A correspondent requests us to give some remarks on the different styles of architecture, for the information of himself and others. In a letter now before us he says: "I am often puzzled, when reading articles on architecture, for want of some knowledge of the elementary principles. I often see buildings in which there appears to he want of symmetry, or adaptation of parts to each other - sad incongruity; and yet I am unable to tell where the defect is, or what would remedy it I am afraid, if I should undertake to build myself, I should commit some great blunder. To be sure, you may say, get an architect That is right; but every one who builds, should study the matter himself - certainly enough to understand the rudiments of the science. And then, some of us at the west, who wish to put up a cottage, or make an addition to a house already built, can not command the services of an architect".

To answer our correspondent, perhaps we can not do better than to quote pretty freely from Repton's Landscape Gardening. In this country we have very few purely Gothic, or even Grecian buildings. A glance at the annexed engraving will show that they are scarcely suited to human habitations, much less for private residences. Still, all buildings of architectural pretensions partake somewhat of the character of one or the other, and it is well that the leading features of each should be understood.

Fig. 1. Imaginary composition, showing, in the background, the castellated Gothic style of architecture; next, the ecclesiastic Gothic; then, the mixed Gothic; next, the Grecian, or classical style; and, lastly, Indian architecture.