Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/902

 734 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [May, CORRESPONDENCE. It must be distinctly understood that we do not hold ourselves accountable for the opinions of correspondents. Sir : — Would you inform me, and through me many another anxious in- quirer, as to the coui'se I must pursue to commence and continue the study of design. I have my evenings to mj'self, and am disposed to make use of them in a profitable manner. By answering, you will very much oblige A Mechanic. Mr. Editor : — What books would you recommend to one who is desirous of learning Architecture. I mean the prin- ciples of the science ? Qt'ERO. To both these correspondents we would say that it is unfortunately the i fact just now, that no public institution j of education offers the assistance re- j quired, either in books or teachers in | any of our cities. It is true that the i Cooper Institute in New York, and the ' Maryland Institute in Baltimore, offer I opportunities to beginners in the study j of architecture, but ' the classes are limited as to number, and the great majority as is also the case in Boston and here in Philadelphia, are not dis- posed to study architecture, but figure and landscape drawing. We propose to publish a series of progressive lessons in mechanical draw- ing, architectural design, perspective, shading and coloring, to commence in the next volume of the Review, and will endeavor to make it as fully useful as descriptive teaching will allow. Reading, Penn., April 21, 1S69. Dear Sir: — Will you please let me know in May number of " Review," the " difference between a Bay and an Oriel window?" And oblige A Subscriber. A Bay Windoio is, practically speak- ing, a projected window space on the ground floor, having its foundation at the basement. An Oriel Window is somewhat simi- lar to a Bay, with the exception that it is supported on corbels or brackets, and generally occupies a position on upper floors, and at angles of buildings. A Bay has two meanings ; it is a space added by projection from a room— or, it is the light admitted between the mullions of a window. An Oriel has but the one meaning, namely a projecting addition, which in the olden time was used in great man- sions as a tete a tete gallery off of the banqueting hall. St. Louis, Missouri, March 19, 1S69. Sir : — Please pardon the liberty I am taking in requesting you to inform me what books would be necessary for an apprentice to study to improve himself in the carpenter's trade, and to learn the first principles of Architecture. Hoping I may receive an answer from } r ou, I remain j B—. Nicholson's works are all excellent, but there is much in them that is exclu- sively English, and now out of date, be- sides the cost of such works is we fear rather beyond the means of most ap- prentices. The American House Carpenter by R. G. Hatfield, is a capital work and costs but $3.50. Mechanical Drawing bj- William Minifie, may be had for $4.00. But, if our correspondent will drop a line to D. Van Nostrand, 192 Broadway, N. Y., he will receive by mail a cata- logue from which he can select. Those we have named are useful works, but there are several others equally so. A