fF ggad] 
paffed over? Certainly if it be poffeffed of any peculiar advantages, 
it feems unreafonable to fuppofe, that they were entirelyun known 
or difregarded; and that it is really poffeffed of fuch, or at leaft 
has been fuppofed to be fo, which is fufficient in the prefent cafe, 
we may conclude from what has been faid by Monf. Gautier on 
this fubje@, in his Traité des Ponts et des Chemins ; “ The Goths,” 
fays he, ‘“* who fucceeded the good tafte of the Roman architecture, 
“ erected bridges in many parts of France with pointed arches, 
“ defigning by that means to diminifh the lateral preffure, both 
“in public and private buildings, and alfo in the churches of 
“ that period, which ftill remain.” And Sir Chriftopher Wren 
obferves, “ that the fharp-headed arch rifes with little centering, 
“ requires lighter key-ftones, and lefs butment, and yet will 
“ bear another row of double arches rifing from the key-ftone.” 
The idea of the pointed arch might indeed have been firft fug- 
gefted in the manner defcribed by Mr. Barry, or perhaps by the 
perfpeftive of groin arches; but the mere conception of fuch a 
form, would not, I fhould imagine, have been a fufficient mo- 
tive with architeéts to introduce it into their moft magnificent 
buildings, and where it was to fuftain the greateft weights. I 
fhall therefore now proceed to enquire into the theory of this 
arch, and endeavour to afcertain its relative ftrength as compared 
with circular and elliptic arches, when in a ftate of perfect equili- 
bration; and alfo to determine the aberration from a true ba- 
lance, which is generated by the horizontal. termination of the 
folid building ere&ted on it; from whence we fhall be enabled 
to form fome conjeéture, whether the theory of the arch itfelf 
L may 
