to our great advantage, in this very imperceptible manner. The house
breathes, so to speak, through the pores of its brickwork. When this is
rendered impossible, it seems clear that fiercer draughts will enter
through the chinks and crevices, and that there will be a greater demand
upon flues not in use, occasioning down draught in the chimneys.

Another mode of keeping out weather is to cement the face of the
brickwork. But this hides up the work, and so tends to promote bad work,
besides being often very unsightly.

Among other peculiarities of brickwork are the facilities for
introducing different colors and different textures of surface which it
presents, the ease with which openings and arches can be formed in it,
the possibility of executing ornament and even carving, and the ease
with which brickwork will combine with other building materials. It
cannot be well made use of for columns, though it may readily enough be
turned into piers or pilasters. It cannot, generally speaking, with
advantage be made use of for any large domes, though the inner dome of
St. Paul's and the intermediate cone are of brick, and stand well. But
it is an excellent material for vaulting arcades and all purposes
involving the turning of arches.

Brickwork must be said to be durable, but it requires care. If not of
the best, brickwork within the reach of the constant vibration caused by
the traffic on a railway seems to be in danger of being shaken to
pieces, judging from one or two instances that have come under my own
observation. The mortar, and even in some cases the bricks themselves,
will rapidly deteriorate if moisture be allowed to get into the heart of
a brick wall, and in exposed situations this is very apt to happen. Care
should always be taken to keep the pointing of external brickwork in