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A Key to Civil Architecture : Or,

pleasing variety, that they admit not of sloth orweariness. Indeed, according to the ordinary sig-nification of the word, it is used in opposition to theliberal arts; whereas, in propriety of speech, thosearts and employments may alone be called illiberal,which require some bodily labour, divested of causesand speculation ; as sawyers, stioe-makers, taylors,Ac. And on the contrary, that discipline, whichteaches and discovers the general effects and pro-perties of things, may truly be esteemed as a speciesof philosophy.

But here it should be observed, that this art isusually distinguished into a twofold kind, viz. ra-tional and manual. The first is that, which treatsof those principles and fundamental notions whichmay concern these mechanical practices. The lat-ter doth refer to the making of all these instruments,and the exercising of such particular experiments inarchitecture, Ac. and, familiarly speaking, may betermed as theory and practice ; both which I meanto treat of in the following sheets. The first ofthese may properly be called liberal, as deservingthe thoughts of men of erudition ; because springingfrom the honourable parentage of geometry andnatural philosophy.

Not even the pursuit of Rhetoric and Logic domore adorn the mind, than a thorough knowledgeof Architecture, and Mechanic powers and practi-ces enlighten the understanding ; and, therefore,are they well worthy to be entertained with muchgreater respect, than they commonly meet with inthese luxurious times.

The mechanical faculties, by which all experi-ments are tried in removing the matter of bodies,are generally reckoned to be six—the Balance, theLever, the Wheel, the Pulley, the Wedge, and the

Screw;