246 ARCHITECTURE. 



a well-built house, in the midst of a populous city ; but the 

 seaman, provided he has a good ship, rides with unshaken 

 courage, amidst the enraged waves, when the whole surface 

 of the ocean presents to the eye an awful scene of immense 

 watery mountains and bottomless precipices. 



LESSON 111. I 



Architecture. 1 



Amongst the various arts cultivated in society, some are ^ 

 only adapted to supply our natural wants or assist our in- \ 

 firmities ; some are instruments of luxury merely, and cal- ) 

 culated to flatter our pride, or gratify our desires : whilst J 

 others tend at once to secure, to accommodate, delight, and f. 

 give consequence to the human species. — Architecture is ] 

 of this latter kind ; and when viewed in its full extent, may j 

 truly be said to have a very considerable part in almost every j 

 comfort or luxury of life. Houses are among the first steps 

 towards civilization, and have great influence both on the \ 

 body and mind. Secluded from each other, and inhabitants ' 

 of woods, of caves, or of wretched huts, men are generally 

 indolent, dull, and abject, with faculties benumbed, and \ 

 views limited to the gratification of their most pressing ne- ; 

 cessities ; but wherever societies are formed, and commo- 

 dious dwellings are found, in which, well sheltered, they \ 

 may breathe a temperate air, amid the summer's heat or win- ^ 

 ter's cold ; sleep when nature calls, at ease and in security ; 

 study unmolested; converse and taste the sweets of social \ 

 enjoyments ; there they are spirited, active, ingenious, and 1 

 enterprising ; vigorous in body, speculative in mind ; agri-  

 culture and arts improve ; the necessaries, the conveniences, | 

 and soon even the luxuries of life become abundant. | 



The immediate and most obvious advantages of building j 

 are, employing many ingenious artificers, many industrious | 

 workmen, and labourers of various kinds ; converting ma-  

 terials of little value into the most stately productions of | 

 human skill ; beautifying the face of countries ; and multi- f 

 plying the comforts of life. But these, however great, are 

 n^t the most considerable : that numerous train of arts and 



