202 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1675. 



jointed piece ; where on the left side is a single wire accidentally preserved in its 

 natural place, though snapped asunder. l6. A thick-jointed piece with a set of 

 wires in the middle of it. 17. A good long piece of a wire, and a single joint 

 thereof. 



^n Account of Two Booh, N° 112, p. 279. 



I. Les dix Livres d' Architecture de Vitruve, corriges, et traduits nouvelle- 

 ment en Francois, avec des Notes et des Figures; par Claude Perrault* de 

 I'Academie Royale des Sciences, et Medecin de la Faculte de Paris. Imprime a 

 Par. 1673, infol. 



The author of this version of Vitruvius, and of the notes upon him, consider- 

 ing that one of the obstacles to the advancement of architecture, was the diffi- 

 culty of drawing the precepts of the art from its true and genuine source, by 

 reason of the great obscurity of Vitruvius, who is the only writer of the 

 ancients that we have on this subject, undertook therefore, by a translation into 

 the French tongue, and by notes on the difficult places, and also by illustrating 

 all with figures, to render this author more clear and useful to those who 

 embrace the profession and practice of that noble art. These figures and expla- 

 nations having been rendered the more necessary, by the obscurity in many 

 passages in Vitruvius, owing, it is supposed, partly to the mis-copyings, and 

 partly to the omission of the original figures, by the transcribers. 



The figures which serve for illustration, are done with no ordinary care and 

 elegance : amongst which there are, the representation of the Parisian obser- 

 vatory, for making celestial and other natural observations : models of two new 

 engines for raising heavy burthens; so contrived as to avoid rubbing; invented 

 by the interpreter himself, the one by a roller, the other by a lever. An engine 

 for raising w ater very high and incessantly, and that in great quantity, without 

 employing any external force ; a scheme of the organ of the ancients, as also of 

 their catapultae, and balistae, the former casting javelins, the latter stones. The 

 models of these engines, and many more, both ancient and modern, are to be 



* This author was born at Paris, l6l3, his father being an advocate to the Parliament, original]/ 

 of Tours. He studied philosophy and natural history, as well as medicine, which was his original 

 profession, but neglected it for the fine arts, and became a celebrated architect. In this way he 

 erected some grand works, and was author of some useful books, besides the translation in this article 

 above noticed J viz. 1. An Abridgement of Vitruvius, in 12mo. 2. Ordonnances des cinq especes 

 de Colonnes se.lon la methode des Anciens, l683, fol. 3. A Collection of Machines of his own 

 invention. 4. Essais de Physique, 4 vols. 12mo, or 2 vols, 4to. 5, Meraoires pour servir a 

 I'Histoire naturelle des Animaux, 3 vols. 4to. Perrault died at Paris, Oct. 9, 1688, at 75 years 

 of age. 



