1840.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



157 



that besides being round, columns ought to have a rough surface, re- 

 sembling the baric of trees, — for we suppose it is to the stems of trees 

 we must look for the prototype of the shaft of columns. Besides, if 

 columns are to be made round because nature makes nothing square, 

 would not that be an excellent reason for making the architrave 

 round or cylindrical also, merely cutting away so much of the under 

 surface at intervals as would be requisite for its resting firmly on the 

 flat abaci of the capitals. This might be done ; and according to such 

 theory, it would be both correct and natural, — perfectly in consonance 

 with the Because a-ssigned. Nay, might we not say that the convex 

 or pulviuated frieze frequently given by Italian architects to the Ionic 

 entablature is formed upon strictly rational principles, namely, agree- 

 ably to the aforesaid Because. But then if columns are round, be- 

 cause, &c. — how happens it that the abaci of their capitals are square ? 

 — or are we to suppose that while Nature herself shapes the columns, 

 she leaves her apprentices and journeymen to make the capitals, &c. 

 as well as they can. The sober truth is, all such reasoning is mere 

 rigmarole, and if no more rational and likely became can be found out, 

 as I apprehend could be, it is not worth while attempting to offer any 

 at all. 



X. The real Because wherefore we make our columns round, is no 

 other than because others have invariably done so before us ; for 

 which, again, there may have been more than one reason, and among 

 the rest that of convenience, a circular shaft or pillar occupying less 

 space than a square one of the same diameter, since the latter exceeds 

 tlie former by the difference between the measure of its diagonals and 

 its sides. Besides which, round pillars offer a greater contrast to 

 walls and other flat surfaces, consequently tend to produce variety, 

 while, at the same time, such form recommends itself as being, in 

 some degree, more consonant to the prototype furnished by nature in 

 the stems of vegetables and trees; and more studied and artificial also — 

 more recherch'' than the other. Yet, although example and habit 

 alone, independently of other considerations, cause us to regard the 

 circular form as the most suitable, as well as the most beautiful, one 

 for columns, it does not exactly follow that square ones are absurd — 

 contrary to both beauty and reason, and that they ought never to be ad- 

 mitted at all. It is true no authority for insulated pillars of such shape, 

 is to be met with in Grecian architecture ; but then, neither does it sup- 

 plyus with precedents for antae or pilasters continued along the front of 

 a building, and many other things which are nevertheless practised 

 without scruple, even where Greek architecture is professed to be 

 closely followed. I do not pretend to say that square cohunns are so 

 well adapted as others for general purposes, but there certainly are 

 cases in which they might be introduced both with propriety and 

 eftect, either by themselves or in combination with circular ones, and 

 either way would [u-oduce greater variety of design than can be ob- 

 tained by restricting ourselves on every occasion to the use of round 

 columns. Hardly will it be expected that I can explain myself more 

 fully without sketches and cuts ; yet I can mention one instance where 

 I conceive a good effect might thus be produced, which is supposing 

 it necessary or desirable to have two insulated orders, one above the 

 other, forming, for example, a lower and upper portico, that below 

 might have square pillars — not mere piers — of about the same diame- 

 ter as the columns over them ; whereby, not only would a monotonous 

 repetition be avoided, but greater solidity would be obtained in the 

 basement order. 



XI. Would it be believed that a professed architectural writer, no 

 other, in fact, than M. Quatremere de Quincy, speaks of " Vasbrug 

 oa VsEsbrug," under which queer metamorphosis he gives his readers 

 the name of the architect of Blenheim. If it arises out of sheer igno- 

 rance, of the inability even to copy a word correctly when in print, 

 what reliance is to be placed upon "his accuracy. On the other hand, 

 if it is merely the affectation of ignorance, it amounts to downright 

 puppyism. The most ignorant Englishman would not say Boiler, or 

 Vaultair (instead of Boileau and Voltaire ; ) at least, no English biogra- 

 pher would so designate those writers. But the truth is, that, in lite- 

 rary blunders, one Frenchman is at any time a match for two Irishmen. 

 Among ludicrous instances we may find, "Hirzel an Gleim iiber Sul- 

 zer," translated "Hirzel sur le Gleim," with a note explaining that 

 " Gleim est une petite riviere de I'AUemagne." ' Poor Gleim I his 

 poems must have been watery compositions indeed. Another 

 Frenchman confounded Pressburg with St. Petersburg ; and we now 

 find Vanbrugh converted into Vasbrug or Vassbrug, which double 

 mistake plainly proves it not to be an error of the press. 



Remiie's Trapezium PmhUe-wheel.— W' e understand Mr. Rennie has filled 

 the Lily, one of the boats plying between Loudon Bridge and Hungerford 

 Markei, witli bis [latent trapezium paddle, and that her speed is improved, 

 as well as having done away with the swell caused by the ordinary paddle. 



MAUDSLAY'S AND FIELD'S STEAM ENGINE. 



I'iS. 1. 



a, cylinder, c, c, r, c, the four piston rods, 'cl, cross head. 

 /, connecting rod. ,i;- jr, crank. 



, guide rods 



Sir, — Your March number of the Journal contains drawings and a 

 description of Messrs. Maudslay and Field's patented improvements 

 in marine steam-engines, and it is on the second feature of their in- 

 vention I have presumed to offer a few remarks and suggestions. 

 Moreover, it is generally observed, that when a person obtains a patent 

 right for any invention, it no sooner publiclv appeal's to the mechani- 

 cal world, than it is followed up by a modification of some sort, that 

 modification being more or less effective, costly, or practical; and it 

 sometimes happens that by means of such modification, schemes which, 

 as they occurred originally to the mind of the inventor, could never 

 have answered, have, in their ett'ect, exceeded his (the original in- 

 ventor's) most sanguine expectation. However, the inventors in this 

 case are practical men (the most extensive, perhaps, in the kingdom), 

 and it may be thought presumption in me to oiler anything which 

 might seem an improvement on their schemes, but my anxiety for the 

 advancement of mechanical science must be my excuse. 



It will be seen from the engraving, and it is obvious, that the cr?nk 

 shaft is placed on one side of the piston rods, consequently the action 

 of the piston cannot be communicated to the crank pin in a direct line 



Fig. 2. 



n, cylinder. 



, c, the tv/o piston rods. 

 /,/, connecting rods. 



(/, cross head. c. 

 Ug>sV4> cranls. 



p, guide rods. 



