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The ORIGIN and THEORY of the GOTHIC ARCH. 
By the Reverend M.eYOUNG, D.D. F.T.C.D. and 
MRI. A. 
1. N oTWITHSTANDING the furprifing things that have 
been effected by the architeéts of the middle ages, in raifing fuch 
ftupendous piles on fo flight an apparent fupport as the pointed 
arch and flender Gothic pillar; it feems that their fucceffors have 
not, with all the care which the fubje@ deferves, confidered how 
far any part of thefe great effe€ts was to be attributed to the 
ftrudture of the arch. Whether it has been, that the fuperior 
excellence of the Grecian architecture has afforded their genius 
fo thorough employment, that they have not had leifure to 
examine, with fufficient accuracy, the works of our anceftors of. 
the Gothic age; or that their contempt of any thing that could 
originate amongit Barbarians, as perhaps they concluded of this 
arch, has produced a negle& of that to which they might other- 
wife have attended with advantage; certain it is, that few, 
whether architects or mathematicians, have paid much regard to 
. this 
Read Nov. 
7s 17896 
