Amongst the earliest houses on the Italian model in England, was the princely mansion of Longleate, in 'Wilt shire, the seat of the marquis of Weymouth ; it was built from the designs of Hans Holbein, in the reign of Edward VI. The plan and elevation may be seen in Plate CLXXV111. It surrounds three sides of a parallelogram, measuring externally 220 feet from east to west, and 175 feet from north to south. The height is divided into three stories,the lowest has Doric pilasters, &c. the middle Ionic, and the upper Corinthian. In the south or principal front, in the lower story, there are sixteen windows and a door ; in each of the other stories of this front are seventeen windows; the size of' the lower ones is 9 feet X 4 feet 6 inches ; of the middle 10 feet X 4 feet 6 inches ; and the upper 7 feet x 4 feet 6 inches. They are each sur rounded by a plain slender architrave, and sonic have tablets and small trusses under the belt which forms their sills, and this belt also forms the cap of the pedestal of the order. There is a parapet and balusters along the top of the front ; there are also three small cupolas. The entrance door-way has a Doric column and pilaster on each side of it ; over these is an open pediment with arms in the open parts. In this south front, near each extre mity, there are two square projections, each occupying 21 feet in length, and separated by about an equal dis tance ; on the east and west sides, are three similar pro jections, and one at each extremity of the northern side.
In the principal story, there is a hall 51 x 30 exclusive of the recess ; an apartment on the right hand 42 x 30, exclusive of two recesses; one on the left 37 x 30, ex clusive of one recess ; the recesses are 17 X 8. Besides these, there is one apartment 30 X 25 ; one 27 x 23 ; a bedroom 24 x 23, ditto 31 x 22, ditto 23 X 22 ; a waiting room, at the entrance, 22 square ; a chapel 47 X 22 ; and a staircase 27 x 21, besides others of inferior note.
From this specimen, it appears, that the school was imported in a very improved state ; its external appear ance having a perfect regularity, and being nearly free of tawdry ornaments, is evidence of correct taste, and great care in forming the design. liv having a separate order for each story, the members are rendered very mi nute, but in a private dwelling, where several rows of windows are unavoidable, those slender proportions are more appropriate than in a public edifice. The upper windows are preserved of a good size. In the Intel ion arrangement, the hall, and some of the principal rooms, have their uniformity destroyed by the recesses, and se veral of them are injured by thoroughfares. NVhat has here been described, applies to the I.ouse in its original state ; but the whole interiot has lately been renovated and improved, with much jndgment and success, by Air Jefferey Wyatt, and is now rendered a very superb ha bitation.
The next in succession, is the celebrated lnigo Jones, who about a century afterwards practised architecture extensively both in England and Scotland. In his magni ficent edifice, HERIOT'S I fosvITAL, (begun in 1628,) may be observed many features corresponding with sonic to be found in Longleate, only he has here been more profuse in sculptured ornaments about doors and windows, and has adhered more to the style of the baronial castle. Having formerly described this edifice pretty fully, we shall only here recommend attention to the mode of ma naging the chimney tops, which lie has made of a poly gonal shape, with concave sides. We have in another place already mentioned, that the operation of changing styles from Gothic to Roman, is very perceptible in sonic parts of this edifice.