Architecture and Polite Culture in Eighteenth-Century England: Blackstone' S Architectural Manuscripts'
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ARCHITECTURE ÂND POLITE CULTURE IN EIGHTEENTH-CE,NTURY ENGLAND : BLÁ.CKSTONE'S,\RCHITECTUR-,\L MANUSCRIPTS By Catol Matthews BA (F{ons) Discþline of History, School of History and Politics University of Adelaide March,2007 'Architecture and Polite Culture in Eighteenth-Century England: Blackstone' s Architectural Manuscripts' Thesis Abstract Sir William Blackstone (1723 - 1780) is a significant historical figure, known to historians as a judge and as the author of the highly influential Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765 - 1769). An enormous scholarly literature has been devoted to Blackstone's legal thought. As Prest recently observed however, biographers have long acknowledged the existence of Blackstone's interest in architecture, yet its "duration, depth and significance [has] never been properly explored or appreciated".l This thesis takes up that challenge, arguing that an understanding of hìs unpublished architectural treátise, 'Elemenis of Architecture' (1746 - ll47),2 enriches our understanding of Blackstone and of his jurisprudence. The thesis seeks to establish, for the first time, architecture's role in Blackstone's life and intellectual development. It endeavours, most importantly, to determine the extent to which the use of architectural metaphor in his great legal text might offer a new perspective on his reputation as an arch conservative and upon the methodology and very genesis of the Commentaries. The thesis has three major aims: to situate Blackstone's treatise within its biographical, historical and intellectual contexts, to concluct a rletailed examination of the manuscript and, thirdly, to identifu key issues and questions worthy of further research. Thus, it adopts an innovative methodology: that of a scholarly edition of Blackstone's 'Elements of Architecture'. Part one comprises an extended Introduction to the 'Elements', part two constitutes an edited and annotated transcription of the manuscript and an Appendix provides relevant illustrations. This thesis was completed with support from the Australian Research Council, as part of the ARC Discovery Project'V/illiam Blackstone: Life and Works' (DP0210901). I W. Prest. 'Blackstone as Architect: Constructing tlrre Commentaries' Yale Journøl of Law and the Humanities 15/l (2003), l1l. 2 W. BlacLstone. 'Elements of Architecture' (1746-1747), (unpublished ms, Codrington Library, All Souls College, Oxford, MS 333). 11 Tøble of Contents Abstract ii Declaration v Aclcnowledgements vi List of lllustratìons vii List of Abbrevíations viii Chronology x Part One: Bløchstone & hís Mønuserípts Chapter One: Why an Edition of Blackstone's 'Elements'? I Chapter Two: rüilliam Blackstone: Life and Architecture t7 Chapter Three: The Manuscripts 33 Chapter Four: Architectural Taste and Stylistic Diversity in the 1740s 46 Chapter Five: Blackstone's Sources 62 Chapter Six: The Commentaries on the Laws of England 84 Conclusion 104 111 Po.rt Tuto: The Text 108 Editorial Conventions . ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE' 113 297 Appendix 307 Bibliography 1V This work contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and beliet contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text. I give consent to this copy of my thesis, when deposited in the University Llbrary, being made available in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. v Achnowledgernents I should very much like to express my sincere gratitude to those who have advised and supported me during the research and writing of this thesis. Each contributed in his or her own way to the end result but is no way responsible for its shortcomings. I would particularly like to thank my principal supervisor and mentor Professor Wilfrid Prest upon whose seemingly inexhaustible fund of knowledge, encouragement (and no doubt patience) I depended. I am also grateful to my co-supervisor Professor Antony Radford. His knowledge ancl aclvice were invaluable and very much appreciated. Margaret Hosking, Research Librat'ranpar excellence atthe University of Adelaide's Barr Smith Llbrary was a great help. To Dr. Norma Aubertin-Potter and her staff at the Codrington Library of All Souls College, Oxford and to Lucy Schuster and the staff of the Research Llbrary at the Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, also my sincere thanks. I am grateful for the financial support of the Australian Research Council. The University of Adelaide, its Discipline of History's Post Graduate Committee and the J. Paul Getty Trust provided scholarships and grants which supported my research and facilitated research trþs to Oxford and Los Angeles and attendance at conferences in Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Paul Tuffin kindly assisted me with Blackstone's Greek. John Chalmers provided valuable information about Blackstone's 'Abridgement of Architecture' and its provenance. Ray Johnson generously discussed his memories of Castle Priory. I am deeply grateful to my family, füends, and to the staff and fellow postgraduate students at the University of Adelaide. To Joan Herman, Karen Agutter and John Calvert, my thanks for their unflagging enthusiasm and support. To Kristy, Jude, Nadia and Matthew, many thanks for the comradeship. Last, but nowhere near least, I would like to pay tribute to my amazitg husband Malcolm for his untiring support, cheerful reading and rereading of endless drafts, for the mountains of washing, ironing, cooking and dishes he did without complaint while I wrote on weekends and into the wee small hours, and for the grace with which he allowed V/illiam Blackstone to commandeer my life for four years. We made this journey together, as we do all others. The end result is not mine alone, but ours. V1 LIST OF TABLE AND ILLUSTRATIONS Part One Table: Structural Comparison of the'Abridgement' and'Elements' 43 Part Two Blackstone' s Illustrations: TAB. I t28 TAB.II 148 TAB.III 155 TAB. TV t69 TAB. V t70 TAB. VI 173 TAB. VII 179 TAB. VIII 187 TAB. IX t94 TAB. X 201 TAB. XI 223 TAB. XII 224 TAB. XIII 229 TAB. XIV 230 TAB. XV 240 TAB. XVI 241 TAB. XVII 247 TAB. XVIII 252 TAB. XIX 262 TAB. XX 263 TAB. XXI 264 TAB. XXII 284 TAB. XXIII 285 v11 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Unless otherwise stated, place of publication is London Blackstone, 'An Abridgment of Architecture' W. Blackstone, unpublished 'Abridgement' MS, (1743). Special Collections, Getty Research Institute (8e0227). Evelyn, Account Account of Architects and Architecture J. Evelyn, 1664. Perrault, Abrídgment An Abridgment of the Architecture of Vitruvíus Containing A System Of The Whole Worl<s Of That Author C. Perrault (J. James Trans.), 1692. Clitherow Clitherow, James. 'Preface', Elsley, Charles Heneage, Reports Of Cases Determined In The Several Courts Of Westminster Hall From 1746-1779 By The Honourable Sir William Blacl<stone ... with Memoirs Of Hß Life, (2nd ed.)., 1 828. Prest, 'Constructing W. Prest. 'Blackstone as Architect: Constructing the the Commentaries' Commentaries', Yale Journal Of Law And The Humanities, 15,1 (2003),103-133. Blackstong Commentaries on the Laws of England,4 vols., (Chicago, Commentaries 1979), (facsimile of lst ed., c. 1765-1769). Chambers, The Encyclopaedic Dictionary in the Eighteenth Century Cyclopaedia vol2, Cyclopaedia lEphraim Chambers, Terence M. Russell (comp.) Aldershot, c1997. Perrault, Vitruvius Les dix livres d'archítecture de Vitruve corrigez et traduits nouvellement ... P. Vitruvius (C. Penault Trans & Il1.), Paris, 1673. v1l1 Blackstone, 'The Elements of Architecture' W. Blackstone, unpublished 'Elements' MS, 1746 - 1747. Codrington Library, All Souls College, Oxford. MS 333. Wotton, Elements The Elements Of Architecture, Collected By Henry W'otton Knight, From The Best Authors And Examples, Sir H. Wotton, 1624. OED Oxford English Dictionary. Leoni, Architecture The Architecture of A. Palladio... G. Leoni (ed. & trans.) (including I. Jones. Notes and Remarl<s on Palladio),1142. Fréart, Parallel Parallel of the Ancient Architecture with the Modern ... Fréart, R. Sieur de Chambray (J. Evelyn, Trans.)., c.1664, 1123. Gibbs, Rules Rules For Drawing the Several Parts of Architecture ..- J Gibbs, 1732. Vitruvius, Ten Boolcs The Ten Boolæ on Architecture ... (trans. H.M. Morris), NY (Harvard ed.)., 1960, c.l9t4. 1X Chronology 1723: 19 July Blackstone is born, Cheapside, London 1738 Admitted to Pembroke College, University of Oxford t74l Admitted to Middle Temple, London 1743: July Completes'Abridgement of Architecture', composes Zåe Pantheon: A Vision 1746 Oversees completion of Wharton Elected Bursar of Law at All Building and Codrington Library Souls. at All Souls. Commences Revision of 'Abridgement' 1147 Completes'Elements of Architecture' 1753 Releases Prospectus: "A Course of Lectures on the Laws of England" It55 lnserts details of a Corinthian Visits Easton Neston regarding Column at Easton Neston in Pomfret Donation to the 'Elements' University of Oxford 1756 Publishes Analysis of the Laws of England 1758 October Delivers inaugural lecture as Foundation Vinerian Professor of the Laws of England t76l Marries Sarah Clitherow. Purchases and rebuilds Priory Place, Wallingford 1765 - 1769 Publishes Commentaries t767 Involves Robert Taylor in restoration of interior of St. Peter's church, Wallingford. The Pantheon: A Visionis published t769 Oversees construction of Swinford Bridge early 1770s Commissions Taylor to design and erect spire for St. Peter's church.