PUBLISHER’S PREFACE.

The principles of honour and integrity inculcated onthe architect in the subjoined work would alone sanc-tify its prolonged use by the profession. “ Theperusal,” says Milizia (speaking of Vitruvius), in hisLives of the Architects , “ of that part of his writings*in which he treats of the requisite qualities of anarchitect, should cause those to blush who pursue theprofession solely for the purpose of profit, and whoare guided by no other feeling than interest. Wouldthat the lessons of our author might excite regret insuch men, and induce them to follow it from motivesof honour! ”f

Some persons have thought that the value of theauthor’s treatise on architecture has been much over-rated. One has gone even so far as to express anopinion that it might have even been better for the arthad the work been buried in oblivion. Fortunately,the number of these eccentric beings is few and ofsmall authority in the art. It seems, indeed, strange, ifcredit could be attached to their dicta, that no less thanforty-three editions of the work should have appearedin various languages, some of them by men of greatlearning, and amongst them one by an architect ofconsummate taste and world-wide reputation: for such

* Lib. i. cap. 1—Pref. lib. vi.

f Mrs. Cresy’s Translation.