70
introduced in the annexed Plate to show their application. A veryhandsome example, as well as of hip “ knobs,” may be seen atBeddington, in Surrey , an ancient seat of the Carews.
On the subject of details, it may be observed, that too little attentionis paid by modern artists to the ancient manner of construction; andmany characteristic features, not only essential to the general effect, butimportant to the security of the buildings themselves, are often over-looked. Take, for example, the mullioned windows, and the doors inbrick, or unwrought stone walls; and it will be seen, that the jambs inold buildings are invariably bonded into the piers, and the bond-stonesleft visible; but, by the builders of the present day, this necessary pre-caution is too frequently disregarded, and the moulded jambs left with aspruce, plain-edged margin, as if they had no connexion with the workby which they are surrounded. Another defect is the want of dischargingarches over apertures crowned with free-stone, to equalise the pressurecaused by superincumbent weights; for, however the weaker parts maybe relieved by internal lintels, the external appearance of want ofstrength is very objectionable, and destroys at once the identity of theedifice with the ancient style of architecture.
The frets and other fanciful forms which are seen in the fronts ofbuildings, formed of vitrified bricks, were made for the purpose ofemploying, in a manner the least unsightly, such as were discoloured byburning. In a clamp or kiln of bricks, a certain number must, fromtheir situation, be more strongly acted upon by the fire than the generalmass, and, consequently, become darkly tinged. With the tact sopeculiar to the old artisans, this, like other seeming disadvantages, wasturned to account; and, what in other hands would have been blemishes,were converted by them into embellishments. Instead of allowing theworkmen to use such bricks indiscriminately, and thereby disfigure the