be convenient to raise buttresses on the outside of the tower to serve as abutments to these arches, they were induced to adopt some other plan for effecting that purpose. The expedient which they found the easiest was, to raise the walls to a considerable height above the arches, and thus to give firmnefs and stability by weight. To this expedient they usually resorted; and as they observed that additional height in the tower gave a dignity and elegance to the whole pile which it did not before pofsefs, they found it convenient, on most occasions, to make an apartment above the lantern dome, in which was placed their largest bells; carrying the walls, if its roof was arched, to a considerable height above that roof also, where they were terminated for the most part by open rail-work with pinnacles at each corner, the roof being here flat woodwork covered with lead, and supported by beams laid acrofs from side to side. Such are the origin and uses, and such is the form that most of the central towers afsume. But on some occasions it was judged more expedient, that the flat form of the top of these towers should be abandoned, and something of a spire-like shape adopted in its stead: nor was this found to be an insurmountable difficulty to our artists. On some occasions, a close spire was reared to a great height. These spires, for the most part, were reared of timber; as in the cathedral of Old St. Paul's, London, and the cathedral of Lincoln; but where they were required to be made of stone, this also they knew how to effect. The various devices which they adopted for this purpose would require a volume to enumerate. These indeed are so diversified, and all of them so well adapted to the purpose intended, as to have stood: for many ages perfectly firm, though many of these fa brics appear to unskilful observers so light and slim as to be in danger of tumbling to pieces by the slightest shock. Among these, the steeples of the cathedrals of Antwerp and of Strasburgh have attracted the notice of all strangers, and have often been described by travellers as objects deserving the highest degree of admiration, on account of the surprising symmetry of the whole, the wonderful delicacy of the parts, and at the same time the firmness and stability of the structure. Of this last stupendous fabric, I recollect to have seen an elegant engraving by Hollar; but this was only a general view. It is much to be regretted, that no person hath as yet thought it worth his while to give architectural designs of the plans and elevations of the whole, and the several parts of this and similar structures, by means of which the mechanical contrivances of the artist might be completely unveiled. This is a work that will give scope to the ingenuity of some of our descendants. In the meanwhile we know enough of these contrivances, even from the few structures of this sort that at present exist in our own island, to be able to perceive that it was by that accurate knowledge they had acquired of the principles and powers of the stone arch, and the means of diversifying its forms so as to adapt it to every purpose which they wished to effect, that they were enabled to produce those surprising combinations which have extorted the admiration of all beholders, without having been able to awaken the desire in any one to acquire the knowledge of the means by which In some cases these towers were capped with solid spires of stone, as in the cathedral church at Old Aberdeen, a view of which is annexed from a drawing made by a friend in its present state. These, for ob Bewick sculpt. A West View of the Cathedral of Old Aberdeen in its present state. adapted to the purpose intended, as to have stood for many ages perfectly firm, though many of these fa brics appear to unskilful observers so light and slim as to be in danger of tumbling to pieces by the slightest shock. Among these, the steeples of the cathedrals of Antwerp and of Strasburgh have attracted the notice of all strangers, and have often been described by travellers as objects deserving the highest degree of admiration, on account of the surprising symmetry of the whole, the wonderful delicacy of the parts, and at the same time the firmnefs and stability of the structure. Of this last stupendous fabric, I recollect to have seen an elegant engraving by Hollar; but this was only a general view. It is much to be regretted, that no person hath as yet thought it worth his while to give architectural designs of the plans and elevations of the whole, and the several parts of this and similar structures, by means of which the mechanical contrivances of the artist might be completely unveiled. This is a work that will give scope to the ingenuity of some of our descendants. In the meanwhile we know enough of these contrivances, even from the few structures of this sort that at present exist in our own island, to be able to perceive that it was by that accurate knowledge they had acquired of the principles and powers of the stone arch, and the means of diversifying its forms so as to adapt it to every purpose which they wished to effect, that they were enabled to produce those surprising combinations which have extorted the admiration of all beholders, without having been able to awaken the desire in any one to acquire the knowledge of the means by which |