The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-04 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON. TUESDAY EVEN!NG. NOVEMBER 4, 1869

INSTITUTE OF BBITISII ARCIMECTS

The opening meeting of the session 1862.3 was held last
night at the rooms in Conduit-street, Hanover-square, and
was numerously attended. An introductory address was
delivered by Mr. Tite, M.P., the president of the institute.
He began by'statng that the institute had never exhibited so
satisfactory an appearance as at present, whether regard was
had to its influence in society and in the scientific world,
the increasing number of its members, or the prosperous
state of its fends. Then followed au eloquent allusion to
the death of the Prince Consort, and as inseparably con-
nected with the name of his Royal Highness Mr. Tite next
referred to the International Exhibition, stating that, al-
though as to the building itself it would be most becoming
for architects to observe silence on. the subject of its artistic
qualities, yet they certainly might record their protest
against its being in anywise considered as 3 representative
of the architectural taste of our age. It was unfortunate,
he said, that a gentleman whose studies and pursuits had
not been of a nature to develope the artistic faculties re-
quired for the successful cultivation of their profession,
should have been selected to design and execute a structure
necessarily intended to illustrate before the assembled na-
tions the actual state of art among Englishmen. The very
merits of the construction were of a nature to indicate that

its author had solely directed his attention to the scientific
and technical details of the problem submitted to
him, without being able to grasp its sesthetical or
moral signification. The goods were exhibited in a
shed, tolerably lighted; the pictures and sculpture were also
placed in rooms where they could be seen, speaking gene-
rally, in a very advantageous manner; but there was an ab-
sence of artistic treatment in the plan of the building, while
the general elevation and the ornamental details of the ex-
terior particularly were very objectionable. No architect
couldahave designed a work;:so unsatisfactory had he but
studied the rudiments of his profession, and yet British
architects were unhappily represented to assembled Europe
by this eminently unarchitectural building, Pursuing his
consideration of contemporary events, Mr. Tite called at-
tention to the embankment of the north side of the Thames,
expressing the hope that this work might be carried to its
conclusion in such a manner as to add to the monumental
character of the metropolis. It was only a small instalment
of what was required to be done to the Thames ; but time,
he added, would compel the execution of the whole scheme.
As to the various new bridges erected over the river, he
would not discuss the methods of construction, though
much might be said on the subject; but as an architect he
could not refrain from expressing his regret that their
designers had not studied more carefully the laws of optical
effect, or the logical application of archmological forms.
The parallel vertical cylinders and the parallel horizontal
girders of the Hungerford -bridge produced a combination
of lines which must be declared to be very ugly. The
street girder ' bridges were, if possible, worse. The
style adopted in the New Westminster-bridge was a
mistake into which a properly educated architect could not
have fallen, and the great engineering merits of the work
must render our regret for this artistic defect the more
poignant; for on the whole, this bridge was one of the
noblest monuments upon the Thames. The bridge leading
to the Victoria station was as a work of art more consistent
than the Westminster one, and it was infinitely more elegant
than the Lambeth Suspension-bridge; the latter, indeed,was
so unredeemably ugly that he was almost tempted to regret
that there should not be a Committee of Taste to which the
designs for public works should be submitted. In the com-
petition which had raged for some months past as to the
designs for a new Blackfriars-bridge he could not sly he saw
much to admire in the result; for, unfortunately, the very
worst design of the whole had been chosen. Mr. Page's
three-arched bridge was a grand idea, though defective in
detail. The bridge about to be erected was in five seg-
mental arches of iron, with stone piers, and the architec-
tural features of those piers and other adornments were
highly objectionable. Passing to street improvements, Mr.
Tite said that the changes of this description recently made
hero had been of themselves sufficiently remarkable, while
they furnished many valuable lessons to those who knew
how to read signs of the times in the various phases of
architecture. No doubt, a severe critic might find many
reasons for objecting to details of the new and gorgeous
piles of warehouses and offices lately erected in the great
streets of the city ; but he contended that, considered com-
prehensively, those buildings displayed sound taste, keen
perception of architectural beauty, fine feeling' for art
allied to common sense, and a sufficient amount of origi-
nality to justify them in entertaining confident hopes for
the future prospects of their profession, Possibly the supe-
rior character of the buildings lately erected in the city
might be attributable to the fact that they had escaped, to
some extent, the influence of fashion and of official pedantry;
at any rate the contrast between the architecture of the new
city streets, and that of the buildings erected under the
influence of the Science and Art Department of our Govern-
ment was so marked, that the question of the necessity for
the existence of the latter expensive organisation was al-
most forced upon our attention. Public opinion was a
better guide, a surer fosterer of genius, than State patronage
could ever be. Mr. Tite concluded his address, which was
much applauded throughout, by referring to the losses
which architecture had sustained during the last 12 months
in the death of some of its most eminent professors, both
here and on the continent.

for in the Revnt's-parkt
for by this corps arc to b 3 distributed in the course of the
present month at St. James's Hall. The prizes given by
Lord Radstock for fudging distance have recently been com-
petedllarlowe, 11 points, and private Prosser, 6 points. The
challenge given to compete with 20 men of any corps in the
and were won by private
county of Middlesex, at ranges of 300, 500, and GOO yards,
with long Enfield Rifles, Hythe position, has been accepted
by the South Middlesex.

On Saturday evening the London Artillery Brigade,
under Major Walmsley ; the Tower Hamlets Engineers,
under Captain C. H. Gregory ; and the 4th and 6th
Tower Hamlets Rifles, under Lieut.-Col. Money, marched
out for the first time this season. The route was from
headquarters, Shaftesbury .street, Hoxton, the Post-office,
thence by way of Ludgate-hill, Fleet-street, the Strand,
Parliament-street, halting in Old Palace-yard, 'Westmin-
ster, where the men fell out, and, after an interval of a
quarter of an hour, returned to headquarters, via Stam-
ford-street, and were dismissed. The force consisted of
eight companies, forming a total of 450 men, accompanied
by their respective bands.
ILFRAcomBE.—On the 29th ult. the 4th Devon Rifle
Volunteers were inspected by Major Hume, assistant inspec-
tor of volunteers. The weather was extremely fine, and a
large number of the neighbouring gentry and clergy, and
the numerous visitors at this improving watering place,
were present on the occasion. After having minutely ex-
amined the arms, accoutrements, and clothing of the corps,
the inspector dii ected Capt. Vys to put the teen through
the manual and platoon exercise, the entire company drill,
as required from volunteers, and the light infantry drill of a
company skirmishing; he then called the officers to the
front, and addressed the corps in the most flattering terms,
congratulating them on the large muster, which showed a
considerable increase on last year, on the smart and soldier-
like manner in which they kad performed their duties, and
the very able manner in which they were manoeuvred in
company drill by their commanding officer. The light in•
fantry movements, however, were not quite up to the mark;
but with that single exception he should report most favour-
able of the corps to the War-office, feeling sure that by next
year this deficiency would be remedied. The proceedings
terminated with three hearty cheers for the inspector, the
adjutant, and the captain commandant. The number of all
ranks present at inspection was 61, which with those absent
with leave is nearly the entire strength of the corps.

!maintain an unenviable notoriety for
containing a popu-
lation among whom this disease exists to an extent un-
known in almost any other town, whether in this country
or abroad. The evil is one which, either in its primary,
secondary, or tertiary forms may affect the health of inno-
cent families and of generations yet unborn. At Malta,
greatly to the advantage of the naval service, there is a
system of licences, if it be not more correct to call it a sys-
tem of temporary restraint ; but among men on the homo
station a diseased person may spread infection far and wide,
with no law to say nay,