THE Ufe, Application, and Proportien of these Orders, I intend the Subject of enfuing Lectures; in the mean while remain,

Tours, &c.

1.

Read to the Society, Nov. 12, 1730.

LECTURE

LECTURE IV.

GENTLEMEN,

A

SUBJECT fo beaten and exhaufted as that of Architecture, will undoubtedly require a better Genius to engage your Patience, to fome few Remarks and Obfervations, which, for my own private Amusement, I have made fince our laft Night's Meeting; and, perhaps, they may be fo illy digefted, and irregularly plac'd, as not to merit your Notice. However, as my chief End and Design is rather a Divertisement to fomè few Friends, by whofe Importunity I have been prevail'd on to renew fome former Lectures, I fhall, without farther Apology, beg your Attention.

My laft Lecture confifted chiefly in an historical Description of Architecture in general, confin'd to fuch particular stated

Periods

Periods of Time, as have been handed down to us by History or Tradition; and I think I endeavour'd to make it apparent, what Changes, and Viciffitudes of Fate it has undergone, fince it receiv'd that Perfection and Beauty from the Grecians, even from Pericles to Marcellus, and fo progreffively to Inigo Jones, and that great Genius Sir Chriftopher Wren. I now propose to fhew the Difference between the Antient, the Gothick, and our Modern Architect, without Prejudice or Partiality, confining myself to fuch particular Obfervations only, which are neceffary to inftil the first Principles of Designing into the Minds of young Students in Architecture.

Ir may not be amifs, for the better understanding my Defign in this Lecture, to fhew what is the chief Care of an Architect to obferve; which is Regularity and Proportion: thofe are the moft effential Parts to be confider'd in the Art of Defigning. That the Antients had this Happiness of Thought in View in their Performances, is undeniable; and in many Particulars I fhall make it apparent, when I draw a Parallel between the Antients and Moderns; and,

perhaps,

perhaps, in fo obvious a Manner, that none of you can mistake what that Difference confifteth in, and by what Me thods an adequate Knowledge of the Antients may be attain'd.

IN my laft Lecture I obferv'd to you, that the Gothick Architecture prevail'd in Italy, and throughout the rest of Europe, after the Defolation made by the Vandals and Saracens, about 930 Years, and fo continu'd till the Year 1400, in which an Academy was fettled at Florence, which reviv'd the antient "Architecture in many of thofe Buildings now remaining, which were by them then perfected.

REGULARITY and Proportion are the fine Parts of Architecture, and these are perform'd by ftated Rules, handed down to us by the Care and Vigilance of preceding Ages, to whom we owe all our Knowledge, as well Historical as Architectural. I fay Buildings are to be perform'd by stated Rules, as the several Parts of Mufick in Concert are; in which, if one Inftrument is illy tuned, or in a different Key, it immediately creates a Jarring and Difcord, which is

not to be remedied without fetting afide that Inftrument, or putting it in a proper Key with the reft: The fame Rules perfect Architecture, and are effentially neceffary in its Performance; which I fhall fhew by and by.

THE Goths and Vandals were a rude, barbarous, and unpolifh'd People; and, perhaps, that Architecture which is call'd the Gothick, deriv'd its Name only from its rude and ill digefted Form, not much differing from that unrefin'd Part of Mankind; having in their Afpect and Deportment, a Rufticity and Wildness not to be imitated, and as they ravag'd Europe, and spread themselves over most Part of Christendom, it might become a Proverb amongst Men, to term every thing Gothick which was irregular, difproportion'd, or deform'd.

THE Art of Designing was undoubtedly loft in thofe dark Ages, when Men were led blindfold to Learning, through the Caprice and Humour of a Set of Men who endeavour'd to engross that refin'd Part of our Species to themselves; and their Care of fomething less material might prevent them from fpeculative En

quiries