GLOSSARY, containing also LIST OF PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTS and their Works, &c.
INDEX.

Perfection is not attainable in human labour, and the errors and defects
of this work will, doubtless, in due time be pointed out; but as the subject
has occupied the author's mind during a considerable practice, he is inclined
to think that these will not be very abundant. He can truly say that he has
bestowed upon it all the care and energy in his power; and he alone is re-
sponsible for its errors or defects ; - the only assistance he has to acknow-
ledge being from his son, Mr. John Sebastian Gwilt, by whom the illustra-
tive drawings were executed. No apology is offered for its appearance,
inasmuch as the want of such a book has been felt by every architect at the
beginning of his career. Not less is wanted a similar work on Civil En-
gineering, which the author has pleasure in stating is about to be shortly
supplied by his friend, Mr. Edward Cresy.

Without deprecating the anger of the critic, or fearing what may be
urged against his work, the author now leaves it to its fate. His attempt
has been for the best, and he says with sincerity,

"Si quid novisti rectius istis
Candidus imperti, si non his utere mecum."

Abingdon Street, Westminster,

30th September, 1842.

J. G.

P.S.-The author begs here to acknowledge the unremitting zeal of the
printers of this work, and the obligations under which they have laid him by
their care in its progress through the press. A few unavoidable errors have,
however, occurred, notwithstanding every care; and the attention of the
reader is requested to the "Errata" for their correction.

414. in fig. 582., letter A omitted at springing of arch inside, and letter B at the

outside of the springing.

430. line 25. from bottom, for √49} × 49} +22 × 221=54}}},

read √49 × 49} + 22} × 22}= 54.

432. line 5., for BC, read DC.

432. line 4. from bottom, for √14207=119 ft. 2 in., read √14207=119 ft. 2 in.

GLOSSARY, containing also A LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTS

OF ALL TIMES AND COUNTRIES, AND THEIR WORKS

INDEX

885

1055

ENCYCLOPÆDIA

OF

ARCHITECTURE.

BOOK I.

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE.

CHAP. I.

ON THE ORIGIN OF ARCHITECTURE.

SECT. I.

WANTS OF MAN, AND FIRST BUILDINGS.

Of

1. PROTECTION from the inclemency of the seasons was the mother of architecture. little account at its birth, it rose into light and life with the civilisation of mankind; and, proportionately as security, peace, and good order were established, it became, not less than its sisters, painting and sculpture, one method of transmitting to posterity the degree of importance to which a nation had attained, and the moral value of that nation amongst the kingdoms of the earth. If the art, however, be considered strictly in respect of its actual utility, its principles are restricted within very narrow limits; for the mere art, or rather science, of construction, has no title to a place among the fine arts. Such is in various degrees to be found among people of savage and uncivilised habits; and until it is brought into a system founded upon certain laws of proportion, and upon rules based on a refined analysis of what is suitable in the highest degree to the end proposed, it can pretend to no rank of a high class. It is only when a nation has arrived at a certain degree of opulence and luxury that architecture can be said to exist in it. Hence it is that architecture, in its origin, took the varied forms which have impressed it with such singular differences in different countries; differences which, though modified as each country advanced in civilisation, were, in each, so stamped, that the type was permanent, being refined only in a higher degree in their most important examples.

2. The ages that have elapsed, and the distance by which we are separated from the nations among whom the art was first practised, deprive us of the means of examining the shades of difference resulting from climate, productions of the soil, the precise spots upon which the earliest societies of man were fixed, with their origin, number, mode of life, and social institutions; all of which influenced them in the selection of one form in preference to another. We may, however, easily trace in the architecture of nations, the types of three distinct states of life, which are clearly discoverable at the present time; though in some cases the types may be thought doubtful.