[See Frontispiece.]

We noticed with delight in Great Britain, that among the warmest devotees of horticulture and rural taste generally, are the country clergymen. Their homes are always pictures of comfort, snugness, and beauty, and thus exercise a more powerful influence in disseminating a love of rural life and domestic enjoyment among the agricultural population than the castles and mansions of the great proprietors.

Little by little, something of the same tastes are growing up in this country. We received a letter lately from a clergyman in Worcester county, Mass., (whose name he would prefer withheld,) soliciting some assistance in the plan of his house. His letter contained a sketch of what he considered the essential features of the plan, and as we have always found that a home is roost conveniently arranged when the architect proceeds upon the ascertained and acknowledged wants of the family, or the class of families for whose use it is intended, we have in modifying and re-arranging the cottage for our friend, the country clergyman in Massachusetts, adhered pretty closely to his own sketch of the principal floor - only varying it where it could be improved.

As his letter will explain his wants and those of many who are situated like him, we print the following extract from it, for the benefit of our readers, in order that they may see the real requirements of such a family.

A. J. Downing, Esq

In the "Horticulturist," to which I have become a subscriber, I find a few pages devoted to answering the questions and relieving the difficulties of your correspondents. Following their example, will you allow me to detain you a moment

Resid nees." I have been wishing to procure a home - one however, plain and simple in its character, that might yet have something attractive about it, above the appearance of the unsightly fabrics that are too often classed under the head of houses. And I turned over the pages of your volume in eager hope of finding something that would be adapted to my wants, and that would be so economical in its construction, that it might be made available for the comfort and convenience of a poor country clergyman, in the condition of him who addresses you. There were many of those snug cottages that charmed me, but I could not find in them what I cannot do without - a study. It was only in the more expensive structures, the cost of which places them wholly beyond my hope of possession, that the "library" found a place. With the expectation that others will aid me in the erection of a house, from absolute necessity, I wish to restrict myself to the least possible outlay. Yet I have felt that the most modest residence might have something of true beauty in its character, and that there was no need in any structure, of sinning against architectural propriety and law.

I dare not think of having a house that shall cost much above $1,100 or $1,200, for I can ill afford to pay the rent of one that shall much exceed that cost? But is it impossible that for about that sum we may be furnished with the conveniences we need? We have in prospect of possession, a little bit of land, but half an acre, fronting to the south upon the road, which runs east and west. To the west and south-west we shall have a fine prospect, which we wish to enjoy by bringing the rooms mostly occupied upon that side of the house. The rooms we desire upon the first floor are a kitchen, sitting-room, bed-room, study, parlor, and pantries, etc. We wish to place the house upon the east side of the lot, or very near the east side, that the garden may occupy the other portion. From your "Cottage Residences," with my own cogitations, I have endeavored to approximate such a plan as we need. - yet find it still defective; and I much desire to know whether it will meet your sincere approval, or if you can aid me in regard to the defective points.

Will you have patience with me, while I lay before you a rough sketch of my plan - and tell you what there is to me, unsatisfactory about it.

No. vii. 2

[Wo omit the country clergyman's sketch of plan, which we have varied and improved, though the main features of his sketch are all retained, and his remarks upon it.]

And now what should be the external finish of such a house, that it may be neat and proper, yet without any showing pretension? I have attempted to give you a front elevation with my pen, but it has run wild with me. I will try my pencil, and may succeed better.

My difficulties are to bring the kitchen nearer the sitting-room, without giving up the bed-room; to get a back stair-way, underneath which may be a way to the cellar; and to obtain a room over the kitchen; and to know whether the plan of such a house would meet the approval of an architect's eye, externally - or how, most economically, it may be made acceptable to correct taste in its outward appearance. Which of the styles among your "Cottage Residences," would be a proper and economical finish for this? Poor as I am, for I possess not a farthing aside from my salary of $700 per annum, I dislike to be accessory to the erection of a house that shall be an eye-sore to those who may rightly judge it. Wo have few houses here built with any regard to good taste. I appreciate most fully all that you say about the proper construction of houses, and now, when I am struggling to obtain one for my own home, I desire that it may be, however humble, an approximation to what a neat little "parsonage" should be - and that it may be a standing lesson

I beg pardon for so long taxing your patience. I should not have been emboldened to address you thus familiarly, were it not for the con amort spirit with which yon have written upon the subject of architecture, and of hornet. If you will be kind enough to give me a little help in respect to the points that perplex me - or if you will furnish for the "Horticulturist" the design for a cottage for a country clergyman, that shall include the accommodations which I have suggested on the first floor, with three or four lodging rooms in the chambers - and at a cost that shall be within the means of us poor ministers - you will greatly oblige me and others, and help those who would do something to carry out the principles which you have so ably advocated. Yours very respectfully.

For the plan and perspective view of the cottage which we have designed for the "parsonage" of the author of the foregoing letter, we refer our readers to the Frontispiece of this number. In the elevation we have chosen a simple cottage style - one that always befits rural scenery, and gives the most room for the cost of any style that can be adopted. The rustic veranda, and rustic trellises over the windows, are intended for vines - but not merely as a support for vines - but rather as thereby giving an air of rural refinement and poetry to the house without expense. We say without expense; and by this we mean comparatively; for we do not mean these rustic trellises to be built by carpenters, and included in the original cost of the cottage, but to be added afterwards from time to time by the clergyman himself, aided by some farm-hand, expert with the saw and hammer. They should be constructed of cedar poles - with the bark on - which may be had almost anywhere in Massachusetts for a trifle, and which if neatly put together will be more becoming to such a cottage as this than elaborate carpentry work.

By the addition of such trellis work and a few vines, a simple rural cottage like this may be made a most attractive object in a rural landscape.

The plan (see frontispiece,) is, as we have said, mainly that of our correspondent - the country clergyman. We have only retouched it here and there, so as to bring the rooms into good fellowship. We could not afford a separate "backstairs," but we have given something of the utility of one, so far as the cellar way is concerned, by shutting off the back entry from the front hall, by a door at C. A door at D, opens on the veranda. There is a study with places for books, at B, (where otherwise may be a door to connect the study with the living room, if thought desirable:) a nice parlor on one side of the entry, and a living-room on the other side - which living-room has two convenient closets so placed at the side of the room as to form a kind of bay-window effect, that would be pleasing and convenient. There are also, a kitchen, a bed-room for the family, and a childs' bed room, all in connection. The door between the latter and the back entry should be glazed, to admit light to that part of the entry behind C. If a communication between the entry and the large bed-room is thought more desirable than the closets, a door placed there instead of the closets, would answer that purpose.

The second floor plan (fig.1) shows showing the back porch and the arrangement of the kitchen wing. To build this house for the sum named by our correspondent, it must, of course be constructed of wood, and in portions of of the country where both labor and materials are not at the present high pri-ecs about New-York. The whole must be constructed in a simple manner - the inside walls to be white-washed or neatly papered - the first story to be 9 1/2 or 10 feet high only.

Fig. 1 - Second Floor.

The principal merit of this design is in its comprising a convenient arrangement for the purpose, brought into a form that is rural and picturesque.