Whyshoulditbecheapertoerectastructurewherethesizeofthewindowsbearsnorationalrelationtothesizeofthefront？Isthereanyprofitinamisplacedchimney-stalk？Doesahard-working，greedybuildergainmoreonamonstrositythanonadecentcottageofequalplainness？Frankly，weshouldsay，No。Bricksmaybeomitted，andgreentimberemployed，intheconstructionofevenaveryelegantdesign；andthereisnoreasonwhyachimneyshouldbemadetovent，becauseitissosituatedastolookcomelyfromwithout。Ontheotherhand，thereisanoblewayofbeingugly：ahigh-aspiringfiascolikethefallofLucifer。Therearedaringandgaudybuildingsthatmanagetobeoffensive，withoutbeingcontemptible；andweknowthat’foolsrushinwhereangelsfeartotread。’Buttoaimatmakingacommon-
placevilla，andtomakeitinsufferablyuglyineachparticular；toattemptthehomeliestachievement，andtoattainthebottomofderidedfailure；nottohaveanytheorybutprofitandyet，atanequalexpense，tooutstripallcompetitorsintheartofconceivingandrenderingpermanentdeformity；andtodoallthisinwhatis，bynature，oneofthemostagreeableneighbourhoodsinBritain：-whatarewetosay，butthatthisalsoisadistinction，hardtoearnalthoughnotgreatlyworshipful？
Indifferentbuildingsgivepaintothesensitive；
butthesethingsoffendtheplainesttaste。Itisadangerwhichthreatenstheamenityofthetown；andasthiseruptionkeepsspreadingonourborders，wehaveeverthefarthertowalkamongunpleasantsights，beforewegainthecountryair。IfthepopulationofEdinburghwerealiving，autonomousbody，itwouldariselikeonemanandmakenighthideouswitharson；thebuildersandtheiraccompliceswouldbedriventowork，liketheJewsofyore，withthetrowelinonehandandthedefensivecutlassintheother；andassoonasoneofthesemasonicwondershadbeenconsummated，right-mindediconoclastsshouldfallthereonandmakeanendofitatonce。
Possiblythesewordsmaymeettheeyeofabuilderortwo。Itisnouseaskingthemtoemployanarchitect；