1 ARCHITECTURE. Origin of the various Orders. 1 THE first habitations of man were such as nature suggested, just sufficient to satisfy his wants; huts, 1caves, and tents. As civilization advanced, men began to build more 1 durable and commodious habitations. They fitted stones or bricks together more neatly, and at first without any cement. After they had learned how to build houses, they began to erect temples for their gods, which were much larger and better made than their own habitations. The Egyptian style of building derived its origin from the cavern and mound; the Chinese from the tent; the Grecian from the wooden cabin, and the Gothic from the bower of trees. Architecture at length became a fine art, and much pains was bestowed upon temples and palaces. 'Colonnades, halls and courts soon appeared; the rough trunk was transformed into the lofty 3 column, and the natural vault of a cavern into the splendid 1 pantheon. The first nations who paid attention to architecture were the Babylonians, who built the temple of Belus and the hanging gardens; the Assyrians, who filled Nineveh with splendid buildings; the 'Phoenicians, whose cities were adorned with magnificent structures, and the Israelites, whose temple was considered wonderful. Of the 2. See below. 1. Vide Root. 3. The earliest Egyptian column was a stalk of the lotus plant (Diadelphia, class 17; Decandria, order 4) topped by its calix. The calix placed over a bundle of its stalks, gave the idea of the column, base, and capital. 4. Belus, 666 feet high, 1230 feet square, built of brick and bitumen, and supposed to have been erected on the site of the Tower of Babel. 5. About 2200 B. C. 7. Principally at Persepolis; but Persia has been so frequently overrun that nearly all her monuments of art have been destroyed. 8. Chief specimens of their elegance, in the obelisks; 6. 1012 B. C. ¡Persian and Egyptian architecture we have some remains, and they are all in a style of prodigal splendour and gigantic height. The Greeks first introduced a more simple and dig 訂 寶 nified style of building, called the Doric order, (A). The Ionic (E) and Corinthian (1) columns were soon added to the Doric. After the Peloponnesian war, this noble simplicity had again given place to the excess of ornament; and after the death of Alexander, 323 B. c., the art declined, and was afterwards but little cultivated in Greece. The Romans had paid some attention to architecture, but did not equal the Greeks till the time of 10 Augustus, U who encouraged Greek "artists to erect splendid buildings in Rome. The Romans formed the 12 Tuscan (o) and 13 Composite (u) orders. But when the seat of government was 14 removed to Constantinople, the art declined in Rome. These beautiful works of art were almost entirely destroyed by the Goths and Vandals; 15 but Theodoric, a friend of the arts, endeavoured to restore them, and even erected several new ones. This is the era of the origin of modern art, and the style of building it introduced, is called 16 Gothic architecture. of massiveness, in their pyramids, sphynxes, statue of Memnon; and extent, in the labyrinth. They were, however, ignorant of the arch. 9. From 11. Professors of the fine 10. Our Saviour's advent. 431 to 404 B C. arts-painting, sculpture, engraving, poetry, music, &c. 12. The name Tuscan, from the Etruscans, and distinguished by its strength. posite, because composed of the Ionic and Corinthian orders. 15. From A. D. 200 to 493. disliked it. 13. The name Com14. A. D. 330. 16. So named by Sir Christopher Wren, who ENGLAND. Accession of the House of Stuart. ELIZABETH was succeeded by James Stuart, king of Scotland. He was the sixth James that had ruled over that kingdom, but was James the First of England. He began to reign in 1603. James inherited the English crown, because he was the grandson of a daughter of Henry the Seventh. His mother was Mary, queen of Scots, whom Elizabeth had beheaded. The whole island of Great Britain was now under the same government. This event put an end to the wars which had raged between England and Scotland during many centuries. 1 James was by no means a man of 1 dignified mind. He was pedantic, and fond of 1arbitrary power. During this reign the present translation of the Bible was produced. It was completed in 1611. In the year 1619 Dr. Harvey discovered the 1circulation of the blood. The most remarkable event of this reign, however, was the gunpowder plot, in 1604. Guy Fawkes was discovered in a cellar under the houses of parliament, where he had stored thirty-six barrels of gunpowder, intending to blow up the king and parliament. The 'conspirators were seized and executed. James died in 1625, and was succeeded by Charles the First. Charles soon displayed an arbitrary temper. He laid impositions upon trade without the authority of parliament; and when the merchants and some members of the house of Commons refused to pay, he imprisoned them. This led to remonstrances which the king disregarded. The commons then resolved to vote no supplies without a 1. Vide Root. 2. Money and taxes for the support of the king and government. 3. Puritans, so named from objecting to vestments and established observances. ledress of grievances, upon which Charles tried to 'levy money without the authority of parliament. About this time a great number of the puritans, who had greatly increased in England, and who were wearied by the persecutions to which they were subject, embarked for North America, and laid the foundation of a government on the principles of civil and religious liberty. The enemies of the puritans at length prevailed on the king to put a stop to these 'emigrations; and among others, John Hampden, John Pym, and Oliver Cromwell were prevented by an order in council from sailing. The king had afterwards abundant cause to repent of this exercise of his authority. In 1637 John Hampden was tried for opposing a tax called ship money; and though defeated, he was hailed as the champion of the people's liberties. He, together with Pym and Cromwell, subsequently took an active part in the civil war occasioned by the arbitrary proceedings of Charles. The demand of the king that Hampden and four other leaders of the popular party, should be given up to him, hastened the explosion which soon after took place. In 1638 an insurrection broke out in Scotland, in consequence of an attempt to force 'episcopacy upon that nation. A solemn league and covenant was entered into by all ranks to reject the king's canons and liturgy; and they eventually succeeded in maintaining presbyterianism. GEOGRAPHICAL.-Write the names of the principal places in the following counties Hampshire Western Circuit. Dorsetshire Devonshire In what counties are the following places; how are they situated; and what are they noted for?-Portsmouth, Plymouth, Chatham, Sheerness, Woolwich, and Deptford. CHRONOLOGICAL.-James I. Lord Bacon died, 1626. Sir Walter Raleigh beheaded, 1618. Copper halfpence and farthings first coined. Baronets first created by James I. in 1611. First colonial establishment in North America in Virginia, 1616. New England colouised, 1621. E MECHANICAL POWERS. Wheel and Axle, and Pulley. WHEEL AND AXLE.-The wheel and axle consists of a cylinder or axle, passing through a wheel to which it is firmly fastened, both moving together, and the whole instrument resting on the extremities of the axis. The power in this instrument is always applied to the circumference of the wheel, and the weight to be raised is attached to the axle by means of a cord. The nature of the power applied to the wheel must be governed by circumstances; sometimes a weight is attached, and at other times it is moved by animal power, and is then furnished with a winch or with spokes. The windlass and the capstan are the most familiar 3examples of the wheel and axis; and they only differ from each other in the manner of applying the power. In the common windlass, generally used for raising water in wells, the power is applied by the means of a winch, which is a rectangular lever. The capstan is used in vessels to raise the anchor, and the power is applied by levers, the axle being in a vertical position, for the sake of convenience. In the treadmill the power, the foot, is applied to the circumference of the wheel. |