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well as architects, can distinguish the good from thebad; hut between the ignorant man and the architectthere is this difference, that the first can form no judg-ment till he sees the thing itself; whereas the architect,having a perfect idea in his mind, can perceive thebeauty, convenience, and propriety of his design, beforeit is begun. I have laid down as clearly as I could therules necessary for the construction of private buildings:in the following book I shall treat of the method offinishing them, so that they may be elegant anddurable.