CHAPTER HI.

OF THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF ARCHITECTURE.

Architecture consists of three branches ; namely, build-ing, dialling, and mechanics. Building is divided intotwo parts. The first regulates the general plan of thewalls of a city and its public buildings ; the other re-lates to private buildings. Public buildings are for threepurposes ; defence, religion, and the security of the pub-lic. Buildings for defence are those walls, towers, andgates of a town, necessary for the continual shelter of itsinhabitants against the attacks of an enemy. Those forthe purposes of religion are the fanes and temples of theimmortal gods. Those for public convenience are gates,fora or squares for market-places, baths, theatres, walks,and the like ; which, being for public use, are placed inpublic situations, and should he arranged so as best tomeet the convenience of the public. All these should pos-sess strength, utility, and beauty. Strength arises fromcarrying down the foundations to a good solid bottom,and from making a proper choice of materials withoutparsimony. Utility arises from a judicious distribution ofthe parts, so that their purposes he duly answered, andthat each have its proper situation. Beauty is producedby the pleasing appearance and good taste of the whole,and by the dimensions of all the parts being duly pro-portioned to each other.