The beauty of which cottages are susceptible is of three kinds; and must result either from their actual fitness for being human dwellings, from their being outwardly expressive of that fitness, or from their style of architecture. The first of these beauties is technically called the expression of design, or fitness; the second, the expression of purpose; and the last, the expression of style. Every cottage whatever ought to display the two former qualities; and what are called ornamental cottages, or such as gentlemen who possess parks or pleasure-grounds generally erect in them as entrance lodges, or as dwellings for their servants, ought to display the latter. Gothic cottages belong to the ornamental class; but if they we examined with reference to the principles of fitness, or of expression of purpose, they will commonly be found wanting. For example, their windows are low, and do not reach to the ceilings of the rooms, which must always render the ventilation of the apartments imperfect. Their window frames are filled in with lattice-work; and these frames shutting against mullions, or broad upright and cross divisions of the window, must impede the entrance of light. Gothic windows are also, as they are generally constructed in cottages, less air-tight, and the mode of giving air by them is much less convenient, than that by the common suspended and balanced sash windows. The reason of these sins against fitness, in cottages pretending to the beauty of architectural style, may be thus given: - The general character of a cottage, as distinguished from that of dwellings of a higher class, is considered by architects to consist in low walls, and, of course, low ceilings; small windows, broad rather than high; and conspicuous roofs, generally with windows in their sides. We admit, that, taking cottages as they are usually constructed, these features may be said to constitute their character; and hence they would be employed by a painter, or poet, or a descriptive writer, who wished to portray a cottage of the present day.
