INTRODUCTION.

“ Heaven be praised,” says Malcolm, “ Old London was burnt! ” and singular as suchan exclamation may appear in the mouth of an antiquary, the remark savours more of goodsense than it appears to do of humanity, it being incontestable that we have been gainersby that calamity, inasmuch as we have now cheerful and convenient dwellings, and hand-some streets, instead of the dismal, crazy “ hovels,” and narrow filthy lanes in which ourancestors pent themselves up. Perhaps, however, we are very wrong in imagining thatour Domestic Architecture has received any improvements since that event, or even a farearlier period; for although the evidence of our senses and of history combined, wouldpersuade us that such is the case, we ought to set aside their joint testimony, when so uni-versal a critic as Baron d’ Haussez assures the world that we English still retain in thewhole distribution and arrangement of our houses “ those inconveniences which may havebeen overlooked by the unrefined habits of the twelfth century11 ” What may be theBaron’s ideas of the general style of living and of architecture in the twelfth century, wecannot even surmise; but it is certain he either has no idea whatever of the luxurious ele-gance which prevails in the residence and throughout the whole establishment of an English gentleman, or he is here most barefacedly hoaxing his own country-men, although not moreso than in many other parts of his book,—which, by the by, must be allowed to exhibit afund of invention. As he found us to be little better than barbarians in the sciences ofcookery and dining, it is no wonder—or rather, no more than consistency, that he shouldhave discovered the miserable inconveniences of the “ twelfth century ” in our modernmansions and villas. After all, if not particularly instructive, the Ex-Minister is certainlya very diverting writer, and therefore although his criticisms on the state of architecture inthis country are far from being complimentary, he may be forgiven by his English if notby his French readers; especially as he seems to have formed his notions of our cookeryfrom such specimens as are to be met with at an English Ordinary; and of our taste indomestic architecture and embellishments from “ ready furnished lodgings.”

With all due deference to such authority, it may confidently be pronounced that we do“ know how to build houses ” in this country: and that with whatever other faults anddeficiencies English architects may be chargeable, they certainly understand convenience ;neither is their taste very much more “ bizarre ” than that of their continental neighbours;—at least it would not Jje difficult for an Englishman on the other side of the channel, to cramhis note-book with instances of the “ bizarre ” in architecture. Equally certain is it thatfor finish and skilful execution in their interior, even our ordinary dwelling houses willstand a comparison with those of the same class in other countries—not excepting France itself; while amidst all the “ inconveniencies ” the critical Baron detected, they have alsothe recommendation of possessing certain “ conveniencies,” an Englishman is apt to con-