on clouds, seems to be in motion; the very drapery confirms the illusion, clinging closely as it does around her, and floating loose behind, as if she were cleaving the morning air. Her beautiful countenance, however, is directed earthward, and has rather a triste expression— but still very sweet. A full-length figure of the Hon. Mrs. Murray, also in course of execution, is remarkable for its easy grace -the drapery is perfect, but again the face wants expression. A group in clay for a bas-relief, is happily conceived: Minerva, fully armed, is pursuing and threatening Cupid with her spear, whilst he runs for protection behind his mother. A cartoon, for a bas-relief, is characterized by the simple majesty which the subject demands, "Christ blessing little children," in which the different dispositions of mankind are admirably typified. One child, with the elasticity and ardour of youth, is running to the Saviour-another, sensible alone to benevolence of disposition, with infantine simplicity and confidence, is clasping his knees and looking up smiling in his face. Another is being dragged, unwilling, by his mother, to our Lord. front stands an older lad, whose mind may be supposed to be more awakened to the higher attributes of our Saviour-reverent and attentive. Unlike most of the figures of our Lord, this unites much sweetness with dignity of expression. If this chaste drawing is well executed in marble, it will form an invaluable addition to the treasures of Art.

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The most beautiful piece, and that possessing the most character, which Wyatt is at present executing, is a figure of Penelope. She is represented at the moment when, to baffle her rival suitors (at the suggestion of Ulysses in disguise), she is about to offer to each of them by turns a bow to bend. This beautiful and classic production is intended for Windsor Castle. A Flower-girl, carrying in her left hand a garland, in her right a basket, is an extremely pretty and elegant statue. Bacchante, crowned with a garland of flowers, and holding in her right hand a patera, is an admirable personification of thoughtless gaiety. "Musidora " from Thomson's Seasons, is a beautiful figure, happily conceived and executed.

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Hogan is much employed in executing bas-reliefs and altar-pieces, and in these branches is unrivalled. Several convents and chapels in England and Ireland have been enriched by his chisel. His busts and statues form a motley group. First and foremost is Daniel O'Connell. toga is thrown over his shoulders—an arrangement left to the taste of the artisthis wig has received its right twitch-and

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his eye is lifted with that undefinable expression so difficult to catch. It is a strong likeness, and admirably executed. Hogan has received an order from the "Association," for a statue of the Liberator ten feet high. Tom Steele, Dr. Doyle, and Dr. Murray, all bear him goodly company. A colossal statue of Crawford, for the Cork Savings Bank, is finely executed, but its beauty is impaired by its modern costume.

Father Mathew, in his mild placid expression of countenance, strongly contrasts with the powerful humerous expression of O'Connell. Another unfinished group is Ireland,' represented by a female form, with the bust of Lord Cloncurry on a pedestal: intended for the Dublin Library.

Macdonald, who represents the Scotch, as Hogan does the Irish, Sculptors, devotes most of his time to busts, in which he excels. His Andromeda, however, is a powerful delineation of the fable: her struggles to liberate herself are manifest, and one sympathizes with, as one regards with astonishment, the agony which is expressed in her eloquent face.

Cardwell, a younger man, who has just arrived at Rome, in his group of greyhounds playing, shews a keen observation of Nature, and great power. He has executed but few groups, one of which Mrs. Beaumont, of Yorkshire, ordered. (Abridged from the Athenæum.)

SIR R. K. PORTER'S DRAWINGS. The late Sir Robert Ker Porter's "Large Folio," containing the original drawings he made during his well-known travels in the East, illustrated by their attendant notes, and all sketched on the relative spots, has become the property of the British Museum. Sir Robert Ker Porter spent three years, or rather more, in the East, indefatigably pursuing his researches, and carefully recording, by pen and pencil, their results. About twenty-four years ago he published in England two large quartos, entitled "Travels in Persia, Armenia, Babylonia, &c. &c.," given in nobler detail in his (now) Museum Folio. From that work the Rev. Alex. Keith extracted many "Evidences of fulfilled Prophecy," produced in his admirable volumes on that important subject. Knight's "Pictorial Bible" also is enriched in numerous parts with notes and outlines from Sir R. K. Porter's work. The folio opens with a highlyfinished portrait (in bistre) of the late King of Persia, taken at the monarch's personal request. Then succeed the views, sketches of distinguished personages, &c.; and the last portrait in the book will be

that of the lamented author and artist himself, the recently-published fulllength print of him from a faithful like

ness by Geo. Harlowe, dressed in the light European uniform he wore during part of his travels in the East.

OXFORD ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY.

June 17. The fifth annual meeting was held at Wyatt's room, High-street. The Rev. the Rector of Exeter college took the chair, and congratulated the Society on the steady progress of the "study of Gothic Architecture," which is daily becoming more general. He rejoiced to observe the formation and successful progress of similar societies in various parts of the kingdom, and mentioned particularly the Cambridge and Exeter Societies, as very flourishing and efficient. The mutilation and destruction of the remains of Gothic Architecture has been checked, although a few instances are still heard of occa. sionally, as at Newcastle, where an ancient church has been wantonly destroyed within the last few weeks; the general indignation with which such acts are now viewed by all persons who have any pretension to the rank of educated or enlightened men, is a guarantee that they will not be frequent. There is however another just ground of alarm in the mischief which is daily perpetrated under the name of Restoration, which, when conducted without sufficient knowledge, is often productive of more injury than be. nefit, and should be very closely watched. Irreparable injury is often done by ignorant persons, under the plausible pretext of merely scraping off the whitewash, and still more when the decayed surface of the stone has also to be scraped.

In the university and city of Oxford there have been four instances of restoration within the past year, which are deserving of praise. At St. John's college the chapel has been restored in a very elaborate manner, and with good taste. At Merton, the roof of the ante-chapel, which was in a decayed state, has been renewed, and the floor for the ringers in the tower removed, throwing open a fine groined wooden ceiling, which is a great improvement, but the gallery for the ringers which has been introduced in the place of the old floor would have been better omitted. In St. Aldate's church the general effect of the exterior is pleasing, but there might have been more accuracy in the details, and we cannot but regret the loss of the old library. At Holywell, though the exterior is less striking, all the detail is admirable, and

in the interior the good effect of open seats is fairly seen, and the manner in which this restoration and enlargement have been executed is worthy not only of praise but of imitation. The restoration of St. Peter's in the East is now also in progress, and it is hoped that the most scrupulous care will be taken to preserve entire the character of the building, even in its most minute details, and that no attempts at improvement will be allowed to interfere with the designs of the original architects of this interesting and valuable relic of antiquity.

The publications of the Society during the year have been, The Second Part of theGuide to the Architectural Antiquities in the Neighbourhood of Oxford," of which a Third Part is now in preparation; and several sheets of working drawings of ancient pews and pulpits, which are found very generally useful, and are readily purchased. Two new sheets were laid on the table, containing the details of the pulpits of Beaulieu, Hants, of stone, very early in the Decorated style; St. Giles's, Oxford, of wood, also in the Decorated style, but late; and Coombe, Oxfordshire, of stone, in the Perpendicular style. The drawings of Shottesbroke church, a well-known and very perfect specimen of the Decorated style, have been engraved, and will be ready for publication in a few days; for these drawings the Society is indebted to W. Butterfield, esq. The drawings of Minster Lovell church, a good specimen of the Perpendicular style, promised at the two last annual meetings, are still not ready, the architect who undertook to furnish them having failed to fulfil his engagement. The drawings of Wilcote church, presented by C. Buckler, esq. were laid on the table, and will be engraved immediately; this is a small church in the Decorated style. Also those of St. Bartholomew's chapel, presented by C. Cranston, esq.; this is a small but elegant building of the period of transition from Decorated to Perpendicular.

New editions are preparing of the churches of Stanton Harcourt and Haseley: to the series in 8vo. it is proposed to add the papers on Ewelme and Dorchester churches by Mr. Addington, for which the drawings are ready.

At the suggestion of the Bishop of Newfoundland, designs for churches to be constructed entirely of wood, the only material to be obtained in that colony, have been prepared by Mr. Cranston, under the directions of the Committee. Two of these designs were laid on the table.

At the request of the Madras Committee for the erection of a church at Colabah, a design has been prepared by Mr. Derick, under the direction of the Committee, which it is hoped will be found well suited to the climate, while it preserves a strictly Gothic and church-like character. An elevation of this design has been engraved, and copies sent for distribution to any members interested in it.

The Society has in several instances given useful advice to persons engaged in church-building or restoration, and have pleasure in doing so in any case in which they may be applied to.

A Paper was read on Dorchester church, Oxfordshire, by Henry Addington, esq. of Lincoln college, illustrated by a large number of drawings of all parts of the building, including the original drawings by Mackenzie for Skelton's Oxfordshire, which were kindly lent for the occasion by the Rev. H. Wellesley. Mr. A. gave an outline of the early history of Dorchester, with its bishopric and abbey, shewing clearly that there was a Saxon church on this site; but he considers no part of the existing building earlier than the middle of the twelfth century, (unless it is a small portion of the masonry of the tower,) and the greater part is of the time of Edward I. The two semicircular arches, which have been sometimes considered as Saxon, are evidently cut through the Norman walls, and are probably of the time of Charles II., when the church was repaired after the injury it had sustained in the civil wars. This interesting paper is to

be published.

ROYAL ACADEMY.

There is a growing improvement in church architecture apparent in this year's exhibition; and it is pleasing to see that the pointed style has been so universally adopted in church architecture that we may fairly hope that the time is not distant when the anomaly of a Grecian design for a church will never be attempted by any architect.

The following churches are the most striking :

1055. St. Peter's Church, Islington. Gough and Roumieu.

This structure is a very humble chapel,
GENT. MAG. VOL. XXII.

amply bedecked with cheap and meretricious ornament: a new feature in design is a screen of three open lancets before the western window, for which the style is indebted to the joint talent of the architects. At one corner is a thin spire, springing up from a group of minor pinnacles, like a tall bulrush aspiring above its more humble brethren: these are the main features of the improved design; for we believe that the present architects only claim the merit of adding to the pile, which was originally a very mean chapel, the work of some other architects, or galaxy of architects, perhaps, as joint-stock designs seem now so fashionable with the profession.

1076. The interior of the new Church now building at Notting Hill. Stevens and Alexander.

This design is very pleasing, from the strictly ecclesiastical character which it possesses. It consists of a nave and aisles, transept and chancel. The arches are acutely pointed with bold chamfered mouldings, the columns cylindrical and of good dimensions. There are both nave and chancel arches, and within the latter a rood-screen, The clerestory has lancet windows, and the east window is composed of three lancets. The pulpit, of stone, is affixed to one of the piers of the chancel arch; the roof of the nave and aisles is timber, without any ceiling; the principals of the nave are formed with a pointed arch instead of the usual tiebeam; the chancel has a boarded ceiling; all the principals have inscriptions, and there are paintings in arches in the spandrels of the nave; the chancel ceiling is also enriched with paintings. As far as a judgment can be formed from a drawing this appears to us a very superior design. The columns and arches are marked with a boldness of character not often seen in modern churches.

A similar propriety of character is visible in the following design by the same architects:

1149. New Church building at Surbiton,

Surrey.

This is also a correct and pleasing design. It is an interior view of the nave and aisles, transept and chancel; the ar-, chitecture of the 15th century. The pillars are octagonal, with moulded caps; the nave and chancel arches have a pleasing appearance, and there is great boldness in the architecture. The ceiling of the chancel is pannelled and painted with devices. The font, pulpit, and other appurtenances, in this as well as the last design, are arranged in proper ecclesiastical situations.

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1075. All Saints' Church, Thelwall. I. M. Allen.

A plain church, composed of nave and chancel, the windows are single lights. The tower is at the southern angle of the west part crowned with a spire, the roofs have a high pitch, and the design, on the whole, possesses some degree of originality. The sacristy is erected against the wall of the nave; this is incorrect, in accordance with ancient example it should have been built against the chancel. 1118. South-west view of a design for enlarging the parish church of All Saints, Leamington Priors. J. G. Jackson.

There is a peculiar feature in this design not met with in modern churches; this is a detached campanile for the peal of bells. The church is a large cruciform edifice, with central tower and spire. The campanile, a square tower with pinacles, is situated near the north-west angle of the structure. The detail of the whole is late, approaching to the Tudor style, which is injudicious, as the depressed character of the style does not harmonize with a spire, which is a feature of an earlier date than the style in which the church is erected.

1119. Approved design of a new church to be built at Woolwich. E. H. Fowler.

There are many good points in this design. The style of architecture fluctuates between the lancet arch and the flowing tracery of Edward the Third's reign. It consists of a nave and aisles, transept, and north porch, and has a central tower and spire, the latter too much crowded with spire lights, which greatly injure the design. The clerestory to the nave has triangular windows composed of three segments, and inclosing the like number of smaller triangles; it is a very pleasing form for windows in this situation. The transept window is composed of six lancets, all of one height, which has an unpleasing effect, resembling too closely the squareheaded window of late Tudor work. 1135. West elevation of a church to be erected for the united parishes of Carlton and Chellington, Bedfordshire. E. B. Lamb.

The only novel feature is the tower, which is placed on one side of the structure instead of the west end, as usual in modern churches-the elevation is however broken into parts, the lower portion being square, the next octagonal, the third a dwarf spire; it is surprising that architects cannot see any beauty in the simplicity of the ancient church spire,

springing at once from the tower without any intermediate story.

1142.

Holy Cross Church now erecting at Leeds. J. M. Derick.

A structure which will excite great interest from its being understood to be erected at the charge of an Oxford divine eminent for high talent and piety, and equally distinguished by the harsh and unfair treatment which he has sustained. The design however is any thing but what it ought to have been ; showy and modern, it is more like a chapel in a fashionable watering place, built to attract pew-renters, than a church to which we might look, as a model of reality and propriety in church building.

It is a cross church, having nave and aisles, transept and choir; the architecture is late, or rather modern gothic, the windows large; a forest of pinnacles, a square tower, with a spire also crowded with pinnacles, and a general gaudiness about the building, show that the design partakes largely of the usual faults of new churches. The nave has a clerestory, which is unnecessary from the extent of the other windows. On the western gable is a small bell-turret. In fact there is throughout a mixture of correct ecclesiastical forms with debased detail. 1147. Marston Church, Somersetshire, now under alteration for the Hon. and Rev. R. C. Boyle. E. Davis.

The old structure was an ancient church modernized and spoiled; the present design is of an anomalous Norman character. The old tower has had four turrets added to it in the usual modern Norman style, and a dwarf spire, and the chancel has received the addition of two smaller transepts. The architect has attempted to do too much; if he had contented himself with restoring the ancient church to its original simplicity, he would have earned more fame than by changing it to a structure of a showy and unmeaning character.

1182. St. Bartholomew's Church, Bethnal Green. W. Railton.

An interior. There are some good features about this design. The architecture is lancet, with an eastern window of five lights; the chancel is far too shallow ; it has an arch on corbels dividing it from the nave.