A new system of practical domestic economy.

Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new system of practical domestic economy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ancient Europe, the other from the savage inhabi- tants of the northern districts of Africa Whilst endeavouring then to save money that might have been uselessly expended upon Gothic brewhouses and Saracenic pigsties, we may also en- courage the beautifying the face of the country, in general, by investigating the most judicious adop- tion of situation, and the most economic mode of procedure, if taste, or fashion shall propel to v the erection of a Gothic mansion, or to the re- modelling of one already built, on the principle of sheer economy; inasmuch as money injudiciously laid out in an improper place, is money thrown away, or worse, since what is only lost may be for- gotten ; but the same sum raised into a monument of folly, is certain to expose the individual to the derision even of his most ignorant neighbours, in addition to his own vexation. The Gothic shows how the rules of classic architecture may be vi- olated or forgotten, whilst in itself it has a cha- racter of originality which in its general and complete effects, surprises until we become en- chanted with its influence. Hence, situations in which the Grecian style M ould be appropriate, are by no means fitted for the Gothic : nor must we combine the one with the other in the same build- ing, since the regularity of Grecian architecture would be incongruous with the Mrild sublimity of Gothic vastness. The Gothic often receives the most absurd mis- application from our forgetting that nothing ought to be Gothic but what existed, or had a counterpart in feudal times. For instance, we may have a Go- thic library, but a Gothic hothouse would be an anachronism. Gothic walls with modern casements are also absurd, independent of their admitting too