273 



before arclies were known in China ; and 

 consequently that we owe this surprising 

 work* not to ideas of niat^nificence, but t(» 

 the ignorance of a principle in building, 

 with which every common stone-mason is 

 prai^tically acquainted. 



The contrivance of a wooden centre, on 

 which a circular wall of brick, stone, or any 

 hard material might be built, so as to re- 

 main self-supported after the removal of 

 the original support, nay itself capable of 

 sustaining the greatest .weight, implies a 

 very advanced state of the arts. Accord- 

 ingly it is generally thought, that no exam- 

 ple of an arch prior to the Macedonian con- 

 quest, can be produced, in the countries 

 known to the ancient Greeks and Romans; 

 thoudi buildino;s of ojreat extent and mao- 

 nificence had been executed in them^ long 

 before that period. 



This invention of arches, is an epoch of 

 great moment in architecture. Openin"-s, 

 formed by the most beautiful cuiTes, were 

 found to be the firmest of all supports; these 

 therefore gave a new character to many 



VOL. II. T 



