130 



ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF TUEATRSl. 



iuced as a 

 frame- work. 



Time should 

 be allowed for 

 obtaining in- 

 formation from 

 erery quarter. 



Observations 

 of Mr. Smea- 

 ton. 



Architects 

 should be en- 

 gineers. 



Society of civil 

 engineers in 

 |.-ondon. 



introduction of timber as a frame work for bricks and atonr : 

 this is a fault common to buildings in London, where the 

 public safety is without hesitation sacrificed to the interest* 

 of individuals.— But to construct a wooden theatre is an 

 absurdity too gross, to pass without animadversion. A 

 frame-work of timber, rilled with cores of brick or stone, 

 and cased perhaps with brick or plaster, is opened for the 

 reception of the public, who are to run the risk of sudden 

 destruction from a spark of fire, or a snuff of candle, from 

 the fireworks and lightning of comedy and tragedy, of 

 pantomime and farce, without any probable means of 

 escape, or any security, except what a few hogsheads of 

 water in a cistern on the top of the house can afford.— -No 

 future prologue at the opening of a new theatre could re- 

 assure the audience upon this subject. 



From a view of these considerations I hope it will appear 

 incumbent upon those, who rebuild Drury-lane, to take 

 time for receiving information from every quarter whence it 

 may be expected : instead of hurrying forward to a begin- 

 ning before they have well considered the end. A remark- 

 able observation made by that great engineer Mr. Smeaton, 

 in his account of the building of the Eddystone lighthouse, 

 should never be forgotten by those who direct, or by those 

 who undertake extensive public works.—" No resolution of 

 f* the proprietors," says he, " ever conduced more to ulti- 

 M mate success, than their leaving me at liberty fas to time J; 

 " had they been of the same temper and disposition as by 

 " far the greatest part of those who have employed me, 

 ** both before and since, their language -would have been, 

 " Gel on, get on, for God's sake get on, the public is in 

 " expectation, get us something speedily, to show, that we 

 ** may gain credit with the public." 



Architects and engineers are so nearly connected with 

 each other in the objects of their pursuits, that it would be 

 well both for them and for the public, if every architect 

 were an engineer, and every engineer an architect. That 

 this is not always the case, we have melancholy instances to 

 prove. 



There is a society of civil engineers in London, of which 

 Sir Joseph Banks is president, consisting of men of undis- 

 puted 



