In your November number you give a very pretty picture of a "Symmetrical Cottage," offered as a model of "good proportion, tasteful form, and chaste ornament"

Of what style is this cottage, that it may claim to be chaste The poreh is meant to be (carpenter's) Gothic, while the windows are, in fashion and shape, Italian, though with Gothic hoods. The chimney is Italian; the cornice and pitch of roof, Swiss. This latter style seems to prevail, making the pointed arches, pinnacles and hoods, at variance with the common sash windows, chimney top, and " horizontal sheathing." The plan is wholly Swiss; but is it not an objection that the veranda, or arcade, is made to cross the entire front, so as to divide the same into two parts, leaving no relief or margin on the sides This is a very common fault in front porches, or verandas; being both too much, and at the same time too little ! Is not the outside door and its opposite window thrust into the extreme corner! How would this appear under the "piazza!" The house, I presume, is to be warmed by hot air, as the parlor is the only room in the house, excepting the kitchen, having a fireplace; and this seems awkwardly placed close to the door of the dining-room, and unnecessarily so.

We very much wish that houses of this capacity could be built about New York and Hudson river for $2,000. D.

Our correspondent has very cleverly answered his own questions, as to the style of Messrs. Austin & Warner's "Symmetrical Cottage," as given in our November number. It is a mixed style, as the majority of our modern houses are; not purely this or that. We approve of this mixture, provided, always, it be done in a masterly manner. We admit that there is considerable discordance between some of the parts of the " Symmetrical Cottage." The chimney scarcely looks as though intended for it. The horizontal sheathing is less objectionable, as it is intended to be sanded and blocked to resemble stone. The ground plan exhibits a good deal of comfort and convenience; and these are important points. A friend writes us, that he would prefer to draw the ground plan of hi? house first; have that to suit him exactly; let the elevation go as it would. The awkward situation of the parlor fireplace, close to the dining-room door, is owing to the main building having but one smoke flue, and that in the center. There is economy in thus placing the chimney; and if the house be not heated with a furnace, the dining-room and nursery could be heated with stoves, the flue being accessible to both.

As to cost, from what little experience we have had in building, we should think $2,000 is at least fifty per cent. too low for this cottage, even at Rochester. This we apprehend is a common failing of architects. Give them an order for a design to cost $2,000, and in nine cases out of ten, $4,000 will scarcely complete it. People are led into serious difficulties on this account.

Architectural Criticism #1

In reference to doubts expressed in your January number, in regard to the cottages being erected for the prices given, permit us to state, that we will guaranty to have them built in the vicinity of Rochester, by some of our most competent contractors, for the several prices mentioned,- not getting them up expressly for publication, but in every instance being built, or are now in the course of erection. Austin & Warner, Architects, We see by the last number of the London Gardener's Chronicle, that Mr. Thomas' recent work - Farm Implements, and the Principle* of their Construction and Use - has been republished in London with all its illustrations. - Country Gentleman.