^80 



leaves, scrolls, festoorfs, Sec, utility is not 

 requirecT; but to make columns support 

 some trifle, manifestly placed upon them as 

 an excuse for their introduction, is to de- 

 grade a member of such great anil obvious 

 use, to a mere gewgaw. 



I know that there are very high autho- 

 rities for introducino' columns in bridofes, 

 as little more than mere ornaments; and 

 tbat examples may be produced from the 

 works both of ancient and inodern architects, 

 and also in' those of some eminent painters : 

 but although it may appear great presump- 

 tion in me to question such authorities, I 

 still must think that in a bridoe, columns 

 can hardly be disposed and connected to- 

 gether in 1,he most advantageous manner ;* 

 and of all the members of architecture, they 

 suffer most from disconnection. Two of 

 the noblest effects of columns, are where 

 they are grouped together in a bold projec- 

 tion, as in a portico ; or when, upon that 



* This remark^ for very obvious reasons, is not meant to 

 ej^tend tdhe upper part of covered bridges. 



