Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-09

OGLETHORPEn FRIEND.
Wright tells his story as follows:
/ Though born to a competent estate, he
became involved I'm debt and was arrest
ed. C0stel was first carried 10 spong
lng-housa attached to the feet prison and
/ kept by one Corbett, an undering Of the
warden on giving security by virtue OF
presents As they were called. to the lat
ter, whose name was Thomas cambridge,
he obtained the liberty OF the rules, but at
length becoming no longer able TO crafty
the warden's appetite for reiresher5, that
ineatiate officer ordered him to be recon-
mittc TO COrbetps, where the smallpox
then RACED. Poor Costell having informed
Banbridge that he mad never had that
disease, and was in great dread of IL,
earnestly implored to be sent
to some other sponging-house, or
even into the Jail itself. But
though the monsters own subOrdlnates
were moved to compassion, and endeay-
Ored TO diseuade him from bis purpose,
he forced his unhappy prisoner into The
infected house, where he caught the small
poX, OF which be died after few days,
leaving Il large family in The greatest dis
tress, and with his last breath charging
cambridge as his murde~er"*
Oglethorpe visited Costell while he was
in his aillictiou, and it was his sad case
which led him 10 undertake the task OF
bringing about reformation IN the prison
discipline system OF England.
COsTELLs BOOK.
viii now take up COstelps book itself,
in order TO snow its character, aud en-
deavOr 10 show that it is just such work
AZ OglethOrpe might be expected TO oon-
suit for suggestions as to his plan.
The author states in his preface just
what the book contains, in the following
language: "a desire ! have long enter
tanned OF TRANSMITTING and explaining Vi
truyius, determined me first to set about
some Inferior performance in architec-
ture as a necessary preparation 10 my en-
tering on work OF so much labor and
difficulty; and as ! thought nothing could
be more proper for my choice than such q
branch of the art as that great master had
been least curious TO explain, | resolved
to take for my subject the rules that were
observed in the situating and disposing Of
the Roman villas. which he speaks OF only
in cursOry way, lib. 8, cap. 10, and TO
this end ! have been at the pains TO peruse
many ancient authors who have treated
more at large Of that part, not the mean
est OF the architects business.
"MOst OF the Roman writers upon agri-
culture that are remaining have thought
mt to tell us what were TO be
considered IN the situation and DISPOSE
ton of villas. Cato left the fewest rules
on that head, NarrO
has been more ample and judicious in his
observations. He has discOursed
more fully than any Of them on those
parts Of the villa that we're designed as
well for the pleasures OF a retired life as
the conveniences and profits of agricul-
ture.
EARLY ROMAN VILLAS.
"Pliny, the younger, alone has exceed
ed Narro in this particular. He has left
us two epistles containing an exact
description of his villas Of LOurentinum
and Tuscan, ana though we find not in
him any direct rules for the disposition of
the villa UrbRna or country house OF
pleasure, yet he gives us to understand
that those buildings were c0ntTived ac-
cOrding to the strictest rules OF art, and
points out what were principally regard
ed in the placing and ordering of them,
and now they were at once accommodated
by the architect for enjoying the benefits
and for avoiding the inconvenience Of
the several seasons. He speaks only OF
the situation and disposition of those
buildings, knowing his friends TO whom
he wrote could not but he sensible that
the rules laid down by VitruVius with
respect to the beauty and proportion were
equally to take place in the city and
country.
"The whole work consists of three parts.
The first contains the description Of a
Villa UrbRna, or country house of retire
ment near the city, that was supplied
with most Of the necessaries OF life from
y neighbOring market town. The second
sets forth the rules that were necessary
10 be observed by an architect who had
the liberty to choose a situation and to
make proper distribution of al things
in and about the villa; but particularly
with relation TO the farmhouse. which in
this sort Of buildings, according to the
more ancient Roman manner, was always
Joined TO the masters house, or but very
little removed from it. In the third part
is shown the description OF another Villa
Urbana on situation very different from
the former, with the farmhouse and APP
purtenances so far removed as to be no
annoyance TO II, and at the same time 50
near as to furnish it conveniently with
all necessaries.
PROBABLY STUDIED BY oGLETHoRPE.
These extracts show very plainly the
character OF the work, and It seems to me
that anyone can readily understand that
the information IL contains is Of kind
which would be useful 10 a person con-
templating the undertaking of work
such as Oglethorpe shortly afterwards
became engaged IN. Besides the deecrip-
tiOns of the villas much is said ia il about
the proper location OF settlements look
ing to the health, comfort, and con-
Yeuience Of the settlers. and IL con-
tains number OF plates which, to
an unprOfessiOnal eye at least, pre-
sent some points OF resemblance 10 GER
tain features in the plan OF our city.
That OglethOrpe carefully selected the
site OF his first settlement with an eve 10
the health OF his people. and that in the
arrangement of the streets and squares
with large spaces between the houses n
prevent Oyer-crOwding - he had the same
object in view, who can doubty The book
which has thus been noticed is very eX-
plicit as 70 the arrangements OF the class
OF residences Of which il treats in this re-
gard, and may have been consulted by
Ogleth0rpe with profit.
All this may seem little matter. and
u may be said that am dealing In trines
but to a student OF history the smallest
incidents are often interesting, and the
mere mention OF them sometimes leads 70
important conclusions. II ! have, there
fore, such an accuser, / might answer
him In the words OF the great Napoleon.
VINO said that ''men are led by tri1es;"
or, as DR.. Johnson once told Boswell who
was afraid he put too many little incl
dents in his journal. There Is nothing.
sir, too little Tor 80 little n creature as
man"
THE CITY LIKE THE PLANS.
And now my purpose is accomplished.