and the churchwardens wisely deter- away with the necessity of the practice, Mr. mined on having the old, rough, and deform- Bessemer proposes an invention he has made, ing paint removed, and the broken work consisting of "a hood or covering of leather, restored. With these, the pulpit has been gutta percha, or any other like flexible and embellished, and a reading-desk formed; and durable material, similar to the hood of a by the removal of some most unsightly pews, at both ends of the carriage, answers the britska or hooded chaise," which, being fitted room was made for a series of open benches, double purpose of filling up the interstices having decorated ends, richly moulded; these also have been constructed out of the old between the carriages, and of conveniently panelling before referred to. The pulpit was stowing away the luggage. originally octagonal, but there being only five forth in the title-page, we confidently recomAs an able treatise on all the subjects set panels left, it was carried back to an orna-mend this book to the notice of our readers. mented recess in the north wall, the beauty of which has only lately re-appeared by the jun., of Leather-lane, London, the patentee describes a mode of making ink rollers of vulcanised India-rubber, stretched upon metal end plates, with a centre passing through them, for the purpose of filling it with water to keep them cool. removal of a thick coat of whitewash. This NEW PRINTING ROLLER.-In the specifirecess is in the Tudor, or late perpendicular cation of a patent recently taken out for a new style, square-headed, and ornamented with an lithographic printing press, by Mr. W. Smart, ogee arch, richly carved and adorned with tracery, crockets, and finials, the whole being surmounted by a battlement, with a hollow moulding beneath, in which are placed the Tudor rose and square flower, characteristic of this style. The whole of these alterations were designed and carried out by Mr. William Ollett, jun., wood and stone carver, of Norwich. Mr. Ollett's father is well known in the city of Norwich as a carver in wood, and particularly in ecclesiastical architecture. He was a candidate for a portion of the carved work in the new House of Lords.-Chelmsford Chronicle. MINERAL WEALTH OF THIS COUNTRY.-The annual value of the mineral produce of this country amounts to about £25,000,000. VULCANISED INDIAN-RUBBER. This important invention, appliances for which are increasing daily, promises many advantages which could never be obtained by the employment of caoutchouc in its natural state. It is prepared by dipping the material into a sulphuric mixture, by which means its elasticity, strength, and durability are increased to an unlimited extent. The cause is at present veiled to scientific research. We will, in a future number, enter more fully on the subject. |