Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/756

 61-4 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [April, styles, which can be made consonant with our own national composition. In the formation of the Desired Style, then, the perfection, which we should, of course seek, would be a distinct crea- tion, in which the members, we allude to, would be subservient to the grand whole. A treatment, in short, so un- mistakeably original, as to take rank among those of the other nations of the world, and be acknowledged bj- them, as, pre-eminently, The American Style. THE MINSTERS OF ENGLAND. HAVING reviewed the detail beau- ties and historic glories of Notre Dame de Paris, we return to the archi- tectural treasures of England, to gaze, with our readers, on that exquisite relic of the solid grandeur of ecclesiastic architecture of days gone by for ever ; and to compare, in mingled admiration and sadness, the stupendous work of permanency with the noblest modern cathedrals; whilst we in our clay must blush to feel, that, with all the acquisi- tions of scientific knowledge which we possess, our buildings, however choice in style, and elegant in execution, are not likely to reach as far down into the future, as the artistic beauties, we won- der at, date back into the far, far distant past. There is— a melancholy pleasure in contemplating those petrified visions of religious zeal, which have left a national blessing on the land that they adorn ; however different may be ihe creeds of to-day from that by whose in- fluence they were called, in the past, into existence. Amongst the very interesting Min T sters of England, which cannot but draw the attention of our readers, re- markable in the first rank stands that which we will now describe : Westminster Abbey. The architectural design and the skil- ful arrangement of this celebrated edi- fice, the scientific and ingenious con- struction of its walls, arches, vaultings, and nicely-poised and balanced parts, are all entitled to the most diligent study of the practical architect ; and will afford both amusement and instruc- tion to the antiquary and amateur. It will be proper, alwaj's to bear in mind the common adage of "sound as church work," and to remember that this maxim was founded on observation and reflec- tion. The length of time which most of those cathedrals and larger churches have braved the inclemency of an ever- chano-ina: climate, such as that of Ens;- 9 9* O land, the neglect of their guardians, and the wanton injury inflicted on them by fanatics and heedless persons, is a last- ing proof of the skill with which they were constructed. The Abbey Church of Westminster is one of the finest examples of the pointed style, that was ever erected in any age or country. It is, at this dav, in a state of perfection wonderful to behold, after such a term of existence as it can claim. Its general form is that of the Latin cross ; but the eastern part, from the transept, is surrounded by various chapels, which interiorly are separated from the aisles by ornamental screens of a later age. The Exterior measures: Extreme length, 416 feet,; ditto, including Henry's Chapel, 530 feet; height of western towers, to the top of pinnacles, 225 feet 4 inches. The dimensions of the cloisters, chapter- house, and other monastic buildings, it is unnecessary to give ; the main meas- urement being sufficient for our purpose. The Interior has the following dimensions : Length of nave, 166 feet; breadth, 38 feet 1