521 



CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. 



chitecture. 



Civil Ar- THIS term is meant to comprehend whatever relates to tinctness, we shall divide the subject into the following Ciyil Ar- 

 chitecture, edifices appropriated to the purposes of civil life. These parts, viz. 

 ^Y" ^ purposes vary with the progress of society, but we appre- 

 hend the whole may, with propriety, be classed under the 1. History of Architecture, 

 heads of religion, legislation, public exercises and amuse- 2. Principles of Architecture, 

 ments, domestic life, and commerce. For the sake of dis- 3. Practice of Architecture. 



PART I. HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE. 



chitecture. 



Oftheori- RESPECTING the origin and early progress of architec- 

 gin of ar- ture, it is in vain to expect much distinct historical evi- 

 dence. Being indispensible not only for the comfort but 

 the protection of mankind, the art of building must have 

 been practised, and brought to a considerable degree of 

 perfection, before lasting edifices were constructed ; and 

 it is only by means of works of this description, that we 

 derive the earliest information respecting the art itself, and 

 the other early acquirements of men. All the previous 

 steps must consequently be unknown to us ; but from 

 observing the conduct of men now in a rude state, and, 

 from the earliest authentic records, tracing the progress 

 of others to civilization, wealth, and power, we are ena- 

 bled to form a tolerably distinct notion of the early pro- 

 gress of architecture. 



Buildings for domestic purposes being, from motives 

 of ceconomy, of slight construction, are, without much 

 trouble or expence, varied, to suit the changes continu- 

 ally taking place in society. It is therefore to public 

 buildings that we must have recourse, in order to trace 

 the features of the art in remote ages. 



In Egypt, Persia, and Hindcstan, there are architec- 

 tural works of great magnificence, whose aera of construc- 

 tion is by no means satisfactorily determined by histori- 

 ans. It is also uncertain in which of those countries ar- 

 chitecture was first brought to this degree of perfection. 

 Two very eminent authors. (Sir William Jones and Dr 

 Robertson,) after much investigation, infer, from the 

 great and united efforts necessary to accomplish the ar- 

 chitectural works found in Hindostan, and from the early 

 and complete separation of the classes of society, that the 

 eastern quarter of the world has a preferable claim to 

 Egypt ; and they also conceive, that Iran, or Persia, 

 furnished to both the other countries the rudiments 

 of knowledge. Others assert, that Hindostan is wholly 

 indebted to Egypt, that this connection was early 

 established through the means of colonies, who sought 

 refuge in India from the tyranny of the shepherd kings, 

 and that, after the expedition ot Cambyses, the temples 

 and tombs in Persia were constructed by Egyptian 

 workmen. 



The strong resemblance which subsists between many of 

 the leading features in the magnificent tombs, temples, and 

 palaces, in upper Egypt, and those at Salsette, Elephanta, 

 and Vellore, and other parts of India, and also some 

 of the splendid remains at Persepolia, is convincing evi- 

 dence, that there has very early been a communication of 

 architectural knowledge in those countries. 



If we were to form a judgment from the style of the 

 architecture and workmanship of the several countries, 

 the great simplicity of the Egyptian certainly establishes 

 a strong claim to originality, and its perfect samenets is a 



VOL. VI. PAIIT II. 



Simplicity 

 of the 



strong evidence of its having been executed under the 

 controul of one unvarying and despotic power, a power 

 which left no latitude for the exertion of individual origi- 

 nality of genius, and which was itself restricted by modes 

 too sacred to be departed from. A power of this descrip- 

 tion indicates a state, whose establishments had been of 

 long duration, and whose wealth enabled it to appropri- 

 ate a large portion of unproductive labour. But the di- 

 rection of this could not have been in the hands of despo- 

 tic sovereigns, whose operations are too capricious and 

 unsteady : it must have been a permanent establishment, 

 which had also great influence in the state ; and this, 

 during the prosperity of the Thebaid, was precisely the 

 case with the Egyptian priesthood. 



The Bramins of India formed a similar establishment, Indian and 

 and the tombs and temples of that country are also of Egyptian 

 great magnitude and splendour ; but in the Hindostan 

 edifices, although many parts of the general arrangement 

 and principal features resemble those of Egypt, yet sim- 

 plicity has been more departed from, and circular outlines 

 similar to those of pagodas have been introduced. The 

 most splendid of the Indian edifices being wholly formed 

 by excavation, may, most properly, be denominated sculp- 

 tures ; but even for this mode abundance of originals ex- 

 ist in Egypt. The numerous sculptured tombs adjacent 

 to the principal cities in the Thebaid, are perfect exam- 

 ples as far as regards excavations within the natural rock, 

 and the gigantic colossal statues are equally so as to iso- 

 lated for: 



The ancient Persian architecture, with the excep- Persian and 

 tion of some tombs, is composed of erections upon the Euvptian 

 surface of the ground. The pillars are more delicate, "y 1 " com - 

 and the decorations of a less severe cast than those of ^ ar 

 Egypt. 



In order to illustrate what has been advanced in this 

 cursory view, we shall lay before the reader some details 

 respecting the architecture of these three countries. 



OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE. 



Egypt being a country of small extent, and having Egyptian 

 been early and frequently conquered, the history of its * rc " lt c - 

 ancient cities, palaces, and temples, was beyond the reach ture< 

 even of Herodotus. This parent of history only com- 

 mences his account after the translation of the seat of 

 empire to Memphis, and his personal intercourse with 

 the country was not until a hundred years after its con- 

 quest by Cambyses. The origin and progress, there- 

 fore, of the powerful state which raised Thebes, and the 

 other unrivalled edifices with which Upper Egypt was 

 crowded, is to us totally unknown. 



From the seat of empire having been first established 

 at Thi-bes, and m xt at Memphis, we are led to concludes 



3u 



