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PREFACE

Think it neceffary to fav fomething of this Second Part of my Lectures, as they confift chiefly of Demonftrations to the First; thofe are the Bafis on which the feveral Defigns of these are erected. It may be obferv'd, I have by Examples prov'd the Rules practicable both by internal and external Magnitudes. Verbal Explanations of the minute Parts of Building I think unneceffary, fuppofing the Reader qualified tocomprehend the Proportions of the Orders, and the feveral Parts of the Orthography and Ichnography of the Building.

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SITUATION has been my next Care, and in this I have been vigilant to appropriate my Defign to the imaginary Spot. If I have been poetick in Defcription, the Remarks are only from fuch Situations which I have frequently taken

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from Nature it felf, and I efteem Situátion fo extenfive a Branch of Architecture, that no Building should be defign'd to be erected, without firft confidering the Extent of Profpect, Hills, Vales, &c.which expand or encircle it; its Avenues, Pastures and Waters; all which furnish the ARCHITECT with proper Ideas, and the Modus muft bé fhifted from one Scene to another, as Neceffity requires.

THESE Lectures, therefore, are rather a brief Explanation of the Art of Defigning, and may, perhaps, contain fome Hints not unufeful to our greatest Artifts; few have fo extenfively defcrib'd Situation, and a proper Application of Defigns to it, as may be found in this abftracted Effay, in which I have attempted to lay a Foundation to an ART which must infallibly be useful, being establish'd on fo firm a Bafis as Rules and Proportion. I have been an Eye-witness of fuch an infinite Number of ill-appropriated, as well as difproportion'd Defigns; Rufticity in the room of Elegance, and Gaiety where Plainness and Simplicity would have been far more pleafing. I jay, fuch frequent Errata's led me to confider fome fure unerring RULES for appropriating Buildings to the Spot, which the Hints of thefe Examples may prove the Neceffity of. As I believe fe

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Situations can be, but what will come under fome of the Rules I have laid down, fo there are few Situations but what I have in fome measure touch'd upon,

IN Situation I have not carried my Defcription fo far as Shakespear, in that beautiful one of Dover-Cliff, in the fourth Act of the Tragedy of King Lear, becaufe I imagine fuch a Spot improper to build on; but if any Attempt of this kind is required, to erect a Fabrick on jo uncouth a Scene, it should be the Proportion 3, 2, and I, without Decoration or Drefs, and its Finishing the most plain and mafy that could be invented. Such Profpects generally fill the Eye; but with Wonder and Surprize we furvey the diftant Scene, it only leaves a kind of mingled dread upon the Mind, and that pleafing Horror foon vanifbeth. Such an extended Ocean is ftill one continued Image; the Seas are only varied from a Storm to a Calm, and fo vice verfa to a Storm again. Whereas the Land affords a vaft Variety af Hills, Woods, Shades, Rivers, Corn, Fruits and Pastures. The Seafons change all thefe; the Spring decks it with a varied Verdure, a particolour'd Painting of Flowers and Bloffoms. The Summer Shifts the Scene to ripening Fruits; the Meads and Paftures wear another Face.

In Autumn the fpacious Fields are gilded with a Yellow Hew..

-Bedeckt with Beauties in a fwift Decline, For hoary Winter lops the loaded Bough, Swells up the Surface of the gliding Stream, Pours out its Rain, or whitens all the Hills, Makes Nature naked till the Spring returns, Then, round the fame Variety again; Revolving Beauties ev'ry where appear, And last refembled this fucceeding Year.

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I have oft been deceived by a pompous Title to a Book, and which has fcarce touch'd upon thofe Parts which in the Title feem'd moft fonorous, therefore I hope the Reader will give himself the trouble of a fair perufal before he pass Judgment in Favour or Diflike to this; and when be · candidly declares his Opinion, he may probably fay SOME THINGS have pleas'dhim. This has been one Aim of my Writing, and whatever is the Fate of it, I am content to be cenfur'd, fince, as Cato obferves, THE BEST MAY ERR.

LECTURE

LECTURE

The NIN T H.

PART the Second.

GENTLEMEN,

HE Reception which the first Part of my Lectures on Architecture hath found fince their Publication, hath in fome meafure incourag'd me to continue 'em. Having always propos'd THOSE only to be a preparatory Introduction to the more important Branches of that NOBLE and USEFUL ART, I intend not to omit any thing that can be conducive to the Improvement of it, and which I fhall attempt in the following Lectures, which Į have prepar'd for the enfuing Season for your Entertainment.

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