If this system has really guided the Gothic architect, it seems strange, that the fact should not have been re corded in history ; but Sir James flail also undertakes to account for that silence in a satisfactory manner.
The following table of well established facts, translat ed from the work of a French author, Rondelet, being selected both from the Roman and Gothic schools, cannot fail of being acceptable to the young archi tect.
having discussed the history and practice of the va rious schools of architecture, and also endeavoured to develope the general principles on which the art is founded, we shall conclude the subject with a few ge neral remarks.
The ancient Egyptian architecture, from the simpli city of its outlines, and the locality of the subject of all its sculptures, appears to have a strong claim to original ity.—That the works, in which it was displayed, were the offspring of superstition and despotism, is undenia ble; that the surface of their edifices were the records of religious rites, astronomical knowledge, operations during war and peace, is likewise most evident ; but their modes of sculpture having been distinctly defined, and stamped with a religious character, each effort be came the act of a monastic community, and proved an effectual bar to any improvement arising from individual experience and competition. Although the remains of this school have, as historical monuments, deservedly enjoyed the admiration of mankind, yet being entirely local, and having been formed under circumstances not likely again to occur, few practical advantages can ever result from the study of its principles or practice. The experiment lately made in the front to the Museum in the street of Piccadilly, in London, is a proof how unfit it is for private dwellings, or indeed for any purpose in these times, excepting perhaps a mausoleum.
The removing and arranging large blocks of stone, of which many of the edifices were composed, has been adduced as an evidence of the great progress made by the Egyptians in practical mechanics; but as all their operations bespeak rather the patient application of la bour than the efforts of genius, it is reasonable to con clude that the whole was accomplished by very simple means. The quarries being situated on the banks of the
river Nile, enabled them, during its increase, to raise and remove, as far as its branches and canals extended, the largest blocks of stone which were required. The edifices being generally adjacent to the water, these blocks could be moved from the shore by means of strong frames, drawn as sledges, or upon rollers, and then raised into the situations for which they were des tined, upon inclined planes of earth, which were after wards removed.
The religious edifices of India seem to have been con structed under circumstances somewhat similar to those in Upper Egypt, and in respect to them, similar obser vations are applicable : They are, therefore, to the wes tern world, also, more the subject of historical discus sion than practical imitation. The utmost splendour we can trace in the descriptions of their ancient palaces, or those of the most enlishtened of their 1\ lahometan inva ders, arose from the use of silks, feathers, and a profusion of gold, silver, and precious stones. These latter re marks are equally correct with regard to Persia, if we except Persepolis, and the works of the Greek and Ro man invaders. With regard to Persepolis, we have for merly observed, that, from the slender proportions of the columns, it is probable their covering m as slight ; that the elementary parts of their capitals and bases, though partly Egy ptian, might have been suggested partly by the rich silks, precious stones, and other decorations oc casionally attached to the tops and bottoms of slender posts. Throughout Persia, in latter times, the use of Gothic arches, and Turkish domes, highly ornamented, have been extensively introduced in their palaces, mosques, and tombs. The hand of the i\lussulman has likewise reached the remotest quarters of India.
In China, it is the repetition of tent architecture alone which is every where to be found ; and, equally in the pagoda and palace, some additional japanning and gild ing exhaust the limited resources prescribed by their mischievous legal regulations.