grovelling, brutish character,-a character in which morality is effectually chilled or absolutely frozen. In many persons this perception is awakened by the exterior of society, particularly by the mode of building uncouth, mean, ragged, dirty houses, constituting the body of any town, will regularly be accompanied by coarse grovelling manners. The dress, furniture, mode of living, and manners will all correspond with the appearance of the buildings, and will invariably be, in every such case, of a vulgar and debased nature. The very fact that men see good houses built around them, will awaken in them a sense of superiority in those by whom such houses are inhabited. This, I believe, is the manner in which coarse society is first started towards improvement. All the arts of life have had their origin in some natural want, supplied, in the first instance, by every man for himself, till, with the progress of civilisation, from these wants sprang those desires and wishes which gave rise to that division of skill and labour in supplying them, which is one of the characteristics of civilised society.

The principles of architecture are recognised, though somewhat indefinitely, by all intelligent minds; but they are only clearly and distinctly understood by those who have studied the character and expression of each mode of structure, and have traced the several impressions of beauty and utility to their proper origin. The law of mind which gave birth to the simple forms of the triangle, the circle, and the square, gave to man the principles of architecture, and suggested' the form and proportion of the first structure that he erected for his convenience or pleasure, however rude may have been its appearance. The more ancient of the different manners of building have had their origin in certain rude types, called into operation in the first instance, by a natural want satisfying a bodily necessity, which led to the enjoyment of convenience and comfort, thereby bringing into exercise the first principles of order, arrangement, regularity, &c.

Ruskin says "Architecture is the art which so disposes and adorns the edifice raised by man, for whatsoever uses, that the sight of them contributes to his mental health, power and pleasure." If this be true, it is quite clear that there is an inseperable connection betwixt mind and matter. Every material object by which we are surrounded, imparts to us some vital element. Every object which we see, represents some principle by which our thoughts and actions are influenced and governed. We know that decayed matter will extend its poisonous effects according to the quantity which exists, and the situation in which it is placed. So, likewise, with principles; they influence and become a part of ourselves in proportion to the power which they exercise upon us.

Much of the evil which exists amongst the lower classes of society, may be clearly traced to the wretched dens of contagion and disease which are but too numerous in our own city. Low, damp, ill-arranged, and badly constructed dwellings, from which fever is scarcely ever absent. There is something startling in the fact, that in every large city or town there dwells a multitude of human beings, falling or fallen into the extreme of moral degradation and bodily destitution, living in dark, filthy houses, or crowded together in unventilated rooms or damp cellars, where the outward gloom is a type of the darkened mind, and where the child is trained amidst impure words, idleness, and the fumes of intemperance; and is thence sent forth to wander as a thief or a beggar. And this moral pestilence is not confined to those who actually live in it, but is continually present to those who imagine themselves far removed from its influence. It is dearly paid for in the support of the prisons, madhouses. and hospitals, which everywhere surronnd them, and sometimes in the ravages of contagious diseases which visit all equally, the rich and the poor, the generous and the selfish.

Mr. Charles Dickens eloquently writes, "O, for a

good spirit, who would take the housetops off with a more potent hand than the lame demon in the tale, and show a christian people what dark shapes issue from amidst their homes, to swell the retinue of the destroying angel as he moves forth among them; for only one night's view of the pale phantom rising from the scenes of our too long neglect, and from the thick and sullen air where vice and fever propagate together, raining the tremendous social retributions which are ever pouring down, and ever coming thicker! Bright and blest the morn which should rise on such a night, for men delayed no more by stumbling-blocks of their own making, which are but specks of dust upon the path between them and eternity, would then apply themselves like creatures of one common origin, owning one duty to the Father of one family, and tending to one common end, to make the world a better place." It would, indeed, be a happy and a wise legislation ir our ruling powers were seriously and earnestly to set about improving the condition of the poorer classes, by enacting laws for the better construction of tenements and cottages. The dwellings of the working classes, generally speaking, afford the worst possible. conditions for the growth of domestic comfort. The abodes of thousands are hovels rather than homes. It would be difficult to paint in colours sufficiently vived, the influence of such homes upon their domestic condition. It is impossible for refinement to flourish there Spiritual impressions gained abroad are sure to be effaced by the coarseness which holds sway under the parental roof. Neatness and order are unknown in these miserable and overcrowded dwellings; modest reserve is impracticable; delicacy of feeling is destroyed; grossness of manner and language,-the consequence of a mode of life which admits of no retirement, seclusion, and meditation becomes the habit of childhood, and prepares the mind for vicious intercourse in future years. None of the comforts of home are there; none of its softening, purifying influences;

and can we wonder if, from such sinks of filth and immorality come forth, if they are spared by epidemic disease, the scandals and pests of society, the mendicant, the drunkard, and the thief.

The question naturally arises, why have we not a better style of domestic architecture, not only as regards design, but for comfort and convenience ? It is clearly because the entire execution of such work is left to men who have no object whatever but that of self-interest, based on the narrowest view, and the calculation of the immediate moment. In the very cases where the professional element, and the professional character and qualifications are most wanted, they are dispensed with. It is the interest of the public to consult, in the first instance most frequently, the architect rather than the builder as now; and not to suppose that the architect's qualifications may be, in an indirect way, obtained, and that the object of of progress in art and structural science, can be answered by the speculating builder. For is it quite clear that insufficient drainage, want of ventilation, and the very bad internal arrangement which characterise many of the houses built at the present day, exist from this very cause; and, unfortunately, the consideration with the majority who build cottage property, is not the well-arranged and beautifullydesigned dwelling, but rather the number of places called houses, that can be erected for a stipulated sum. Probably estimates are secured from a few builders, and, invariably, the lowest tender is accepted.

And here we have a bad principle at work, which operates powerfully on all classes of society, clearly shewing the tendency of the age in which we live, Every part of the work, from the getting out and the laying in of the foundation, to the completion of the building is jobbed or done in the very worst manner, and with bad material; so that the owner finds, that instead of realising a per centage on the outlay more than that is required for repairs. The principle is bad

to begin with. You provide only what will satisfy hard necessity, and scarcely that. Everything in the worst manner, and of the worst kind; and the occupiers are subject to the evils arising from this condition of things, and cannot help themselves. Examine for a moment the small low rooms provided, particularly the bed-rooms, which ought to be loftier at all events than the others. Can you wonder that drunkenness is so prevalent among the people, when you consider that in these houses they are deprived of that element so essential to health, namely, air. That during sleep, for example, they breathe during a portion of the night, a poisonous atmosphere, which flags the spirits and depresses the whole system. How many are led to the use of ardent spirits from this very cause alone? The importance of a properly ventilated dwelling cannot be too highly estimated. In ill-paved streets, and back yards in similar condition, on which waste water is allowed to remain and saturate the soil,when the drainage from cess-pools also further pollutes the earth; exhalations fill the air, and poison the system of those who are obliged to inhale this important necessary of life when adulterated. Those who, in the cleanest and best ventilated houses, have noticed the thick layer of dust which in one day covers tables, books, and the surface of every other object, can form an idea of the large floating atoms which enters the mouth, both during day and might at every respiration. If the dust on the walls and the floor of a room in which tobacco has been smoked, be swept up and then carefully packed away, on examination it will be found, that the tobacco fumes are still perceptible to the smell. Window-hangings, carpets, and other fabrics will absorb the gases thrown off by tobacco, sulpher, and matter. In the same way, the bad gases arising from confined sleeping rooms, bad drains, &c., pervade and lodge themselves to a considerable extent on all surrounding objects, and poison those motes which are made evident to us by