VI

PREFACE.

in the Ionic porticoes six ; in the Doric eight; a variation between a twelfth, asixth, a third, a half, and two thirds of the entire cube being employed for supports,and the remainder for space.

One of the great features of the age is the division of labour, and as the popula-tion increases, and the influence of knowledge spreads, it seems likely to be stillfurther carried out. The province of the Civil Engineer at present extends over theworks performed by the artificer, miner, and mechanic; he is entrusted with thedirection of all that is difficult and scientific in construction, whether upon land orwater, as well as with designing the machinery necessary for these important pur-poses. This knowledge was formerly demanded of the architect , who in addition wasrequired to be acquainted with the fine arts. His qualifications, according to Vitru­ vius , were to embrace all that could be known ; and many illustrious names couldbe adduced to prove that the requirements of the great Roman architect were ful-filled to the letter.

To design an edifice that shall have “ Commodity, Firmness, and Delight,” or torender it both serviceable and expressive of its purpose, requires a variety of talent;and it is to be feared that the architect who confines his attention solely to thatportion embraced by the fine arts will eventually lose his power: for withoutstudying the principles of construction, he cannot give character to his design, andis not qualified to be entrusted with the execution of a work. On the other hand,should the Civil Engineer be required to act as architect, he must pursue the courseadopted by Sir Christopher Wren, —set out upon his travels, and examine andstudy those buildings which have received the approbation of the most competentjudges; and he will find that Egyptian, Grecian, Roman, and Mediaeval architecture,have each its peculiar principles and character of expression. Equal application isrequired for a perfect initiation into the knowledge of architecture as a fine art asfor that of the science of construction. St. Paul’s , London , which is a masterpieceof construction, gives but too strong evidence that the genius of the mathe-matician had not profited sufficiently from his journey in search of what was con-sistent and perfect in architecture ; he did not even advance so far in that study ashis predecessor Inigo Jones. - We admire this splendid edifice, not for its architec-ture, but for the principles developed in its construction. Those who pass judgmenton a design should be in possession of all the elements necessary for such a task.They should be acquainted with construction generally and in detail, and shouldunderstand the proper relative proportions of every part of the edifice. Thepublic are enabled to pronounce the Menai Bridge to be both beautiful and useful:but before the architect can decide that it is a perfect work of its kind, he mustbe satisfied, not only that every tie rod and strut is rightly proportioned, but thatall of them in their respective characters express their functions, producing a wholecombining security, solidity, and utility. . ,

It is impossible to dismiss this portion of our subject without expressing feelingsof the most painful regret at the position which Architecture now appears to hold inthis country. In France , Germany , and throughout Europe , it occupies its rightfulplace, as the chief and most important of the arts of design : there the architect isprepared for the exercise of his profession by a long course of study, tested by strictexaminations in elementary mathematics and the sciences of construction, while allthe student’s talents and energies are called forth by the spirit of emulationproduced by contests for medals and academic honours. Foreign governmentspowerfully contribute to the encouragement of successful merit by bestowingthereon their patronage and protection, by conferring civil orders and decorations,and by endowing academies and professorships, which enable the man of scienceto devote his leisure to the cultivation and advancement of his art.

The Engineers , estimating at its true value the power acquired by combination,have wisely united “ for the general advancement of mechanical science, and moreparticularly for promoting the acquisition ^of that species of knowledge whichconstitutes the profession of a Civil Engineer.” They have defined the nature andobjects of their Institution: they encourage the student to cultivate the sciencesancillary to his profession, and, by the distribution of medals and prizes for the mostable memoirs, incite him to the study and description of engineering works athome and abroad. Nor has the means of furnishing the aspirant with opportunitiesfor acquiring theoretical knowledge been neglected: the College of Civil Engineers,the engineermg classes at King’s and University Colleges, and at the University of