fourteenth century; the third in the close of the same century, in the reign of Richard 11. THE FIRST PERIOD OF GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. The architecture of the first period is distinguished by. its pointed arches and long narrow windows without mullions. But when we speak of the architecture of a period, it must not be supposed that all the specimens will have precisely the same characters. The changes which are constantly made in the arts, by the varying circumstances of society, are not violent. The progress of society is always gradual, and even the revolutions, which to the casual observer appeared most fortuitous and unexpected, might have been foretold by a more thoughtful and discriminating mind. The state of the arts is commonly supposed to be a tolerably accurate criterion of the mental condition and civilization of a people. If, then, architecture be so dependent on society, we may expect that in any considerable period, there will be a great difference in style, although the same general characters may be traced in all the specimens. This was the case in the first period of Gothic architecture. Those buildings erected soon after the close of the Norman period, were massive, and the sharp lancetarched windows were formed in rows, with rude columnar piers of the former period between them. Of this we have an example in Romsey church, Hampshire. As the next period advanced, we find the edifices to approach the florid style, by which that second period was distinguished. The lancet windows or arches are carried by clustered columns, with rich capitals, and moulded bases; of this we have an example in the nave of Lincoln cathedral. We have many beautiful specimens of the architecture of the first period in this country; Salisbury cathedral is the finest. This noble edifice, unlike any other, except Bath abbey, was commenced and finished in the same style, and is a perfect model of the early English. Beverly Minster is another fine example, a great part of Westminster abbey, the transepts of York Minster, and the fronts of Ely, and Lincoln cathedrals. The rich and elegant crosses, erected by Edward 1., to the memory of his queen We here give a repre Eleanor, may be considered as specimens | second period. of the transition from the first to the sentation of that erected near North Northampton Cross. ampton, which will afford the reader an idea of the gradual passage from one style to the other. Neither mullions nor tracery are introduced in buildings belonging to the first period. Flying buttresses, and buttresses in diminishing stages, are also characteristic. The parapet or battlement is straight and uninterrupted, and is either plain or ornamented with series of arches or panels with foliations. The turrets are in some cases square, in others octagonal; but the pinnacles which surmount them are almost always of the latter form. Towers in the style of this period were generally made to receive that beautiful characteristic of pointed architecture, the spire. (To be continued.) JULIA BRACE. JULIA Brace is a deaf, dumb, and blind pupil of the American Deaf and Dumb Asylum, at Hartford, Connecticut. The following account of her is from the pen of Mr. Weld, the principal of the Asylum, and is extracted from the last annual report of that institution: On the 11th of June, 1825, Julia Brace was admitted as an inmate in, and so far as her peculiar circumstances would permit, as a pupil of the Asylum. She was born in Hartford, on the 13th of June, 1807; consequently, was eighteen years of age at the time of her admission, and is now (April, 1837) almost thirty. At the age of four years and about five months, while visiting a rela- | judging from the cases of other children tive in a neighbouring town, she was seized with the typhus fever, which, in the course of the first week of her illness, entirely deprived her of the senses of sight and hearing. Previous to this sickness, she had been healthy, enjoyed the perfect use of all the senses, was possessed of common intellectual, as well as physical powers, had a quick temper, but was on the whole a promising child. She was active in her habits, had been sent to school, and could read and spell words of two syllables. She had begun to be somewhat useful to her mother in her household affairs, and had learned to do plain sewing, so that she had assisted in making a little garment or two for herself. Her mother had taught her "to say her prayers," but she had learned, probably from intercourse with a profane person, to use some very exceptionable words. The sickness which rendered her so desolate, was exceedingly severe, and after accomplishing its fearful work upon her senses, left her system so completely prostrate, that it was long doubtful whether she would ever be restored to comfortable general health. She retained, however, for a considerable time the faculty of speech, and shortly after she became blind, she said to her attendant, "Why don't you light a lamp? it will never be day.' She used also to say her prayers after she became deaf and blind, to utter the names of her friends, to ask for what she wanted, to spell little words to herself, and at times when disappointed, or vexed by her wishes not being complied with, by the difficulty of making herself understood, or by the unkind treatment of a male member of the family, to which she was occasionally subject, she would use profane expressions, such as she had no doubt heard from this unhappy person. Her childish spirit doubtless at this period, wandered about its prison-house in restlessness, anxiety, and sometimes in agony; seeking deliverance, striving for communion with kindred minds, and using all the faculties and senses which remained at its command, to make known its condition, and supply itself with occupation and amusement. In making these efforts, the poor child very naturally used such language as she had been familiar with; often, probably, with very imperfect ideas of its meaning: for, of that tender age, especially such as have enjoyed but indifferent instruction, we cannot suppose that this poor child had distinct ideas of the God she addressed in prayer, and whose name she used in other ways, or, of the full meaning of any other than the simplest language. As her strength increased and she became able to stand, and with the aid of others to walk about the house, her means of enjoyment increased also. She had much pleasure in examining by the senses of feeling and smell the various objects around her. She soon became familiar with every article of her own apparel, and indeed with every thing belonging to the family; and while her parents lived in the same house with another family, has often been known to carry back to their owner such utensils or other articles as had been borrowed or lent, often to the amusement, and sometimes to the inconvenience of both parties. She early evinced great love of order, never allowing any thing to be out of place, if she could prevent it. She also, as she grew older, seemed desirous of occupying herself in the care of her brothers and sisters, of whom she had several, all younger than herself: would sometimes wash their faces and hands, would undress and put them to bed, occasionally exercise some discipline among them, would rock the infant in the cradle, and feel its eyes, to ascertain if it were sleeping, and if she found it crying, would sometimes give it sugar. ther she had learned by experience that her mother, on whose labour the family were principally dependent for support, was generally busy, and that she might aid her by these efforts among the younger children, or whether she made them merely for her own amusement, it is difficult to determine: probably both motives influenced her. Whe After her complete recovery, and during all the time of her growing up, she was favoured with perhaps more uniform health than is common; which has continued to the present time. She was generally obedient to her mother, or the woman, whoever she might be, that had the care of her; and was ready to comply with the wishes of any one in whom she had confidence; but was cautious in regard to strangers, and particularly fearful of men, shrinking from them, and appearing disturbed, if aware of their presence. and actual delicacy of feeling on this subject, have often attracted admiration. Julia was not unusually fond of sleep Her peculiar circumstances had, from in her childhood and youth, but evinced the beginning, called forth the compasat times a disposition to change night sionate regard and the requisite pecuinto day, evidently preferring to rest niary assistance from charitable ladies and while others were busy around her, and others, in whose neighbourhood she to be active while they were still. As lived. She had at times been sent to a darkness and light were the same to her, little school for children, where she had it is not wonderful that she should choose learned to knit; she had been enabled to the most quiet portion of the twenty-four retain her ability to sew by proper care hours, in which to accomplish her own on the part of her friends: and on the purposes either of business or pleasure; whole, as she advanced in age, had an for being solitary in almost all her enjoy-increasing amount of resources for comments, she was particularly displeased with interruptions in their pursuit. Her mother naturally granted her every indulgence in her power; still, as her means were limited, her supplies, though sufficient for comfort, were not abundant. Hence poor Julia learned to attach a high value to whatever she thought her own, was unwearied in the care of it, and résented the interference of others. In regard, however, to the making of her clothing and to those things about which she needed assistance, she was perfectly compliant with the wishes of others. Her notions respecting the right of property seem to have been perfectly correct. She would never take the property of others without leave; and if her own was taken, or disturbed in her view improperly, she showed her displeasure, and seemed greatly afflicted. She evinced no fear of sickness, but was very kind when members of the family were sick; would show by her manner that she felt sorry for them, would smooth down the bed-clothes, put her hands gently upon their faces, and sometimes spread the little table and bring it to the bed-side with a cup or two upon it to contain drinks. This was, of course, done in imitation of what she had experienced from others, or had known done by them. Julia's very unhappy situation rendered her an object of curiosity to the benevolent, by whom she was constantly visited, and by whose benefactions she was in a great measure supported. Still, though pieces of money and other things of value were often put into her hands by strangers, it is remarkable that she never seemed disposed, in the first instance, to consider them as gifts; but would uniformly return them, unless assured by signs she could not misunderstand, that they were for her to keep. Her apparent destitution of covetousness fort and happiness, during her dark She It was an object of much interest with the principal and instructors of the Asylum,on her admission, to try the effect of some experiments in teaching her language. They indulged the hope that ultimately they might devise some plan to communicate even some abstract ideas, and especially, moral and religious truth. Accordingly by means of an alphabet carved on wood, and resembling that used in schools for the blind, she was taught to understand and to form in her own way, the letters composing a few simple words. For example, she was furnished with a cushion, and a supply of pins; the teacher then placed in her hand the thing whose name he proposed to teach her, directing her hand to the carved letters, composing its name; then, by sticking the pins upon the cushion, he formed the respective letters and the word. This she was encouraged to do, until, when the thing was presented to her, or its sign made in her hand, for instance, a key, or the deaf-mute's sign for a key, she would, without assistance, form the letters, k, e, y. In this way, several short and easy words were taught; but the experiment soon became uninteresting to her; it was of course very tedious and laborious to her teacher, and as there seemed no probability of any important result for her benefit, it was abandoned. Much greater success has attended the attempt to teach her the language of the Asylum; or rather, such of the conversational signs of the deaf and dumb, as are necessary to convey ideas on common subjects; indeed, with the exception of abstract ideas, on all the affairs of common life. For instance, the principal of the institution wore spectacles, and was the only person of the house who did so. He had long been distinguished among the deaf and dumb, by the sign for spectacles made with one or both hands upon the eyes. After feeling his spectacles herself, and having the sign made for them a few times by others, she readily learned to understand and use this sign as appropriate to Mr. Gallaudet alone. In a similar manner, the signs or names distinguishing other individuals were taught; as also those for the objects around her, which it was most important for her to know. A person by taking her hands in his own, and making signs with them, or by permitting her to feel his hands and arms when in the act of signing, could readily communicate with her, on the very simple subjects with which she was most conversant. This is still the method of talking with her, and imperfect as it may seem to a stranger, is yet sufficient, in the hands of one at all skilful in the use of signs, greatly to promote her happiness. It restores her in an important degree to society. She is sent for an article of dress, for her scissors, thimble, or any thing of her own, with entire ease, and with as much certainty that she understands what is wanted, and will procure it, as could be had in the case of almost any other per son. If one whom she knows is sick, she is informed of it; or if a death occurs, she makes the signs for weeping, for being sorry, and perhaps for burying, and is desirous of going to see the corpse. If permitted, she examines the graveclothes, feels the face and hands of the dead body with great delicacy and carefulness, makes the sign for being dead, says the friends are sorry, &c. Still we do not know what her ideas of death are. She cannot fail to know that a great change has passed upon the body, and that soon after it is carried away; but farther than this, all is probably mysterious. Several deaths have occurred in the Asylum since her residence here, all of which have been deeply interesting to Julia. From the first she undoubtedly obtained her original ideas, whatever they were, of so great a change; for when, after a careful and earnest examination, she satisfied herself that the body was incapable of motion, and had ceased to breathe, she seemed filled with horror. In succeeding instances she has been less deeply affected, though the impression in each has been agitating and distressing in a considerable degree. She is disposed to make signs about the event, while it is recent, to herself sometimes, and to others, whenever it is alluded to. On the Sabbath, Julia dresses herself in her best clothing, and taking her rocking-chair, begins the observance of the day, by abstaining from all her customary employments. She never fails to know when the Sabbath returns, nor to keep it throughout, negatively at least, in the strictest manner. This, so far as we know, is simply the result of habit, and in imitation of the example of those around her. She probably recollects nothing of what she may have been taught, previous to her misfortune, in regard to the nature of the Sabbath; nor, indeed, is it probable that she was, at that early age, ever instructed on the subject, except by the examples of her friends. She shows a certain regard for the Sabbath in another way. When permitted to visit her mother, and spend some days with her, she can never be persuaded to remain longer than till the afternoon of Saturday; but gets her bonnet and insists upon returning soon after dinner. What her reason is we cannot discover, unless, perhaps, a desire to enjoy the quiet and the rest of this day in her own rocking-chair and chamber, where she is sure of not being disturbed. Julia rises in summer at about four, |