3iQ 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECrs JOURNAL. 



[NoVEBDER, 



and other irregularities of detail. The method of determining 

 results between certain limits, has the advantage of leaving 

 such a iiiiirgin, and will therefore be frequently emjiloyed in 

 tlie following pages. Among its incidental recommendations 

 is this, — that it genetall^ gives great simplicity to formulse 

 which otherwise would bC^jpxceedingly complicated. 



It is not within the compass of the present work, restricted 

 in the use of mathematical language, to give a systematic de- 

 velopment of the whole science of mechanics : its principal aim 

 is to explain those parts of the science which »re of tlie most 

 direct economical importance, and to assume as little previous 

 knowledge as possible on the part of the reader. He must 

 be forewarned, however, that in solving mechanical problems, 

 the difficulty does not wholly consist in determining the nature 

 of the forces supposed to act — but, in a great degree, in as- 

 certaining the position of the several parts of the system at 

 wliieh they are applied. This latter difficulty is, of course, 

 only to be overcome by a competent knowledge of pure geo- 

 metry. Galileo, the father of modern mechanical philosophy, 

 has explained this point with like accuracy and eloquence. Lit 

 filosofia — says he, in his Saggiatore — (■ scritta in questo grandu- 

 tivio liliro, che cuntinuamente vi sta aperto iimanzl agli occhi, ma 

 nan si pud iiiteiirierc, se prima non s'impara a intender la lingua 

 e conoscer i caratleri, ne quali e scritto. Egli e srritto in lingua 

 matetnatica, e i caratleri son triangoli, cerchi, ed ultre figure geo- 

 vietriche : senza questo e un aggirarsi vanamente per un oscuro 

 laliirintn* 



The Elements of Euclid are, and it may be safely assumed 

 always will be, the best foundation of the study of geometry. Un- 

 rivalled simplicity and perspicuity recommend this work as an 

 elementary treatise ; its method and precision claim for it the 

 higliest position among works devoted to the exact sciences. 

 The lirst four and the sixth books should be thoroughly mas- 

 tered ; and, above all, the intelligent student will endeavour 

 to imbue himself with the spirit of Euclid, — to trace the unin- 

 terrupted current of his reasoning, from the fountain-head (the 

 axioms and definition) to the final conclusions. It is the dis- 

 tinct dependence of inferences on their premises, which renders 

 Euclid invaluable in disciplining the mind into a habit of logical 

 and consecutive reasoning. The beginner will sometimes meet 

 with propositions so simple and obvious, that it appears an idle 

 waste of time to prove them — let those propositions be his es- 

 pecial study : when he has mastered their demonstrations, he will 

 see that Euclid's intention was — not to explain trivial truths, 

 but to show how they might be deduced as necessary conse- 

 quences of his principles. The familiar study of this ancient 

 work — it has stood its ground against all attempts at improv- 

 ment for two thousand years — will gradually induce a ma- 

 thematical habit of mind, and a right appreciation of the real 

 nature of proof — of that which not merely does, but ought to, 

 produce conviction. 



As preliminary to the study of mechanics, some knowledge 

 of the elements of trigonometry is requisite. The history 

 of mechanical science will also affords important facilities for 

 mastering its principles. The full value of a scientiiic 

 theorem is not appreciated without some knowledge of the 

 hard struggle by which — so to speak — it has been wrung from 

 nature. The wanderings of the earlier mathematicians, their 

 fruitless labours and controversies, their slow and gradual ap- 

 proximations to right results, reveal the subtle nature of phy- 

 sical truth, the narrow boundaries which separate it from error, 

 and the necessity of maintaining those boundaries inviolate. 



Dispute respecting the laws of mechanics is no longer pos- 

 sible. They are demonstrated ; and to attempt to make them 

 matters of controversy, is to exhibit ignorance of the processes 

 Ipy which they have been ascertained. " We have, therefore," 

 it has well been said, " no sects nor parlies in mathematics ; but 

 they abound in every other department of human opinion." And 

 again, "In mathematical questions, where relations of quantity 

 alone are concerned^ a dispute can be completely terminated ; 

 because, from wrong premises, or false reasoning, a contradic- 

 tion can be at least shown to result." 



If, then, the labours which perfected the science of mechanics 

 — for it is now perfect — have been great, if its study now task 

 severely the highest efforts of the student's mind, are not the results 

 commensurate f The revelations of pure truth in its most 



* Philo-ophy Is written in that greatest of books which stands continuaily npen bsfoie 

 the eyes of men [that is, the universe], but cannot be l«arne<l without previous prei ara. 

 tion to understand the language and decipher the characters in which it is written. It is 

 written in the langunge of mathematics, and its characters are triangles, circles, and 

 other geometrical ligures; without which, we aliould wander in vain, through mazes and 

 obscurity. 



attractive forms — its manifestations in the grandest phenomena 

 of nature, and the proudest achievements of art — these are 

 the wages of philosophic toil. So vast are tlie domains of this 

 science, that every year brings tidings of new and rich disco- 

 veries within it : while its applications to the practical wants 

 of men are ever receiving fresh and more important develop- 

 ments — ever creating revolutions more extensive, more lasting, 

 and more noble than those of politics or war. 



ARE WE TO HAVE AN ARCHITECTURAL EXHIBITION? 



Something of the kind seems to be dawning upon us : there is 

 what just at present looks like the prospect of such exhibition, 

 though it may after all turn out to have been a mere unsubstan- 

 tial and deceitful mirage. In proportion as we are anxious that 

 the vision should be realised, we feel apprehensive of its fading 

 away into nothing. We learn from a contemporary, that the 

 "Architectural Association" purpose to "get up an annual archi- 

 tectural exhibition." Between purposing and firmly determining 

 upon a scheme, there is a good deal of difference, more especially 

 when the ]>urposed "getting up" is likely to prove very up-hill 

 work. Thi^ remark is meant not to discourage so much as to sti- 

 mulate. In order to overcome difficulties, it is necessary to look 

 them boldly in the face at once, and be prepared to encounter 

 them. 



The " Architectural Association" is a junior society, which as 

 yet hardly stands before the public at all, — certainly not in any im- 

 posing attitude. It has no royal standard to hoist in the form of 

 a charter^the chief privilege conferred by which seems to be that 

 of indulging in indolence and doing nothing. Yet, if it have no 

 charter, a junior and youthful society has, or ought to have, some- 

 thing greatly in its favour ; for it may be presumed that it pos- 

 sesses zeal and energy, of both which much will be required, in 

 order to carry properly into effect the scheme they are said to me- 

 ditate. One ([uestioii for consideration is, how is it likely to be 

 looked upon by the Institute .'' As to the Royal Academy, that 

 body would, no doubt, be exceedingly well pleased at a separate 

 exhibition for architectural drawings and models being establislied, 

 since they would thereby be almost entirely relieved from works of 

 that kind, which it is evident enough they take in very reluctantly, 

 and treat very slightingly. That the Institute would not take 

 umbrage at that being done by a junior society which they have 

 left undone (although their means for effecting it are as great, or 

 much greater), is not (juite so certain. Apathetical as it is, the Insti- 

 tute might yet feel something like awkward compunction and 

 shame, were others to bestir themselves diligently, and venture 

 upon an experiment which, should it succeed, would place them 

 before the public more prominently than the Institute itself can 

 boast of being. 



The success of the experiment, however, will depend very much 

 upon the manner in which it shall be made. If it be made at all, 

 it is to be hoped that it will not be timidly and feebly. — And it 

 here strikes us that we have possibly fallen into a misoonception, 

 since what the " Architectural Association" contemplates may be 

 something very far short of the kind of exhibition that is needed. 

 If it is to be one confined to that society's own members, instead 

 of being open to contributors generally, and be also upon such n 

 footing as to admit architectural subjects without distinction as to 

 the nature and mode of them — such technical illustrations as 

 plans, sections, and details, as well as those more pictorial repre- 

 sentations which are the only ones received by the Royal Aca- 

 demy — if, we say, it is not to do this, it will fall far short of sup- 

 plying a main desideratum. Resting entirely upon the abilities of 

 the members themselves, without aid from other quarters, the pro- 

 posed exhibition could hardly have sufficient stamina and sub- 

 stance to come properly before the public, and so as to attract 

 notice and claim support. Neither would anything at all be done 

 towards affording the opportunity of exhibiting their productions, 

 to the many who are excluded from the Academy on account of 

 the exceedingly limited accommodation there for architectural de- 

 signs and models. At present, there is only Hobson's choice for 

 architectural exhibitors, — either the Royal Academy or nowhere. 

 And the accommodation at the Academy for works of the kind is 

 totally inadequate ; for while only a comparatively small number 

 of them can be hung up, not above a third of them can be hung so 

 that they can really be looked at. Therefore, what with the 

 chance of being turned away for want of room, or else of being 



