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 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 
 
 
Natura, Philofophia, & Ars 
 
 IN CONCORDIA. 
 
 O R, 
 
 Nature, Philosophy, and Art 
 IN FRIENDSHIP, 
 
 An ESSAY. 
 
 In FOUR PARTS. 
 
 I. Demonftrating the Necef- 
 fity and Pra&icability of Build- 
 ing all Manner of Houfes 
 proof againft Fire and Ver- 
 min ; together with feveral cu- 
 rious and ufeful Obfervations 
 on Subje&s relative thereto. 
 
 II. An entire new Plan of 
 conftru&ing chimnies, fo as the 
 fmoke cannot reverberate. 
 
 With Drawings 
 
 III. Plain Methods pointed 
 out, by which fmoky chimnies 
 may be effe&ually cured. 
 
 IV. Certain and eafy Direc- 
 tions to all Mechanics inWood, 
 how to finifh Houlhold Furni- 
 ture, and the wainfcotting of 
 Rooms, fo as no Vermin can 
 exift therein ; and alfo how to 
 cleanfe thofe already infe&ed. 
 
 and References. 
 
 To which is added. 
 
 Six Letters on Interesting Subjects. 
 
 By W. Cauty, Cabinet-maker . 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for the Author ; and fold by W. Nicoll, 
 in St. Paul’s Church-yard; Isaac Taylor, in 
 Holborn, near Chancery-lane ; and F. Jones, in 
 Lower Grofvenor ftreet. 
 
 MDCCLXXII. 
 
 [ Price Two Shillings. ] 
 
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DEDICATION, 
 
 Addreffed to the Public by the 
 Author. 
 
 t | SHE eflays in this little work 
 JL come like a drop’d found- 
 ling into the world, begging your 
 kind protection ; and the Author 
 humbly hopes, if there be found in 
 them any effential merit, they may 
 profper better in your hands, than 
 many ufhered into life with pomp 
 and magnificence, under the pa- 
 tronage of the great and opulent. 
 
 It may be faid with truth, that 
 his defigns are well intended ; and 
 he frankly owns, the hopes of pro- 
 A 2 moting 
 
IV 
 
 DEDICATION, 
 moting his real bufinefs, a gene- 
 rous ambition to be of fome fer- 
 vice to the Public, and the appro- 
 bation the MSS. met with from fe- 
 veral friends of unqueftionable me- 
 rit, particularly the late moft ex- 
 cellent and ingenious Lord E g- 
 mont, were the principal caufes 
 of his venturing on the public 
 theatre. Add to thefe motives, 
 feveral of his letters on various 
 and interefling fubjedts, which 
 have appeared in the public pa- 
 pers, under the fignature of W. 
 Benevolus , which were well receiv- 
 ed, encouraged him at laft to ven- 
 ture the effays in queftion to the 
 public’s cenfure or approbation ; 
 being fully convinced that their 
 voice on all fubjedts of this nature 
 is the moft effential proof of their 
 
 value 
 
DEDICATION. v 
 value or demerit. Whatever that 
 may be, I lhall acquiefce with the 
 greateft complacency imaginable, 
 and am the Public’s 
 
 Moft devoted and 
 
 Moft obedient Servant, 
 W M . CAUTY, 
 
 Cabinet-maker and Arch'. 
 
 King’s-ftreet, St. James’s. 
 
 A 3 
 
 THE 
 

 
 
 
 * 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 :\v 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 : 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 H E happinefs of mankind has ever 
 
 engroffed the attention of the bene- 
 volent and well-difpofed, and the moft fuc- 
 cefsful therein have been generally requited 
 with the grateful acknowledgments, not 
 only of their own, but of after-times. 
 
 It is true many have fhewn ingenuity 
 without fuccefs $ however their difappoint- 
 ments were ftill alleviated by the confciouf- 
 nefs of a good intention, which the gene- 
 rous and difinterefted are ready to acknow- 
 ledge upon every occafion. 
 
 It is univerfally allowed that every per- 
 forms happinefs confifts in the goodnefs of 
 A 4 his 
 
t V1 >‘ ] 
 
 his difpofltion, and the adlions refulting 
 therefrom ; and this happinefs muft flow no 
 lefs from a prefent enjoyment than from a 
 profpect cf what is to come : the mod ra- 
 tional entertainment therefore to a good 
 man, is to do \yhat may be beneficial to 
 fopiety. 
 
 flow have the Alexanders, the Con* 
 querors, or rather deftroyers of mankind, 
 been deified by the unthinking multitude ; 
 what caftles and fortrefles have been erect- 
 ed, under the fpecious pretext of preferving 
 the lives of mankind f while tyranny and 
 opprefiion were really the principal motives, 
 And it is obfervable, that of 200 battles 
 that have bpen fought in Europe during the 
 laft and prefent century, three-fourths have 
 been occafioned from a contention about 
 fortified towns, 
 
 Had the conquerors of nations, either 
 3 ancient 
 
 1 
 
[ ix ] 
 
 antient or modern, built their cities, or 
 perfons of property among ourfelves, reared 
 there palaces in the manner here recom- 
 mended, many of thefe had been flill {land- 
 ing, and multitudes of people had been pre- 
 ferved from fudden and unexpe&ed deaths. 
 
 It is never too late to amend, faid a good- 
 natured antient, nor yet to improve upon a 
 fubjeft ; and this before us is of the mofi 
 ferious kind. It would be endlefs to enu- 
 merate the fad cataflrophes that have hap- 
 pened through the kingdom in general, and 
 particularly in this great metropolis, fince 
 the fire of London 1666, all owing to a 
 want of attention in the contlrudlion of the 
 different edifices. That terrible conflagra- 
 tion was occafioned by an ufelefs multipli- 
 city of timber almoft in every houfe, join- 
 ed with the narrownefs of the ftreets : and 
 though this dreadful burning gave rife to 
 
 ^be 
 
C x j 
 
 the firil a dt of parliament made in the 19th 
 year of Charles II. diredting all builders, un- 
 der pains and fevere penalties, not to eredi 
 any wooden walls, or walls covered with 
 plaifter, either in fronts, fides, or rears of 
 their houfes, on any pretext whatfoever, 
 higher than the bracemores - y and thefe 
 bracemores are ordered and fixed by the 
 above adt, to be only ten feet high from 
 the fhop floor $ yet this adt is evaded every 
 day in JLondon, by bow-windows, innumer- 
 able or illegal projedting wooden plaiflered 
 walls, carried up as high as the roofs of the 
 houfes to which they are fixed. 
 
 For the good of all, efpecially gentlemen 
 of fortune and builders, for whom this 
 treatife is principally intended, I heartily 
 recommend to them that they would pur- 
 chafe all the adts relative to building, and 
 ftudy their true fpirit and meaning, and 
 
 nradlice 
 
 A 
 
[ M ] 
 
 pradice accordingly : then, and not before, 
 their works will bear the leaft fcrutiny 
 or examination. Befides the ad of Charles 
 II. already mentioned, I recommend the 
 ads of the 3d and 6th of Queen Anne, and 
 that of Geo. I. and Geo. II. but more par- 
 ticularly the two laft ads of our prefent fo- 
 vereign Geo. III. Ann. 4th and 6th. By 
 perufing them properly, and with due at- 
 tention, they may turn out to be of great ad- 
 vantage, and prevent law-fuits and other 
 litigations : but if the builders of thefe bau- 
 bles Will neither hear nor forbear, but go 
 on in fuch illegal works, and advife both 
 gentlemen and fubftantial tradefmen to thofe 
 things, the pains and penalties will fall up- 
 on the principal builders and proprietors. 
 All thefe ads may be had at the King’s 
 Printing-Office, in Weft-Harding- Street, 
 Shoe-Lane, for 6d each, except that of 
 Charles II. which is half a crown. 
 
 Upon 
 
[ xii ] 
 
 Upon a ferious review of what is already 
 obferved, we hope the axiom of every man's 
 right to judge for himfelf, will appear to be 
 weak and ill founded ; for fure every intel- 
 ligent and impartial perfon muft applaud a 
 fcheme which tends to promote the public 
 good, lince the intereft of particulars is 
 never to be put in the balance with that of 
 millions ! Had the plan here propofed been 
 put in execution fixty or feventy years ago, 
 it would have faved millions of money, and 
 what is more, would have preferved a num- 
 ber of valuable lives. 
 
 How many flately edifices, churches, pa* 
 laces, cities, libraries of infinite value, kings 
 and merchants ftore-houfes, arfenals at 
 home and abroad, have been defiroyed by 
 fire ? the catalogue of which would almofl 
 form a volume of itfelf : the fad is notori- 
 ous : the thinking and intelligent will fee 
 the force of the reafoning in all its extent. 
 
 The 
 
[ xiii 3 
 
 The ancients built their magnificent edi- 
 fices and temples with very fmall quantities 
 of timber in them; witnefs Wedminder- 
 abbey, and the famous cathedral at York, 
 &c. 
 
 The moderns feem almod to have forgot 
 to copy after them ; and I will be bold to 
 fay, that if that incomparable extra dome 
 of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, had been 
 conftrudted without timber at all, but of 
 bed bricks and tarras, as the conic circle 
 upon which the lanthorn reds, it had been 
 a finer piece, and done more honour not 
 only to the memory of the great architect, 
 but to the nation in general, and covered 
 with copper-plates indead of lead, the latter 
 having been melted in very hot weather. 
 
 It is highly probable that the fird inhabi- 
 tants of our globe lived in caves and holes; 
 
 and 
 
C xiv j 
 
 and that architecture, like other fciences, 
 had its infancy and progrefs ; but, like 
 all other ingenious arts, will ever be want- 
 ing improvements * and may never poflibly 
 arrive to that fummit of perfe&ion that 
 could be wifhed for* 
 
 No doubt feveral carpenters will treat the 
 method of building arfenals, and even ware- 
 houfes, with fmall quantities of timber, as ro- 
 mantic and prepofterous. However, we do not 
 appeal to the interefled, but to the impartial, 
 begging they would confider the nobleft 
 flrudures reared by the antients y fome of 
 which have already exifted above a thoufand 
 years, and probably will till the end of time, as 
 not being capable of being devoured by fire,' 
 which often reduces to afhes in a few hours, 
 the works of the moderns, which coft mil- 
 lions of money, befides many years labour 
 and incredible pains, 
 
 3 
 
 tber 
 

 
I 
 
[ i7 ] 
 
 parlour, firft floor, fecond floor, and d. 
 garret : B, B, B, B, B. If this fmall 
 ftrudture can be executed with propriety* 
 as feveral have been done in France, of a 
 larger extent no doubt any fabric, of 
 range of buildings, of juft dimenflons, may 
 be effected with the fame eafe, provided 
 there be money, good materials, and able 
 workmen. 
 
 Firft then* the ground being laid out 
 to the fatisfadion of the proprietor, let 
 the foundation be properly dug and fe- 
 eured, by piling, planking, or arching, 
 according to the nature of the ground* 
 and as the neceflity of the building may 
 require ; fince ’tis evident, that if the? 
 foundation be weak* the ftrudture muft 
 fall. 
 
 All vaults and cellars below ground 
 muft be compofed of good bricks, and 
 the beft quick lime, becaufe of the damps $ 
 and not of old ftale rubbifh, commonly 
 ufed in the lower apartments. 
 
 N. B. All the principal exterior and 
 interior walls of every building of con- 
 C fequence. 
 
[ i8 ] 
 
 lequence, muft ftand with their niches 
 fome months before you begin to fet your 
 flat arches, or floors ; the goodnefs of the 
 feafon, and judgment of the furveyor, &c. 
 will belt determine this eflential point. * 
 To defcribe the principal flat arches of 
 cur cidings, let fall a perpendicular from 
 the centre of the widenefs. of your room, 
 which in this plan is 20 feet, and from 
 that perpendicular point A, defcribe your 
 great flat circle, as- A A; then take the 
 height of the rifing of your arch, which 
 is one fifth of the widenefs of your room ; 
 being four feet, defcribe an equilateral 
 triangle, whofe fldes are the fame with 
 the rife ; the lower points of this angle 
 will defcribe the flanks of your 'ellipfis, 
 and form an agreeable deling, at the in- 
 terfe&ion of the points A A ; the fmall 
 
 * Ex. grat . A great part of the infide of the Duke 
 of Grafton’s new houfe on Hay-hill, London, fell ; 
 being built in a very rainy feafon, and with too much 
 precipitation, Auguft and September, 1769. The da- 
 mage would not been much minded, but feveral poor 
 men loll their lives. 
 
 rife 
 
[ *9 I 
 
 rife that naturally falls out therd, through 
 the hollownefs of the elliptical flank, will 
 be entirely obliterated by the moulding 
 that goes round the room ; and, whether 
 it had any cornice or not, will look in- 
 finitely better than when the curvature is 
 carried on with a regular fweep, as ap- 
 pears in the fedlion of AA, FF. By 
 keeping to the fame centre, the points of 
 the triangle A, B, and C* form the thick- 
 nefs of your flat arch, or floor ; which 
 may be of 3, 4, 5, or 6 inches* as the 
 nature of the apartments may require; 
 all compofed of the belt bricks, one inch 
 thick, and no more ; one but half the 
 length of the other, ten inches long by 
 five, well and judicioufly fet with bell 
 tarras, or mortar ; all flat, and firft dip- 
 ped in water, for the fake of unity. But 
 more of this hereafter. 
 
 The fpaee between the principal w'all 
 and the back of the principal arches at 
 bottom mull be filled up with dry rubble 
 and tafras, to the height of 12 inches, 
 or more 5 which will unite the arch and 
 C z wall 
 
[ 20 ] 
 
 wall together in fuch a manner as effec- 
 tually to prevent any lateral preffure from 
 affe&ing either, as defcribed at each flank, 
 B B. Upon this flank, and the back of 
 the arch, as at P P, you are to fet long 
 thick bricks, back to back, 15 inches 
 long, 10 inches broad, and 2 inches thick, 
 united together with the beft tarras they 
 muft Hope and dwindle away within two 
 or three inches of your centre, or level of 
 the floors ; and for the thicknefs of the 
 floors themfelves, thofe ribs or partitions 
 muft be about three or four feet diftant 
 from each other, and the fpaces between 
 them filled up with very dry earth, that 
 the cruft of the arch may not be hurt by 
 damps, but kept dry, and confequently 
 ftrong and firm to carry any load that 
 may be laid upon it j the dryer it is kept 
 the better. 
 
 When thefe buttreffes and flanks of 
 our arches are well confolidated, and dry, 
 you may level your floors in the ruff, but 
 that part of the work muft be the laft, 
 either with bricks or good mortar. 
 
 What 
 
r 21 i 
 
 What is obferved on this fiat arch of 
 the parlour floor is fufficient, and de- 
 monftrates the rules of all the others, 
 though the curvatures of the parlour del- 
 ing are the fame with the firft floor, fe- 
 cond, and third ; and ten inches flatter 
 than the kitchen, and uppermoft arch 
 or cieling, which bears the roof the 
 fame as the kitchen ; the reafons are 
 plain and obvious, for ftrength and uti- 
 lity ; and when the materials are good, 
 the tafte muft determine the fhape it is 
 to be of. 
 
 ’Tis obfervable, that in all uncommon 
 buildings it is not pofllble to go on with 
 ^hem in the common way ; the necefiity 
 of keeping them free from damps and 
 rains muft oblige us to carry up our prin- 
 cipal extra and infra walls, with their 
 niches, &c. as marked through all the 
 ftories, as at B, B, B, B, B; the niches 
 on which all the arches take their rife, 
 the firft brick fet nearly upright, or al- 
 moft perpendicular with your wall ; all 
 the reft, throughout your whole arch, 
 C 3 flats 
 
[ 22 3 
 
 flat ; and well cemented with beft tarras* 
 with the fire or fpirits in it. 
 
 In carrying up the principal extra 
 walls, the centers which give fhape to 
 the cieiings may be thrown over as you 
 afcend in the buildings, and will be of 
 ufe and excellent purpofe for both ends $ 
 but if our building is defigned to be more 
 than three- {lories, outfide fhores will be 
 found moil reafcnable and fafe, not only 
 for eretting feafifolds, but for refilling 
 all lateral preffu.res whatfeeyer, efpecially 
 when ’tis fettled, that our uppermofl: 
 arch, on which our roof refts, muft be 
 finiftiecl r-firfc and our extra and infra 
 walls have flood forne months, all well 
 covered in, if needful,- and the feafoa 
 required it. 
 
 When the principal outfide walls have 
 flood feme months without any flaw, as 
 alio the inferior walls, and that the cen- 
 tres of the flat arches for the floors are 
 all carried over, you muft throw over 
 your uppermoft ftory, the arch on which 
 your roof principally depends $ which, 
 
 when 
 
[ 23 ] 
 
 when done, will keep all the wooden cen- 
 tres of the lower ones dry through the fea- 
 fon, if it cannot be other ways avoided. 
 
 To do this, you mud nearly follow the 
 direction for deling the kitchen ; the 
 brick buttreffes of which run parallel with 
 the floor, but in this they muft flant 
 with the flope of the roof. 
 
 The bricks that compofe thefe but- 
 treffes fhould be 15 inches long, 10 inches 
 broad, an inch and a half thick, clapped 
 back to back, with the befl tarras, and 
 firfl dipt in water, which expels the air, 
 and by filling up the pores of the bricks 
 with the tarras, renders the union in- 
 feparable : thefe buttreffes are fet upon 
 the flat arch all over the roof, about 12 
 inches diilant from each other, and va- 
 cuums between each, fo that windows 
 may be pierced through the roof, where- 
 ever it is found neceffary ; the brick dates 
 that cover the roof mufl be 20 inches 
 long, 15 inches broad, and 3 quarters 
 thick, fo laid, that none of the joints 
 may interfedl each other 5 and that if any 
 C 4 of 
 
[ 24 ] 
 
 of them were broken or cracked, the rain 
 might not fail on the uppermoft, nor pe- 
 netrate through, but be prevented from 
 defending to the lower arches : the fum- 
 mit of the roof muft be covered with 
 files, anfwering the angle, and the joints 
 fo placed as not to interfed thofe of the 
 others. 
 
 The roof, as you fee in the fedion, 
 fifes 8 feet 6 inches, which is little more 
 than one third of the extent of the build- 
 ing, from one end to the other in breadth, 
 A gallery in the middle, as at G, four 
 feet broad, and five feet fix inches high, 
 formed in a Gothic arch, will be of lin- 
 gular ufe to enlighten the whole, and to 
 walk under the roof ; it will alfo be a 
 fuppori to it, and will eafe the centre of 
 the flat arch, to which all bodies muft 
 gravitate until they are perfectly confo- 
 lidated ; however, this can never be ex- 
 ecuted, if there be any chimney in the 
 upper ftory. 
 
 Our roof being covered in the proper 
 feafon, and it muft, if poffible, before 
 7 the 
 
C 25 ] 
 
 the frofi fets in, fince cold rends plaifter, 
 and is apt to deftroy or chill every cement. 
 If the Spring be gentle, let your centers 
 be all finifhed, and well turned, fince 
 thefe give the true fhape to our arches ; 
 let the niches be perfectly cleared of 
 every particle of dirt, or rubbilh ; you 
 may begin to fet the flanks of your arches 
 upon the niches, your line being ftretched 
 exa&ly to the breadth of your bricks ; 
 you muft carry on one courfe of bricks 
 at a time all round the room ; but one 
 good workman may follow another, and 
 fo on till you rife gradually, and dole the 
 triple rows with one in the centre of your 
 arch ; in the finilhing all, being well fet 
 in their uniting parts, with your tarras 
 flack'd on the fpot : you ufe it with the 
 fpirits and fire in it. This roof or deling, 
 fo conftruded, will, with the three, or 
 at leaft four thicknefles of one inch thick 
 brick, made in the whole only, if three 
 ~i>ricks five inches and an half, viz. one 
 inch and a half for the floor, three inches 
 for the three bricks, and one inch for 
 
 the 
 
C 26 ] 
 
 the tarras between the bricks, and the 
 fine coat that finifhes the deling. 
 
 Many examples might be given of the 
 ftrength of thefe flat arches, when done 
 by able workmen, and fuch good ma- 
 terials as here recommended j nay, it is 
 plain, the lateral prefiure mud be en- 
 tirely removed by the ftrength and unity 
 of the arches themfelves, nearly as much 
 as if they were caft oft* in brafs, or 
 iron : if indeed they were fubjedt to 
 bending, or giving way, asjoifts of houfes 
 do, in that light, the lateral prefiure 
 might prevail through the whole, and 
 fenfibly affedt the buttrefies, and fome- 
 what the principal walls themfelves. 
 
 It cannot be denied but both flat and 
 acute arches have fallen ; but the firfi: 
 never by pufliing out its flanks or pillars, 
 but fall in a perpendicular diredtion, ow- 
 ing to the badnefs of the materials, the 
 feafon, or unlkilfulnefs of the workmen ; 
 the latter has often fallen by the weaknefs 
 cf the abutments, and the badnefs of th$ 
 foundation, to which all bodies naturally 
 
 3f 
 
t *7 ] 
 
 prefs, in proportion to the acutenefs of the 
 angle of direction, like water which runs or 
 ftands on any lurface, in proportion to the 
 level or declivity of the plain on which it is 
 thrown. 
 
 Though the antients formed all their 
 roofs and arches in acute angles, even to 70 
 or 80 degrees, and not fatisfied with that, 
 eredted abutments and buttrefies behind each 
 pier, to remain there as principals of their 
 buildings, and to prevent any lateral pref- 
 iiire; yet furely thofe apprehenfions took 
 their origin from the vaft quantity of matter, 
 or the thicknefs of the arches, with which 
 they loaded all their piers. 
 
 What has been obferved before in the 
 conftrudtion of good houfes for habitations, 
 both of rich and poor, and the fafety of 
 their lives and properties, will, we hope, 
 leave no manner of objection againfl: the 
 king’s and merchants ware-houfes, rope- 
 houfes and arfenals, which neither red-hot 
 balls, nor cold, nor fire, cither accidental 
 or defigned, can affedl or ruin, but the goods 
 jn one fingle apartment only. 
 
 But 
 
t 28 ] 
 
 But It perhaps may be faid, that great 
 warehoufes and arfenals are too wide for 
 flat arched roofs and floors. This can be no 
 material objection, fince the principal walls 
 mu ft be proportionably thick to the width ; 
 if our houfes be forty feet wide within the 
 Walls, then one-eighth of that being five 
 feet, is fufficient for the rife of your ciel- 
 ings, from the nich in the principal wall : 
 which walls muft be proportioned to the 
 width likewife, viz. three quarters of an 
 inch to each twelve inches of the within 
 extent, will give the principal walls thirty 
 inches for their thicknefs. 
 
 Doors of iron made in a light and proper 
 manner, and pillars of the fame, where 
 truly neceflary, and where partitions are 
 not, or perhaps may not be convenient for 
 room, will be of excellent ufe; and thofe 
 pillars ranging throughout all the new 
 houfes at proper diftances, and perpendi- 
 cularly to one another. Stairs may be cut 
 through our arches wherever moft conve- 
 nient, with the greateft fafety ; but when 
 they interfere with the apartments, their 
 
 planes 
 
[ 29 ] 
 
 planes may, and ought to be, extra of the 
 planes of the principal houfe within, and 
 illuminated from the Iky ; as they are in 
 almoft all the principal houfes both in town 
 and country. 
 
 As the goodnefs of materials is a mod 
 eflential confideration in all good fuperftruc- 
 tures intended for duration, and abfolutely 
 neceflary in the conftru&ion of all flat 
 arches for roofs, floors, or cielings ; the 
 beft tarras, if not found in England, mud 
 be had, if from France. 
 
 What a furprifing phenomenon would it 
 be, if our coafts oppofite to thofe of France 
 (which produce infinite quantities of the 
 beft tarras, viz. Picardy, Normandy, Bre^ 
 tagne, and the famous Lahagne Bar, which 
 is oppofite to Chichefter in England ; alfo 
 Bourdeaux, Bayonne, and Roufillon, all prin- 
 cipal places for the fineft tarras) did not, if 
 Ikilfully managed, produce as good tarras 
 as any they have, and reafon and nature 
 feem to coincide with our opinion ; that 
 little narrow branch of the great ocean 
 which divides the two kingdoms, feems 
 
 only 
 
[ 3° I 
 
 only to have happened by a fhock of an 
 earthquake, or perhaps by the great flood 
 in Noah’s days. The earth then and fince 
 has, in her outward form and figure, in 
 many countries, changed her countenance 
 fo much, that the mod intelligent geogra- 
 phers are left greatly in the dark. But as 
 to the effential ftamina, or principal matter, 
 of which our earth was firfl: cornpofed (by 
 the Almighty fiat) we cannot admit a doubt 
 of its being the fame as in the beginning," 
 without admitting the greatefl: contradi&ion 
 to all the reafon and philofophy in the 
 world. 
 
 And indeed we cannot help thinking, that 
 if a plan was properly drawn for improving 
 forne of our Englifh rock into tarras, and 
 laid before his Majefty — we have the beft 
 reafon to believe it would meet with proper 
 encouragement ; efpecially when it is duly 
 confidered how many ftorehoufes and noble- 
 men and gentlemen’s fine palaces have been 
 deftroyed within our memories, and within 
 thefe few years, by fatal fires both at home 
 and abroad > which, had they been eredled 
 7 accords 
 
t 31 ] 
 
 according to the plans we have fo ftrenuoufly 
 recommended, had faved many lives and 
 millions of money. 
 
 As it is an undoubted truth, that the beft 
 fcheme which ever was formed, never took 
 but by very flow degrees, it is a queftion if 
 the fcheme we have recommended ever 
 does, in this or the fucceeding age. Such 
 numerous and invincible arguments are a- 
 gainft it — Carpenters mu ft turn mafons and 
 bricklayers, or ftarve 5 but the time our 
 houfes would laft, muft ftarve the carpen- 
 ters quite. But notwithftanding all that 
 can be faid againft the fcheme, reafon and 
 the fafety of mankind will ftill have force 
 enough to juftify our pains, efpecially in 
 recommending the immediate practice of it, 
 in all public and great warehouks and ar- 
 fenals : fuch can meet with no oppofition 
 either in theory or pradice, but want only 
 fit opportunities, money, and materials. 
 
 It muft be confefled, that fince the great 
 fire of London, 1666, many excellent laws 
 have been enaded for the public fafety, in 
 order to prevent the fatal confequences of 
 
 deftruc- 
 
[ 32 ’ ] 
 
 deftrudive fires. Thefe ftatutes are princi- 
 pally direded to proprietors and builders of* 
 houfes for their condud, and to prevent 
 eredions of wood, and ufing fuch a quantity 
 of that combufiible matter in their build- 
 ings as has been, at prefent is* and will be 
 till prevented, by greatly curtailing fuch vaft 
 quantities of fiery turpentine, or timber* as 
 are laid in every new eredion. Our inten- 
 tion is to fhew, or endeavour to illuftrate* 
 what little regard is paid to thofe falutary 
 laws, even by the greateft bricklayers and 
 carpenters in London ; and this we propofe 
 to do by examples from new eredions of 
 their own > beftdes quotations from the 
 principal ftatutes relative to this fubjed i 
 with feme obfervations and improvements 
 on ambiguous words, which the cunning 
 and ingenious well-fee cl counfellors never 
 fail to bring, with all their oratory, when 
 the builders are attacked on the ftatutes. 
 
 The firft example of an illegal houfe we 
 fhall take notice of, is that pretty white one, 
 upon an entire new conftrudiofi, on the 
 higheft ground in the Green-Park* in the 
 
 eye 
 
[ 33 1 
 
 eye of the palaces! which has been in agi- 
 tation between three and four years. This 
 famous building (except fix feet immediate- 
 ly above the ground, which is bricks and 
 done, and the centrical parts which front 
 Lord Cholmondeleys houfe to the north) 
 are all wood covered over with plaider, 
 contrary to the flatutes relative to this fufa- 
 jed, which will more fully appear by and 
 by in our quotations, particularly that of 
 Anno Reg. VI. &c. 
 
 Before we begin our literal quotations 
 from the datutes, we (hall give another ex- 
 ample of one of the fined; rooms, perhaps* 
 in St. James's parifh, which is connected 
 with, and adjoining to the back of the great 
 aflembly-room, in King’s-dreet. Their 
 doors are pierced through the great brick 
 wall of the latter, for conveniency to both* 
 This elegant room was finifhed December 
 1767 5 and being now out of all danger of 
 information, either to hurt or a fifed it in 
 the lead degree, or thofe eminent workmen 
 who built it * y we fhall, for the public 
 
 good, 
 
 ? No a£lion can legally be brought, but within 
 D fix 
 
C 34 J 
 
 good, and thofe who may be tempted here- 
 after to ad fo contrary to all common ho- 
 rsefly, but alfo in contradidion to all the 
 flatutes on the fuhjed of building, give a 
 little defcription of it, and the unjuftifiable 
 means tliey ufed to accomplish that end, viz. 
 of building this pretty place for the moft 
 laudable purpofes to be fure— 
 
 A (table and hayloft belonging to a 
 neutral perfon* (not near fo great a man as 
 any of thefe builders, nor even the pro- 
 prietor of the great room himfelf ) (band- 
 ing and joining to this proprietor’s (fable, 
 only divided by a party wall, in common to 
 both (babies he, in conjundion with his 
 eminent builders (and contrary to all the 
 warning given them of their illegal pro- 
 ceedings) took away this party wall, in- 
 croached eight or ten inches on the foun- 
 
 fix months after the fads, or finifhing of any illegal 
 erection. Act of Geo. III. Anno 6. p. 657. 
 
 * Had a leafe of the premifes at that time (1763) 
 of 13 years unexpired. 
 
 f Built 3 years before, entirely by fubfc'rxption. 
 
 dation 
 
r 55 i 
 
 dation of this neighbour’s liable, from front 
 to rear, by which they enlarged their 
 kitchen, and built a new wall in its place. 
 This new wall they only carried up about 
 2o feet high, until it came equal with their 
 joids and flooring, or parallel with the floor of 
 their great room, which fronts King’s-flreet. 
 Not only here is the encroachment unjufli- 
 fiable> but thev fhould have carried this 
 party wall upright, through all the (lories, 
 as the datute dire&s, viz. * That they paid 
 no regard to in the lead ; but on the level of 
 it, when it came parallel with the flooi* of 
 their great room, they laid four great girders 
 and twenty- one fmall joids both on the top 
 of this wall, and on the upper dory, all 
 hanging over the wall between four and 
 five feet, and over the roof of their neigh- 
 bours dable and haylofts. On the extre- 
 mity of thefe illegal girders and joids, they 
 made the larged wooden wall, perhaps, in 
 London, built fince the great conflagration 
 and covered it in the fined manner plaider 
 
 * A& Char. II. chap. xvii. & xix. and alfo by an 
 A£t of Q. Ann. anno 6. 
 
 D a 
 
 Could 
 

 E 36 ] 
 
 could do, in diredt contradiction to the true 
 fpirit of every aCt on the fubjeCt, particularly 
 thcfe of Geo. III. chap, xxxvii. page 652. 
 and that of Geo. III. anno 4. 
 
 Thefe recent inftances are fufficient to 
 fliew the little regard the principal builders in 
 this great metropolis pay to the edahlifhed 
 laws of their country, there being but few 
 ft reels in it, of any confequence, where 
 there is not illegal bows or unwarrantable 
 projections. If a maggoty landlord or te- 
 nant takes it in his head that he is not fuf- 
 ficiently feen from the window, efpecially 
 when his head is juft fin idled by a French 
 hair-drefler, the beft carpenter and brick- 
 layer that he knows are diredly fent for $ 
 down comes the front of his houfe in a 
 mighty hurry, and bow- window's are erect- 
 ed in prodigious ha fie, without paying the 
 leaft regard either to the complaints or da- 
 mage of his neighbours, though he often 
 affronts them all. 
 
 We fliall now, for the entertainment of 
 our curious readers, give a few interefting 
 quotations from the ftatutes themfelves, par- 
 ticularly 
 
[ 37 1 
 
 ticularly that of Q^Ann. anno 6. chap. 31. 
 entitled, An Act for the better preventing of 
 mifchiefs that may happen by fire . 
 
 <c Whereas many fires have lately broke 
 <c out in feveral places, in and about the 
 < f city and liberty of Weftminfler, and 
 <c other parifhes and places comprized with- 
 u in the weekly bills of mortality, and 
 <c many houfes have frequently been burnt 
 <c and confumed, before fuch fires could be 
 <c extinguifhed, to the impoverishing and 
 utter ruin of many of her majefty’s fub- 
 “ jects; the rage and violence whereof 
 “ might have been in a great part prevent- 
 “ ed, if a fufficient quantity of water had 
 <c been provided in the pipes lying in the 
 cc ftreets, and if party walls of brick had 
 <( been built between one houfe and ano- 
 <c ther, from the foundation to the top f 
 “ and lefs timber in the fronts of the 
 
 * houfes : 
 
 * The great wooden plaifter-wall of the new room 
 behind the great afiembly-room in King-ftreet, St. 
 James’s, of which we have taken fome notice be- 
 fore, falls under this cenfure ; for though it does not 
 join to any houfe, yet it is infinitely worfe, and more 
 
 D 3 liable 
 
[ 3§ 1 
 
 ^ homes 4 * : For preventing the like mi U 
 
 • A O 
 
 cc chiefs for the future, be it enabled by 
 “ the Queen's moft excellent Majefty, 
 
 - by and with the advice and confent of the 
 <£ lords fpiritua! and temporal in the pre*- 
 ■ l fent parliament afifembled, and by the 
 C£ authority of the fame, that from and 
 fC after the 25th day of March, which fhall 
 ; <ff be in the year of our Lord one thoufand 
 
 feven hundred and eight, &c.” 
 
 The third paragraph of the fame ad, is 
 as follows : c£ And be it further enaded, by 
 the authority aforefaid, that from and 
 
 - after the fir ft day of May, which fhall be 
 6C in the year of our Lord one thoufand 
 
 feven hundred and eight, all and every 
 €{ houfe and houfes which fhall be ereded 
 
 liable to cenfiire; being expofed not only to all ex- 
 ternal accidents from haylofts in that yard, but 
 hangs over between 4 and 5 feet, contrary to the 
 true fpirit of every a< 5 t relative to the fubjedl. Thefe 
 haylofts and flables at that time belonged to C. C. 
 
 f This fame illegal plaillered wall, and the eafl 
 end, which is moftly wood plaiflered, falls under this 
 predicament alfo. 
 
 e£ and 
 
[ 39 ] 
 
 €C and built, either upon old or new foim- 
 “ dations, in any place or places in and 
 “ about the city of London and Wedmin- 
 “ fter, or other paridies or precincts, corri- 
 “ prized within the weekly bills of morta- 
 <c lity, fhall have party walls between hcufe 
 <c and houfe, wholly of brick or done, and 
 cc of two bricks in the cellar and ground 
 “ dories, at lead, and thirteen inches thick 
 cC upwards from the foundation, quite 
 * c through all the dories of each houfe, and 
 JtC thirteen inches above the roof*. And 
 c£ that no modilion, cornifh, timber, or 
 <c wood under the eaves, lhall hereafter be 
 made or differed in any fuch new houfe 
 €t or houfes ; but that all fronts and rear- 
 C{ walls of every houfe or houfes, fhall be 
 <£ built of brick or done -f*, to be carried 
 
 <c two 
 
 * The party walls of all houfes are improved by 
 the a£ls of Geo. III. anno 4 & 6. from 13 inches 
 at bottom to two bricks and a half thick, makes 22 
 inches, befides the mortar; and 18 inches above the 
 roof or gutter, which parapet muft be covered with 
 ftone or good brick. 
 
 t Here again the plaifter wall is condemned ; and this, 
 D 4 with 
 
[ 4 ° ] 
 
 €£ two feet and a half high above the garret 
 <c floor, and covered with fione or brick * : 
 
 and if any new houfe or houfes, (hall, 
 
 from and alter the faid flrfl; day of May, 
 cc be ereded and built within the places 
 “ aforefaid, contrary to the true intent and 
 <c meaning of this act, that then the owner 
 £C of every fuch houfe, and head builder, 
 <c or workmen, who undertakes fuch build— 
 <c ing or work, fhall each of them forfeit 
 tc and pay for every fuch default, the fum 
 “ of fifty pounds, to be equally divided: 
 u one moiety to the informer, and the other 
 <c moiety to the poor of the parifh, wherein 
 * c fuch building fhall be e reded 3 and to be 
 61 levied, by warrant, under the hands and 
 “ feals of two or more of her Majefty’s 
 " juflices of the peace within the place 
 
 with the foregoing anecdotes, involves the fine white 
 houfe in the Green Park, under the fame predica- 
 ment, 
 
 * Almofl all the common houfes are capp’d with 
 large deal yellow boards of two or three inches thick, 
 and painted like fione capping, and divided like the 
 joints of the fione. 
 
 u where 
 
cc 
 
 [ 41 ] 
 
 where fach buildings (hall be ere&ed, or 
 <c where fuch workmen fhall inhabit, by 
 cc diftrefs and bale of the offenders goods, 
 <c upon the convi&ion on oath, or upon the 
 cc view of one or more fuch juftices of the 
 cc peace rendering the overplus to the 
 <c owners (if any be) ; and for want of 
 “ fuch diftrefs, the offender fhall be impri- 
 “ foned by warrant from the faid two juf- 
 “ tices, who are hereby impowered to iffue 
 cc fuch warrant until payment as aforefaid. 
 ‘ € And the (hare of fuch forfeitures 2ppoint- 
 ce ed to go to the poor, as aforefaid, to be 
 <c paid into the hands of the churchwardens 
 u of fuch refpedive parifh, where fuch of- 
 <c fence fhall be committed, who are to 
 <c give a receipt for the fame ; and to be 
 <c charged therewith, and accountable for 
 “ the lame, in like manner as the other 
 <c monies which they fhall receive for the 
 <c ufe of fuch parifh,” 
 
 * Several juftices of the peace were called upon 
 to view the illegal ere&ion in Rofe and Crown 
 yard, who promifed to do as they are bound, under 
 feyere penalties, but never were fo juft as to obey 
 either, 
 
 7 
 
 Anno 
 
[ 42 ] 
 
 Anno Regni 4 0 Georgii 111 . Regis , page 
 262, is as follows : 
 
 ec And whereas it would tend greatly to 
 prevent the fatal confequences of fire 
 <e fprfcading and communicating to adjoin- 
 ing houfes, within the faid city, parifhes, 
 <c and precinds, and other the limits afore- 
 “ faid, if party walls between houfe and 
 cc houfe within the fame, were to be made 
 £C of greater thicknefs than is prefcribed by 
 * £ the ad palled in the feventh year of the 
 CI reign of her late Majefty Queen Anne, 
 €i in titled, An A3 for making more effectual 
 e£ an A3 made in the Sixth Tear of her faid 
 €C Majefiy's Reign , for the better preventing 
 < c Mif chief that may happen by fire . 
 
 “ And if no timber, except the limbers 
 ?c of the girders, binding joiffs, and the 
 C£ templets under the fame were laid into 
 ce party walls ; and if no timbers of the 
 u roof were laid into the party walls (ex- 
 cept the purlins and kirb thereof) : and 
 sc if the ends of girders and binding-joiiis 
 lying within the faid party-walls, did 
 
 C£ not 
 
[ 43 ] 
 
 " not exceed one foot ; and if none of the 
 fc ends' of girders or binding-joids in adjoin- 
 <c ing houfes, meet, or were laid oppofite 
 <c to one another, and the tides thereof 
 <c were laid at lead: fourteen inches didant 
 * c from each other ; and if there thould be 
 <c nine inches at lead of folid brick-work 
 <c left, or between the ends of all lintels, 
 wall-plates, or bend timbers, which may 
 *■ or fhall be laid, in or upon the walls of 
 <c the fore and back fronts of all houfes 
 “ which fhall adjoin to each other. 
 
 <c Be it therefore enaded, by the audio- 
 “ rity aforefaid, That all party walls which, 
 <c from and after the expiration of three 
 “ calendar months, next after the paffing 
 “ of this ad, fhall be ereded cr built with- 
 (( in the faid city or liberty of Wedminder, 
 <c and the parities, precinds, and limits 
 <f thereof, as aforefaid, (hall be two, bricks 
 u and a half thick in the cellars at lead, 
 “ and two bricks thick upwards, to the 
 <c garret floors ; and from thence one brick 
 fC and a half thick, or eighteen inches at 
 lead above the roof or gutters which ad- 
 
 <c joia 
 
[ 44 3 
 
 <c join to fuch party walls 5 and that the 
 tc fame fhall be built of done, or of good 
 <c found burnt bricks, and no other. 
 
 “ And be it further enaded by the au- 
 cc thority aforefaid, that from and after the 
 <c expiration of the faid three calendar 
 <€ months, no timbers, except the timbers 
 <c of the girders, fainding-joids, or templets 
 <c under the fame, fhall be laid in any party 
 cc walls ereded or built, or to be ereded 
 <c or built within the faid city or liberty of 
 
 Wedminder, and the parifhes, precinds, 
 tc and liberties as aforefaid $ and that no 
 u timber of the roof be laid in fuch party 
 “ walls (except the purlins or kirb there- 
 “ of) and that the ends of all girders and 
 lt binding joids lying within fuch party 
 <c walls, fhall not exceed nine inches ; and 
 “ that none of the ends of the girders or 
 <c binding joids in adjoining houfes, fhall 
 <c meet or.be laid oppofite to each other: 
 * c and that the fides of each {hall be at lead 
 u fourteen inches diftant from each other 5 
 <c and that there fhall be nine inches at lead 
 €i of folid brick-work left at, or between 
 
 “ the 
 
[ 45 ] 
 
 €C the end, of all lintels, wall-plates, and 
 <c bound timbers, which may or (hall be 
 “ laid in or upon the walls of the fore and 
 “ back fronts of all houfes which fhail ad- 
 “ join to each other. 
 
 <£ And if any head-builder, matter brick- 
 cc layer or workman, fhail ered or build, or 
 “ caufe to be ereded or built, any party- 
 ct wall within the faid city and liberty of 
 “ Wettminfter, and the parifhes, precinds, 
 cc and limits thereof, as aforefaid, contrary 
 <£ to the diredions, true intent and mean- 
 <c ing of this ad ; or (hall ufe in the build- 
 tc ing thereof any bricks other than good 
 cc found burnt bricks, or fhail lay any tim- 
 <c ber in any party- wall * ereded or built, 
 <c or which fhail be ereded or built within 
 <c the faid city or liberty of Wettminfter, 
 “ contrary to the diredions, true intent and 
 
 * All the great timbers, girders, and joifls, with 
 thoufands of feet of quarters, and a hundred thou- 
 fand feet of lath, contained in the great fouth plaifter 
 wall of the new fine room behind the great aflembly- 
 room in King’s- flreet, St. James’s, are condemned 
 by this ftatute, though the head carpenter of this 
 erettion had a principal hand in this improved ad. 
 
 £C meaning 
 
[ 46 ] 
 
 ** meaning of this a then fuch head^ 
 u builder, matter bricklayer, or workman, 
 xt fhall, for every fuch offence, forfeit and 
 <e pay the fum of fifty pounds : one half to 
 <l the poor, and the other to the informer, 
 “ upon convidion, and the overplus (if any 
 cc be) to the defendant,” as in the former* 
 quotation of the 8th of Queen Anne . 
 
 Anno Reg . 4 0 Geo. III. p. 265. 
 
 <c And be it further enaded by the au^ 
 ec thority aforefaid, that every matter buil- 
 cc der who fhall, after the fir ft day of July, 
 €C one thoufand feven hundred and fixty- 
 ic four, ered or build any houfe within 
 “ the limits abovementioned, fhall, within 
 <c fourteen days after the fame is covered in, 
 <c caufe the fame to be furveyed by one or 
 <c more furveyor or furveyors 5 and fuch fur- 
 cc veyor or furveyors fhall make oath before 
 <c one of his Majefty’s juftices of the peace 
 <c for the faid county of Middiefex, or city 
 « of Wettmintter (which oath fuch juftice 
 €c is hereby impowered and required to ad- 
 minitter) that the fame hath been, to the 
 
 u befb 
 
t 47 1 
 
 cc beft of their judgment and belief, built 
 “ and eredled agreeable to the feveral di- 
 <c redtions in this adt contained ; which affi- 
 <c davit fhall be filed with the clerk of the 
 <f peace for the faid county of Middlefex, 
 “ within ten days after the making thereof ; 
 cc and the faid clerk of the peace (hall have 
 <c for his fee and trouble therein, one fhil- 
 “ ling, and no more.” 
 
 N. B. The two fine houfes in queflion 
 were never fworn to, or elfe perjury 
 had been added to the tranfgreffing 
 of the laws. 
 
 {C And if any mafter builder fhall make 
 “ default in the premifes, by negledling to 
 ct caufe fuch furvey to be made, and fuch 
 “ affidavit to be made and filed as aforefaid, 
 <c fuch mafter-builder fhall, for every fuch 
 <c negledt and default, forfeit fifty pounds, 
 <c to be recovered and applied in the fame 
 “ manner as any penalties and forfeitures 
 c< are by this adt diredled to be recovered 
 “ and applied. 
 
 £C And be it further enadted, by the au- 
 
 “ thority 
 
[ 3 
 
 tc thority aforefaid, that the parishioners 
 sc and inhabitants of the parifh, liberty, or 
 <c precind, where any offence againfi this 
 <c ad Shall be committed (except perfons 
 cc receiving alms) Shall be admitted and al- 
 <c lowed witneffes, notwithstanding his, her, 
 * c or their being a parishioner or parishioners, 
 cc inhabitant or inhabitants, in fuch parifh, 
 <c liberty or precind.” 
 
 The many excellent improvements made 
 on the Statutes for preventing the Spreading 
 of fires, fince the great one of London, 
 1666, cannot be too much admired; more 
 efpecially thofe, from which the foregoing 
 abflrads are taken : we Shall add but a few 
 more, which are emendations on all the 
 former, as it is written in an ad of our pre- 
 fen t Sovereign, in the fixth year of his 
 reign, chap, xxxvii. p. 655. viz. 
 
 “ And be it further enaded, by the au~ 
 ce thority aforefaid, that if any head-builder 
 cc or mafter-bricklayer, fliall, from and 
 sc after the firft day of June, one thoufand 
 cc feven hundred and fixty-fix, ered or build 
 any houfe or houfes, within the faid city 
 
 or 
 
t XV ] 
 
 Neither do I claim any great merit by 
 this plan, except that of having endeavoured 
 to improve in the art of building; and 
 having met with fome ingenious accounts of 
 houfes built in France, years ago, which 
 have anfwered the proprietor’s expectations, 
 I was encouraged to offer my endeavours to 
 Ihew, that but fmall quantities of timber 
 ought or may be ufed, either in roofs, del- 
 ings, floors, or ftairs, in comparifon of what 
 is commonly buried there. 
 
 It is a fhocking contemplation, that we 
 are only to live and then to die, without 
 attempting fome real good to fociety, or a 
 delire of real happinefs : this would be to 
 level us with the brutes that perilh ; where- 
 as the very make and form of our bodies, 
 and much more the faculties of our minds, 
 Ihew that we were made for an hereafter : 
 for man’s countenance was turned by his 
 Maker toward the ftars, As 
 
[ xvi ] 
 
 As the additional effays were well receiv- 
 ed by the public on their firfl: appearance, 
 we hope they will not now be difagreeable, 
 though fomewhat foreign to the preceding 
 part of the work. 
 
 9 Tis great delight to fmile at fome mens ways. 
 But higher JIM, to give jnjl merit praife . 
 
 ^ -- ' ’• ’ 
 
 Natura, 
 
Natura, Philofophia, & Ars 
 
 IN CONCORDIA. 
 
 Nature, Philosophy, and Art 
 IN FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 An ESSAY* 
 
 S in nature there are but two 
 
 H >fi . . , , 
 
 yjfc A principles, matter and motion ; 
 
 anc ^ ^’ IS matter IS either fluid, 
 
 as air, fire, water, mercury, and 
 
 oil ; or fixed, as earth, metal, minerals, 
 
 ftones, and diamonds ; there are no fen- 
 
 fible qualities refulting from any of thefe, 
 
 but what arife from their modifications, 
 
 B the 
 
[ -* 3 
 
 the caufe of which is ow^ng to the figure^ 
 fize, magnitude, and pofition of their con- 
 ftituent particles ; the right confideration 
 of which is the immediate object of an 
 impartial enquirer, who has no other ob- 
 ject but that of preferving the lives of 
 his fellow-creatures, and being ufeful to 
 fociety. 
 
 The firft thing to be enquired into by 
 a builder, is the fituation and extent of 
 the fpot upon which the ftru&ure is to 
 be reared. 
 
 The former belongs to the proprietor, 
 but both to the principal furveyor. If in 
 the foundation there be found any loofe 
 or marfhy ground, let that be well piled 
 and planked, or arches thrown over it, as 
 was pi'adifed in the foundation of St. 
 Paul’s, London, by my late worthy friend 
 Mr. James Gibbs , furveyor under the great 
 architect Sir Chriflopher Wren . 
 
 Great precaution ought to be taken in 
 not digging too low, or removing a firm 
 ftratum of gravel, and building on the 
 next lower one, which is commonly loofe 
 and foft. This 
 
[ 3 ] 
 
 This error was notorioufly praCiifed in 
 the foundation of the piers of Weftmin- 
 fter-bridge : Strange, indeed, to dig en- 
 tirely away an excellent ftratum of gravel 
 near five foot thick, and then fink their 
 great caiflbn on the fand, without a fingle 
 pile to fupport it ! 
 
 It was no wonder that one of the piers 
 funk five feet, fo foon as it received the 
 weight of the two adjoining arches : it is 
 furprizing the others did not go the fame 
 way. 
 
 Their only proper method was to clear 
 the bed of the river, then pile with judg- 
 ment in proportion to the ftrength of the 
 ground, which is only found by boring, 
 and with the horizontal faw cut the piles 
 off level with the bed of the river; after- 
 wards let down their great caiffon well di- 
 rected, and his hardly probable any mif- 
 fortune would have happened. In which 
 event two years labour had been pre- 
 vented, and twenty-four thoufand pounds 
 of the public money had been faved* 
 
 B 2 
 
 This 
 
[ 4 3 
 
 This famous bridge was begun in 1738* 
 and in ten years the arches, viz. 15, with 
 the balluftrades were finiflied, when the 
 pier already mentioned funk five feet, for 
 I meafured it before it was taken down or 
 obferved by any other, and then it had 
 preponderated four feet four inches : the 
 two adjoining arches were entirely taken 
 away, and the funk pier taken down to 
 low water mark ; but before they took 
 down the two arches, the ftrongeft cen- 
 ters were placed under each, and then 
 an immenfe quantity of old cannon, &c. 
 laid on the funk pier, in order to deprefs 
 it ftill the more. 
 
 Two years were fully elapfed before 
 the arches and balluftrades were put in 
 flatu quo , and ^.12,000 were granted by 
 parliament each of the two laft years for 
 ftnifhing the whole ; the total expence of 
 the fabric amounted to £.3, 12,000, a well 
 laid-out fum indeed, fince the bridge is 
 now one of the fineft and mo ft ufeful in 
 the world, and every way convenient both 
 for the town and the country. 
 
 [The 
 
[ 5 3 
 
 [The north end of it lies within 800 
 feet of Weftminfter-hall, a ftru&ure that 
 raifes the admiration of ‘all. It was 
 built by William Rufus , fon and fucceffor 
 to William the Conqueror, about the year 
 1095, an ^ now 1S the feat of juflice, the 
 different courts being held there. 
 
 Adjoining to this flupendous hall, are 
 both houfes of parliament ; and hard by 
 Hands that ancient and wonderful ftruc- 
 ture, Weftminfter-abby.] 
 
 This celebrated bridge acrofs one of 
 the rnoft famous rivers in Europe, con- 
 tains fifteen femi-circular arches, and oc- 
 cupies the fpace of 1 500 feet from fhore 
 to fhore ; the centre arch is 76 feet, the 
 other arches decline four feet each, fo that 
 the fecond and fourteenth are 48 feet 
 each, and the firfl and fifteenth are 
 only 30. 
 
 The balluftrade is flrong, well defigned 
 and nobly executed, feven feet high, con- 
 fifts of a Hone pedeftal three feet high ; 
 the banifters three feet high and twelve 
 inches fquare, and the cornice one foot' 
 B 3 thick $ 
 
[ 6 ] 
 
 thick | no moulding but an hollow to 
 throw off the drip. On the centre of 
 this balluftrade is a large pedeftal, defigned 
 for an hieroglyphical figure, (hewing the 
 great utility of the river as to commerce, 
 %d the conveniency of paffengers. 
 
 We (hall only add, that our criticifms 
 and obfervations are well intended, and 
 that the excellence of the whole is fo 
 truly great, that 
 
 Such as paint it trueft, praife it moil. 
 
 As we have touched a little upon Wefc 
 minfter- bridge, it will not be impertinent 
 to make a few remarks upon the 
 at Black-fryars, and which are fubmitted 
 to the judgment of the learned. 
 
 The city committee directed to condudt 
 the operations of Black-fryars (lone bridge, 
 published advertifements in September 
 and October, 1759, inviting the inge- 
 nious to give in plans, elevations, and efti- 
 mates, concerning the building of this 
 ftrudure. In confequence of this, twenty 
 different plans were given in, and the au- 
 7 thor 
 
[ 7 ] 
 
 thor of this treatife, from the circumftance 
 of his firname beginning with a C, was 
 the fecond to be called in, on the firil day 
 of November that year at Guildhall ; he 
 produced his plan before the Lord Mayor, 
 who was then in the chair, and the Court 
 of Aldermen ; it confided of eleven femi- 
 circular arches, the middle one an hun- 
 dred and ten feet in diameter, the other 
 four on either fide diminifhing ten feet 
 each toward the fhores, while the firfl 
 and eleventh that joined the land were 
 but thirty-four feet each fpan, contain- 
 ing in all from fhore to fhore, including 
 the piers, eleven hundred feet. 
 
 In this plan I alfo defigned and ex- 
 plained the neceflity of a high-fided caiffon 
 of 28 feet, by which the workmen might 
 be protected from every obflrudion, even 
 that of the tides themfelves. This they 
 obferved exactly in theirs, and adopted the 
 method laid down by C. in all its parti- 
 culars, refpeding their caiffons and foun- 
 dations : a method that greatly forwarded 
 the work, and bought by experience, as 
 B 4 the 
 
[ 8 3 
 
 the caiffons in which Weftminfter piers 
 were built were but ten feet high, and in 
 every high tide the workmen were obliged 
 to give over until the piers were above 
 high water mark. 
 
 I borrowed the flairs, balluflrade and 
 pedeflal, from Weftminfter, and wifh thefc 
 had been adopted in the Black-fryars 
 ftrudture, which indeed are pretty little 
 things, and well fet, (I mean the bal- 
 luftrade and pedeflal) but too low by two 
 feet, as they are troublefome to people of 
 an ordinary fize, and neither fafe nor a- 
 greeable to children : befides, ftrength and 
 grandeur, thofe effentials of every public 
 work, are here facrificed. 
 
 As to their flairs, they are noble, flrong, 
 and grand ; but we cannot help obferving, 
 that eafe and fafety here give place to 
 beauty and novelty : if any perfon, either 
 fober or intoxicated, makes a falfe ftep, he 
 is in great danger of breaking his bones, 
 or falling into the water : of this there 
 was an inftance about two years ago a 
 perfon ftumbled upon the fteps, and had 
 
[ 9 ] 
 
 it not been for a wooden partition that 
 had been placed for preventing people’s 
 going down to the water, he had rolled 
 to the bottom of all the fixty fleps, and 
 perhaps had been drowned ; however, he 
 was greatly affrighted and bruifed, and 
 when got to the top of the flairs, owned 
 the truth of this obfervation, which two 
 gentlemen had made to him but a few 
 minutes before. 
 
 ’Tis fubmitted to the impartial, whether 
 C’s plan, fo like that of Weftminfter, did 
 not deferve the preference : it confided of 
 twice twenty fleps only, with a flat in the 
 middle going, of 20 feet fquare ; and if 
 the centre of this bridge under confidera- 
 tion had been of the fame elevation as it 
 is now, and had declined toward the land 
 ten feet more than it does, twenty fleps 
 would have been faved on all fides, the 
 rain had run off better, and the fafety of 
 the people had been more certain : a 
 confideration, we hope, that may merit 
 the future attention of the public. 
 
 C. alfo 
 
[ 10 ] 
 
 C. alfo demoriftrated the neceffity of 
 piling each foundation below the piers, 
 but in no cafe to remove the ftratum of 
 gravel that nature had provided; an error 
 which the Weftminfter furveyor had un- 
 fortunately fallen into, contrary to all the 
 reafon in the world, and the nature of 
 things. 
 
 After the committee had afked C. the 
 proper queftions, they clofed the exami- 
 nation with this : “ What money do you 
 think fufficient to defray the charges of 
 building the bridge ? and in what time 
 may it be finiihed ? ” “ The charges,” I 
 anfwered, “ will amount to one hundred 
 thoufand pounds fterling, and the time 
 to Eniih it will be ten years.” 
 
 Having retired with my drawings, I 
 was but juft got fc thro s the anti-chamber, 
 when I was recalled. The then Lord 
 Mayor very politely faid, “ Will you be 
 pleafed to leave your df awing with the 
 committee: ” to which I anfwered, “With 
 all my heart, you do me honour ; ” fo left 
 
 it, 
 
[ 11 ] 
 
 it, and in a few days it was fent back with 
 thanks and politenefs. 
 
 Befides, C. never imagining the matter 
 had been predetermined, executed another 
 defign, of nine fegments of arches ; the 
 middle 120 feet diameter, the four on 
 either fide diminifhing ten feet each. 
 
 But the principal idea in this drawing 
 confided in a clear demonftration, that 
 the whole balluftrade and foot path was 
 to be a fegment of one flat circle from 
 fhore to fhore ; a thing not to be found 
 in any author ; not like the foot-walk of 
 Weftminfter- bridge, which feems to rife 
 and fall on every pier ; and even that, 
 though owing to the nature of the plan, 
 jnight have been a little remedied if fore- 
 seen in proper time. 
 
 The illuftration of this flat arch-walk 
 and balluftrade will appear more clear, if 
 we confider the breadth of the river at 
 Black-fryars to be 1100 feet, allowing 
 this to be the bafe line, the extreme parts 
 of which to terminate our flat arches, 
 giving fourteen feet for the depth of 
 
 water. 
 
[ 12 3 
 
 water, twenty feet for the vacuum of the 
 great arch for the craft to pafs at high 
 water, fix feet for the thicknefs of the 
 arch at centre, and feven feet for the 
 balluftrade and pedeftal ; the whole making 
 47 feet : the extremity being given, the 
 flat circle on a large plain is eafily de- 
 feribed, whence the moulds to work by 
 may be formed. 
 
 To carry this idea a little further, for 
 fpeculation only : Suppofing the materials 
 very good, and connected together as one 
 folid body, and alfo allowing the abut- 
 ments on the land not to give way in the 
 leaft, and the intermediate piers to have 
 been either all ftruck or removed, would 
 that great flat arch give way ? It certainly 
 would : though good materials ikilfully 
 compacted will fuftain any weight that 
 is adequate 
 
 We cannot quit this elegant ftrudure 
 without obferving, that the founda- 
 tions are judicioufly laid on piles well 
 
 * ’Tis from the infinite number of parts, of which 
 our arch is compofed, that this imperfe&ion arifes. 
 
 drove 
 
[ «3 ] 
 
 drove in, and excellently difpofed ; their 
 horizontal tops are levelled to the clear 
 bed of the river, on which the bottom 
 of the great caiffon refts ; and though 
 the piers do not confift: all of folid (tone 
 like that of Weftminfter, yet, if I miftake 
 not, the four or fix firft courfes are all 
 folid throughout, and all clamped and 
 united with iron every way neceflary ; and 
 where the whole is not of folid flone, yet 
 they are fo ingenioufly united by courfes 
 of Portland at proper diftances, and thefe 
 bound and fecured every way with iron, 
 and large dove-tails of Engliih oak, and 
 the interfiles filled up with the belt lime 
 and ftone, that nothing but time can de- 
 ftroy them. 
 
 The arches are only nine in number, 
 the fineft and moft beautiful perhaps in 
 the world ; their form is elliptical, which 
 renders them more convenient for navi- 
 gation than if any other fhape ; the centre 
 arch is ioo feet diameter, and about 24 
 feet higher than the furface, even when 
 the tide is at the full ; the other arches 
 
 diminish 
 
[ H ] 
 
 diminish about five feet each toward the 
 fihores, but fome of them are fix inches 
 fmaller, if the copper plate be juft. 
 
 The two Ionian columns, with their 
 pilafters and projecting cornices placed on 
 the cut waters of each pier, are of ex- 
 quifite beauty and magnificence, taking 
 from the ftrudure that heavinefs with 
 which too much plainnefs and rufticity 
 are attended 3 for, befides the novelty of 
 the idea, fuch eredions, fo excellently 
 well accomplifhed, give a fenfible plea- 
 fure to every gentleman of tafte and 
 genius. 
 
 Whoever projeds for the benefit of the 
 public, ought to be highly efteemed : the 
 tribute of applaufe paid to Sir Chriftophef 
 Wren , Inigo Jones, and James Gibbs , in 
 the former century 3 to Mr. Adams and 
 Mr. Miln in our own 3 bear teftimony of 
 this no lefs than the particular refped in 
 which Paladio , Vitruvius , and Scamoti a- 
 mong the antients, not to mention the 
 wifeft of kings, have fhone for ages, and 
 been decked with civic crowns of ap- 
 plaufe 3 
 
[ i5 3 
 
 plaufe ; their plans have diffufed a ge- 
 neral joy both to the rich and to the 
 poor. 
 
 Befides the reputation and eclat con- 
 veyed to a country from ftately erections, 
 very great profit is alfo derived, fince 
 multitudes come from every quarter to 
 view what is ftriking and majeftic; and 
 nothing is more certain, than that tra- 
 vellers who came from all places to view 
 the magnificent and coftly buildings e- 
 reCted by Louis XIV. have fpent ten times 
 more money than what all of them put 
 together might be worth. 
 
 ’Tis true, that tho’ on the 9th of June, 
 1769, the hulk of a French privateer, 
 coming up to be differed at Willifs’s- 
 wharf, joining the eaft corner of Weft- 
 minfter-bridge, {truck againft one of thefe 
 pillars with her prow, and fradtured it 
 about 8 or 9 feet above the bafe ; yet it 
 was reftored fo effectually in a few days, 
 that now there is not the leaft veftige of 
 a blow. Plain truths are fometimes dis- 
 agreeable, but fuch as may contribute to 
 
 public 
 
[ i6 ] 
 
 public utility, ought to be fairly con- 
 fidered, and gratefully received. 
 
 If the hypothefis be granted, as to 
 the building of flat brick and terrafs 
 arches; the following plan, ’tis hoped, 
 will meet with no infurmountable ob- 
 jections, as it regards principal houfes, 
 arfenals and merchants warehoufes, &g. 
 &c . not only in Great Britain and Ireland* 
 but through the whole extent of the 
 Britifh empire; and lays down a method 
 for rendering them proof againft fire, and 
 where neither rats nor mice will find 
 fhelter. 
 
 To effedt this, timber mufi be ex- 
 cluded from all roofs, floors, and flair-* 
 cafes ; and, if the proprietor pleafes, iron 
 doors and windows may be made with 
 every ornament wherewith they are ex- 
 ecuted in wood ; the richeft decorations 
 may be introduced in the cielings of the 
 rooms of the principal apartments. 
 
 In the annexed drawing is the fketch 
 ©f a fmall houfe, confifting of a kitchen, 
 
 parlour. 
 
I 49 1 
 
 44 or liberty of Weftminfter, or caufe any 
 i( houfe to be eredted and built there, with- 
 44 in any of the parifhes, precindts, or limits 
 44 as aforefaid, contrary to the diredtioU of 
 44 the faid recited adt, or of this prefent adl^ 
 44 then every fuch head- builder or mafler- 
 44 bricklayer (hall not billy pay the penal- 
 44 ties whereof he or they fhall be con- 
 <c vidted, but alfo fhall, within the fpace of 
 44 fix ninths next after his or their being 
 44 convidted of fuch offence, in manner by 
 4< the fame recited adt prefcribed, make 
 44 good all fuch defedts and irregularities 
 4c whereof he or they fhall have been fo 
 44 convidted* and render the building of 
 4 4 fuch houfe or houfes conformable to the 
 44 dirediions of the faid recited adt. And 
 44 in cafe fuch head-builder or mafter- 
 44 bricklayer fhall not, within fix months 
 44 after fuch convidtion, have made good 
 44 fuch defedts and irregularities, and ren- 
 44 dered the building of fuch houfe or 
 44 houfes conformable to the dirediions of 
 44 the faid recited adt, or of this prefent adt, 
 44 then every fuch head-builder, mafter- 
 E 44 brick- 
 
t 5° ] 
 
 bricklayer, or workman, (hall forfeit the 
 cc further fum of fifty pounds, to be applied 
 €£ as aforefaid, and to be likewife levied and 
 {c recovered in manner as by the faid recited 
 “ ad is direded. And fo toties quoties for 
 <c every fix months that fueh defeds and ir- 
 £C regularities fhall continue, and fuch houfe 
 u or houfes remain, built other wife than 
 cc conformable to the diredions of the faid 
 cc recited ad, or of this prefent ad» 
 
 In page 657, it is ordered, 
 
 <c And be it further enaded, by the au- 
 <c thority aforefaid, that if any adion {hall 
 cc be brought, or fuit commenced, againft 
 <c any perfon or perfons, for any thing done 
 “ in purfuance of the faid recited ad: of the 
 €c fourth year of his prefent Majefty, or 
 <c of this ad, fuch adion or fuit fhall be 
 <c laid or brought within fix months next 
 C£ after the fads done, and not afterwards ; 
 tc and fhall be laid or brought in the county 
 c£ or place where the fad was committed, 
 <£ and not elfewhere: and the defendant 
 or defendants in fuch adion, may plead 
 £€ the general iffue, and give this ad and 
 
 “ the 
 
[ ] 
 
 u the fpecial matter in evidence at any 
 “ trial to be had thereupon, and that the 
 * c fame was done in purfuance and by the 
 te authority of this ad. And if the fame 
 kt fhall appear to have been fo done, and if 
 <c any adion or fuit fhall not be brought 
 ic within the time before limited, or fhall 
 <c be brought in any other county or place 
 k< than as aforefaid, then the jury fhall find 
 * c for the defendant or defendants : or if the 
 * c plaintiff or plaintiffs fhall become non- 
 tc fuited, and fuffer difcontiriuance of his or 
 IC their adion or adions, or if a verdid fliall 
 €< pafs againft the plaintiff or plaintiffs, 
 u the faid defendant or defendants fhall 
 * c have triple cofts ; and fhall have fuch re- 
 “ medy for recovering the fame, as any de- 
 “ fendant or defendants hath or have for 
 * c cofts in any other cafe by law. 
 
 ‘‘ And it is hereby further enaded, that 
 tc this ad fhall be deemed and taken to be 
 €< a public ad 3 and fhall be judicially taken 
 “ notice of as fuch, by all judges, juftices, 
 * s and all other perfons whatfoever, without 
 “ fpecially pleading the fame.” End of 
 the ad of 6 Geo. III. 
 
 E 2 
 
 It 
 
[ 5 2 ] 
 
 It is obfervable that almoft all the new 
 projeding bow-windows through this me- 
 tropolis, are ereCted with wood plaiftered 
 over, contradictory to all the laws on the 
 fubjeCt of building for preventing the fpread- 
 ing of fires ; and not only fo, but all the win- 
 dow frames are fet nearly fiufh with the fronts 
 of their plaiftered walls, and on the joifts 
 or girders projecting four or five feet beyond 
 the main front of the houfe; and thefe 
 joifts parallel with one another, occupy a 
 double office both within and without the 
 houfe. Vide the lajl paragraph of the A3 of 
 the y th of ^ Anne . 
 
 <c Be it enaCted by the authority aforefaid, 
 <c that from and after the firft day of June, 
 4C one thoufand feven hundred and nine, no 
 <c door frame, or frame of wood to be ufed 
 (t in any houfe or building which ffiall be 
 <c ereCted on either old or new foundations 
 ic within the aforefaid city and liberty of 
 <c Weftminfter, or the liberties thereof, fhall 
 cc be fet nearer the outfide of the wall than 
 <c four inches.” Three months imprifonment 
 is annexed to the tranlgreffion of this ftatute 
 without bail or mainprize. 
 
 A Angle 
 
[ 53 1 
 
 A fingle obfervation more or two on this 
 interefting fubjeft, principally addrefled to 
 the Great, both in town and country, who 
 have numerous families. 
 
 As it is even in idea terrible, that fo many 
 people fhould be permitted to Ileep in the 
 night all at the fame time in one houfe, 
 without one or more awake, to be guardians 
 (under Providence) of the reft, as is prac- 
 tifed on fhipboard at fea by every captain or 
 mafter, unlefs he be a fool or an idiot * ; 
 how much it would contribute to the eafe, 
 happinefs, and advantage of the whole fa- 
 mily, efpecially the lord and mafter of it, if 
 one or two of his moil vigilant and trufty 
 fervants were appointed for that end ; and 
 had mafter-keys, fuch as his lord or Yquire 
 were pleafed to truft him with, by which, 
 both night and day, that fervant might ex- 
 amine every apartment of the houfe or 
 
 * It is not in the leaft to be doubted, but that 
 many (hips, with all their crews, &c. are utterly loft 
 by intemperance and bad watchmen. The firft ren- 
 ders good failors no better than fools ; and if you 
 bray a fool in a mortar, his folly will flill be the 
 fame. 
 
 E 3 
 
 houfes. 
 
E 54 ] 
 
 houfes, within and without doors, on all oc? 
 cafions whatever, hardly any feafons except- 
 ed; but moft of all when any workmen are 
 about, or more particularly working in the 
 the houfe. But above every other confidera- 
 tion imaginable, let this principally take 
 root, and be deeply engraved in the faithful 
 memories of our great people, that thefe 
 precautions be for ever put in practice at all 
 times and feafons, both nights and days, 
 holydays * and fabbaths not excepted 
 
 * Early in the morning of the 27th of July, 1770, 
 in Portfmouth dock-yard many fatal fires broke out 
 in feveral places among the mails, ropes, flax, pitch, 
 and other warehouses, which raged with irrefiftable 
 fury for fix or eight hours, the tide being at low 
 ebb, and the yard empty of the men ; fix or (even 
 hundred of them being gone to a fair eight miles off. 
 This they call a holiday. The damage is computed 
 at the fmalleft rate at fifty thoufand pounds. 
 
 N. B. Such another feene was exhibited on this 
 fame day of the year in this very dock, about ten 
 years ago. O publifl. f ? it mt in Gath ! Ah Jhame to men ! 
 Milt. " 
 
 It is a lamentable truth that many watchmen, both 
 in church and ftate, are well paid, though they do 
 little or nothing but mind their own fecular bufinefs, 
 in Head of their flocks. Jkftfit* 
 
[ 55 1 
 
 when the carpenters and painters are juft 
 going away. 
 
 If our own particular fervants can but be 
 relied on, even when they have particular 
 directions for watching night and day over 
 both men and their operations, how little 
 the latter ought to be depended upon who 
 rejoice in mifchief of the moft deflruCtive 
 kind, is open and apparent to every intelli- 
 gent mind. 
 
 It is alfo moft ferioufly recommended to 
 thefe faithful infpeCtors or guardians of the 
 night, that in every room they enter, they 
 examine, with the ftridteft attention, every 
 fire-place and its chimney and funnel, not 
 only by the eye, but particularly by the fmell. 
 
 Had thefe or feme fuch like precautions 
 been put in pradice fifty years ago, by the 
 opulent people of thefe nations, millions 
 had been faved, and likewife many lives. 
 Befides rendering infurance offices of little 
 ufe, and enabling the mafter of the family 
 amply to reward his faithful watchmen. 
 
 Vive vale fi quid novijli rcBius ijlis> 
 
 Candidas impertiy fi non his ufere mecutn . 
 
 Hor. 
 
 E 4 On 
 
[ S« ] 
 
 On Monday morning the 24th of Sep* 
 tember, 1770, the back apartments of Sir 
 Sampfon Gideon’s houfe were fet on lire, 
 (whofe main large front faces St. James’s-? 
 fquare, the corner of York-ftreet) whereby 
 feveral elegant rooms were all burnt down, 
 This fire began in a chimney, by means of 
 a blowing Hove, which had fet fire to fome 
 foot lying in a hole, or at the end and 
 vacuum of fome timber carried too near 
 the flue ; a practice too frequently ufed 
 by difhoneft and unfaithful carpenters* 
 who take delight in fuch dreadful machina- 
 tions as fatal fires. One of Sir Sampfon’st 
 fervants told me he lay in the room that 
 night where the fire begun, and was almoft 
 ftifled before he could get out (which was 
 about three in the morning) and that eleven 
 *nore of the fervants had flept in the houfe 
 the fame night. The painters had juft 
 finifhed their work, and been extremely 
 bufy all the preceding day (though the 
 
 fabbath). — Fires had been kept in the 
 
 chimnies of many of the apartments fe- 
 veral weeks before, though embrafures 
 
 m 
 
[ 57 ] 
 
 are infinitely fafer, and better for difcharg* 
 ing the fmell of the paint. No precau- 
 tions are adequate to ignorance and care«^ 
 lefsnefs to be fure ; for had the laft obferva- 
 tlon in this fmall treatife (addreffed princw 
 cipally to the Great) been obferved, and but 
 one of the dozen fervants who flept in the 
 houfe that night had been ordered to watch, 
 or rather to walk from room to room, and 
 carefully obferve every flue and chimney 
 in the belt manner by but two of his fenfes, 
 fmelling and touching *, this misfortune, 
 and the great inconvenience to the mafter 
 and family, had been prevented. 
 
 What has been faid on the fubjed of building 
 in general, and on this mod interefting one 
 in particular, building houfes that are not 
 capable of being deftroyed by fire, &c.; the 
 extrads taken from the principal laws them- 
 felves relative to building, and preventing the 
 extention of fatal fires ; for direding brick- 
 
 * By firing a piftol, (or more, if need be) loaded 
 with powder only, up any chimney that is on fire, it 
 will prefeptly, by the explofion, extinguifh or bring 
 down all the foot, and fave a deal of trouble and 
 copfufion. 
 
 layers 
 
 6 
 
t 5 *,] 
 
 layers and carpenters in their operations ; 
 the obfervations made on their frauds and 
 illegal pradices; their ignorant and earelefs 
 laying timbers too near funnels 5 their too 
 frequent encroachments on neighbouring 
 premifes, &c. &c.; and our anecdotes on fome 
 famous eredions, being collateral fuhjeds, 
 will, by the publication, we humbly hope, 
 be of fome ufe to the public, particularly 
 the ingenious % to others, who care not for 
 improvement, defpife inftrudion, and abhor 
 corredion, we pray they may not efcape 
 without partaking fome of the fruits of their 
 labours, and be made fenfible of the mean- 
 ing of thofe laws which they have fo often, 
 fo audacioufly, fly ly, and wantonly vio* 
 lated. 
 
 We now come to the lecond propofition, 
 which is to point out the mod: effectual me- 
 thods, by which new chimnies in all good 
 houfes may be fo ereded, as to draw well, 
 and not prove fmoky ones. 
 
 And as this mod defirable objed de- 
 pends on true philofophical principles, matter 
 and motion, we cannot admit a doubt, had 
 6 any 
 
f 59 1 
 
 any of the eminent philofophers, a Bacon, 
 a Newton, or a M c Laurin, entered upon it, 
 or truly confidered the infinite advantage 
 fuch a fubjeft, well difplayed, would have 
 Contributed to the health and fpirits of the 
 great and opulent, they would have left fuch 
 dire&ions, if properly purfued, that hardly 
 a nobleman or gentleman’s houfe in Great 
 Britain would be deemed an unwholefome 
 or fmoky one. 
 
 And, as the intentions of the author of this 
 effay are principally meant for the public 
 fafety, and to infpire fome able hands to pro- 
 fecute fubje&s of fuch importance, hitherto fo 
 furprifingly negledted or overlooked ; if ever 
 he is fo fortunate as to fee any fine genius 
 profecute them, the greater part of his in- 
 tentions will be completed, and he will re- 
 joice in the little pains, at leifure hours, he 
 has beftowed in breaking the way for thofe 
 who are blefs’d with time and excellent abi- 
 lities. 
 
 It muft be confefied, the ancients had many 
 excellent notions on mod fubje&s ; and in 
 their buildings endeavoured to fhun the 
 
 greater 
 
[ 6o ] 
 
 greater inconveniencies : for many of the fun- 
 nels of their chimnies yet remaining, are thirty 
 inches deep, and moft unaccountably wide 
 from right to left, and moltly placed in the 
 corners of all their houfes. To avoid a 
 fmoky one, they feem to have facrificed all 
 lymmetry and proportion $ and when they 
 placed their chimnies in the center of their 
 bell rooms, they projected them fo far with- 
 in the rooms, as feems an undoubted proof 
 they could not help believing that deep fun- 
 nels were abfolutely neceffary for prevent- 
 ing a fmoky houfe. 
 
 The moderns feem to have run into the 
 other extream ; and for the fake of good 
 room, order, and regularity in their apart- 
 ments, give their chimnies fo little draught, 
 that there is fo fcanty a fpace from breaft 
 to back, of about 12, 14, 16 or 18 inches 
 at moll, that it is hardly poffible for few 
 or any of them but mull prove, as they do, 
 fmoky ones. 
 
 This is plain, without contradiction, by 
 the numbers of earthen pots fet on the tops 
 of almoll all the new chimnies which have 
 
 been 
 
[ 6i ] 
 
 been built for thefe 30 or 50 years back- 
 wards *. 
 
 To avoid extremes being the fafeft way 
 on every fubjedt, the true medium or me- 
 thod whereby chimnies may be fo built as 
 neither to fpoil the rooms by their fizes, nor 
 prove fmoky ones, is our chief intention. 
 Neither is it more furprifing the fmoke 
 proves fo reludtant to afcend the funnels 
 of the chimnies built fo unreafonably (hal- 
 low as the prefent mode is, than to fee a 
 guinea drop to the bottom of the exhaufted 
 receiver with the fame velocity as a feather ; 
 becaufe all bodies, in proportion to their 
 denfity or weight, require a greater force to 
 pafs through the medium of air when af- 
 cending, than defcending. How unreafon- 
 able is it to expedt, in rooms fo unaccount- 
 ably clofe, where the air is almoft entirely 
 fliut out, as in mod of our modern great 
 
 * Witnefs the Admiralty, below Charing-crofs, 
 where fuch additions of various kinds are built op the 
 old chimney tops, as are to be found no where elfe ; 
 all occafioned by the (hallownefs of their funnels be- 
 low, and narrownefs at top. And it is a queftion (till, 
 whether they have mended their going to this hour. 
 
 houfes. 
 
[ 62 3 
 
 houfes, that the fmoke will ever reverberate, 
 when it has fo little or no impelling power 
 fo force it up the funnels. 
 
 This feems to want but little illuftration^ 
 as every part of nature proves it : the flow* 
 ing of the tide flops and repulfes the cur- 
 rents of the rivers, in proportion to its fupe- 
 rior ftrength ; and when that lofes itfelfj 
 the natural currents of the rivers take place 
 again. 
 
 In the fedtion you fee the fize of the 
 modern chimnies in front, but all the fun- 
 nels are upon a new plan. The old plans 
 being found, by long experience, aim oft all 
 
 defective* 
 
 Let therefore the funnels widen as they 
 afcend, elpecially from right to left, and be 
 at leaft 20 or 22 inches depth $ throw arches 
 over from the front of the infide of your 
 chimney, to the back, and carry the infides 
 up flanting, filling up the vacuums as you 
 go up, to prevent the foot from refting on 
 any fquare or flat whatever : our depth be- 
 ing afcertained to 20 inches at leaft, the 
 width from right to left need be no more 
 
 than 
 
[ 63 ] 
 
 than 12 or 14 inches at moft, as you fee 
 demonftrated in the chimnies of our par- 
 lours and firft floors Z Z. 
 
 Three funnels are drawn in the chimney 
 of the kitchen *, and intended to be arched 
 as the others. The fmoother the infides are, 
 the better; for all roughnefs retards and 
 hinders the afcending fmoke, and renders 
 them almoft impoflible to be kept clean, 
 which is abfolutely neceflary to prevent them 
 from fmoking. 
 
 And if gentlemen of diftindion would 
 caule all the funnels of their chimnies to be 
 built of folid ftone, the thing would certain- 
 ly be done to the purpofe. 
 
 To prevent the fmoke of one chimney 
 being blown down another (a very common 
 cafe) where there is no lire, let the tops of 
 all your new chimnies be carried eighteen 
 inches above the ftone capping or cornice, 
 
 * This idea we do not infift upon ; but knowing 
 that fo many kitchen chimnies are very fmoky ones, 
 by reafon of their width below ; that width divided 
 into three, and falling into the main funnel, may 
 prove like three bellows in place of one, and be of 
 great fervice. 
 
 feparat- 
 
C <4 3 
 
 Separated from one another, and finiChed all 
 fquare, to prevent the whiffling when the 
 wind blows hard. Thefe fquare tops, tho* 
 they occupy more fpace, muft widen to- 
 wards the top, as the flant from bottom to 
 top of our plan in the feflion directed as at 
 
 o o o o o. 
 
 And let all builders ftri&ly obferve to fet 
 their bricks or ftone with the beft lime or 
 tarras with the fpirit and fire in it j for if the 
 air penetrate from without or within, and 
 communicate with one another, that chim- 
 ney or chimnies can never go well. 
 
 For a further illuflration of our hypo- 
 thefis or plan $ as all fmoke is water rarified 
 by the force of fire, they being originally 
 one, may juflly be compared in their opera- 
 tions to one another. For example : When 
 a powerful body of water is let out from 
 any height, with what irrefiftable force it 
 carries every weaker body along with it but 
 when dilated and expanded, lofes its force* 
 like a powerful army of foldiers broken and 
 divided. So by the contraction of the fun- 
 nels of our chimnies at bottom, and their 
 
 uncom- 
 
r 65 ] 
 
 uncommon depth, we gather all the circum- 
 ambient air the room affords in one body or 
 column 5 and if there be any occafion for 
 more air, as is often the cafe, by reafon of 
 the clofenefs of the doors and windows, 
 efpecially when the fires are lighting up, 
 let fome of them be a little opened ; more 
 ftrength will be added to the natural air of 
 the room, which will impel the new-created 
 fmoke with more force and celerity ; and 
 confidering, as it afeends, it has the more 
 fpace to occupy, as our chimnies grow 
 wider and wider, the fmoke weaker and 
 thinner, ftill impelled by the flronger body 
 behind, this will prevent any reverberat- 
 ing fmoke coming down into the apart- 
 ments, and difeharge itfelf in the air, to 
 the fatisfadion, health, and fpirits of the in- 
 habitants below ; which is the defired end 
 of this original plan. 
 
 In our third proportion we prornifed to 
 lay down the beft and mofl effedual me- 
 thods how to cure all fmoaky chimnies, if 
 they were not fo bad as to render them in- 
 curable by age, ill ufage, or their unlucky 
 fituation. 
 
 F 
 
 If 
 
[ 66 ] 
 
 If the fronts of your chimnies are too 
 large, they muft be contra&ed to the mo- 
 dern fizes, as in the drawing. Firft pull 
 down as much as in the plan dire&ed, that 
 you may be enabled to form your flanks 
 and throw over your arches, leaving no flats 
 in your flanks, but carrying them up as far 
 as neceflary, that the foot may not reft in 
 quantities, or be attended with any incon- 
 veniences 5 then you may fet your chimney 
 jambs where you pieafe. This method only 
 followed, has, to my own knowledge, 
 proved of great benefit to many, who were 
 before greatly diftreffed beyond all patience 
 imaginable. 
 
 1 have fet a breaft-plate of iron of fixteen 
 inches breadth, and five feet or more in 
 length, refting on each flank of the chimny 
 within, and placed two inches diftant from 
 the breaft : it proved of ufe, but have 
 fince found the above plan infinitely pre- 
 ferable. 
 
 Another, and the leaft expenfive experi- 
 ment I have tried in my own houfe, on in- 
 tolerable fmoky chimnies, by only contract - 
 
 5 in S 
 
f «7 J 
 
 ing the fronts of them to the breadth of 
 the range from right to left, from 12 to 24 
 inches, agreeable to the fize of the room, 
 and in height only three feet, leaving the 
 old fronts or jambs of your chimnies juft as 
 they were, and the new fronts two inches 
 within them, forming a fquare all round, 
 which you may ornament with marble or 
 fine Dutch tiles at pleafure ; then fetting an 
 earthen pot on the top, fucceeded far be- 
 yond my expedition : but this pot is very 
 troublefome, by reafon of the fur or foot 
 that fo foon gathers therein, by the fre- 
 quent fires : for it is not more than ten 
 inches diameter, and confiderably fmaller 
 than the top of the chimney j whereas it 
 fhould be larger than that funnel on which 
 it refts 3 and inftead of being contradled in 
 its width, fhould be extended towards the 
 top, by which the fmoke would have the 
 more room to difcharge itfelf in the air, and 
 confequently lofe its force and be the more 
 incapable of reverberating in the other fun- 
 nels, and down to the adjoining rooms, as 
 is commonly the cafe of all chimnies of the 
 modern conftrudtion. 
 
 F 2 
 
 I have 
 
[ 68 ] 
 
 I have known thefe pots fo furred up 
 with condant fires in two months, that the 
 lweeper could hardly get his hand through ; 
 which, when cleaned, all was well again. 
 A little experience will prove thefe things 
 beyond a doubt. Befides, if thefe pots were 
 made wider at top than bottom, as before 
 obferved, and larger than they commonly 
 are, even as big as the chimney can well 
 bear, or about 12 or 13 inches diameter, 
 they would anfwer flill better than they do, 
 and would not fur up fo foon, or want fuch 
 frequent cleaning as they abfolutely mu ft 
 have. And if they were cad fquare indead 
 of round, and widening at the top rather 
 than the bottom, the whiffling which is 
 created by a high wind, playing round the 
 cylindrical top, might be prevented, if not 
 perfectly, yet in a great meafure. I have 
 known cylinder pots, though of great ufe 
 refpefting the fmoke, taken away entirely 
 for the whiffling noife they make in windy 
 weather. If they are well fix’d by able 
 workmen, with the bed tarras or lime, it 
 will keep them fafe from being blown off, 
 
 5 
 
 as 
 
[ 69 ] 
 
 as well as if they were round. The rich 
 and opulent who do nothing, and will not 
 employ themfelves, are feldom eafy, and 
 too feldom pleafed. Good fpirits, thegreateft 
 bleffing heaven can bellow on the rational 
 creation, feldom fall to the (hare of the in- 
 dolent, be they ever fo rich. The rich, 
 though unhappy, by virtue of their fuper- 
 abundance, would by no means, or for any 
 conlideration, change circumflances with 
 the poor, or even with thofe in middle cir- 
 cumflances. But this I believe, that if 
 thofe who are in neceffitous circumflances 
 were able to change with the rich, they 
 would be flill more unhappy than they are 
 at the prefent time, though it is impoflible 
 to make either believe thefe truths. 
 
 Qui Jit Mecenas at nemo . Hor. 
 
 If the funnels of vour chimnies are 
 
 j 
 
 any of them on the outfide walls of your 
 houfes, and you cannot think of either the 
 fronts within, or the tops without, being 
 disfigured, and the expence faved by the 
 foregoing rules, let a very fmall hole be 
 pierced two or three feet above the fire- 
 F 3 place 
 
[ 7 ° ] 
 
 place in the room from without 3 (loping as 
 much upwards as poflible, as marked in 
 the drawing of the three funnels of the 
 kitchen chimney Y Y Y. This eafy expe- 
 riment has been found of furprizing bene- 
 fits and if it fhould introduce too much air, 
 or prove too cool for bettermoft rooms, it is 
 filled up in a few minutes. Many apply 
 this remedy to the top of their chimnies, 
 becaufe they cannot get lower 3 their fun- 
 nels being all within the houfe, and receive 
 much benefit from them, though they are 
 intolerably ugly, and deform all the outfide 
 with fmoke. But as for this experiment 
 
 * If this hole be ever fo fmall, and rightly dU 
 redled, it will be found of much more fervice than 
 thofe are, whofe fize are ten times bigger. The be- 
 nefit arifing from fo trifling an operation below, will 
 not be juftly known until the wind has been in every 
 corner, I mean in every principal point of the com- 
 pafs ; for I have found by experience that hardly 
 any (theme anfwers equally to all. If it anfwers 
 to three points, and proves defective in the fourth, 
 the owner of the houfes muff determine the thing; 
 and if it be found of real ufe, and at any time after 
 choaked up, it may be eafily cleaned by the augur 
 that fir ft bored the hole, or a fmall fpit. 
 
 it 
 
[ 7 l 1 
 
 it was feldom heard of till now, though it 
 is founded on reafon and the nature of 
 things. 
 
 When reafon and art go hand in hand, 
 and are judly conjoined, you may rely on 
 that operation to anfwer the intended pur- 
 pofe the bed ; for if your houfe and chim- 
 ney tops be lower than the adjoining lioufes 
 and chimnies, you ard badly fituaied in- 
 deed 5 and it is ten to one but you mud 
 raife yours to the level with- your neigh- 
 bours, or never be effectually cured. 
 
 When the wind blows parallel with that 
 higher eminence and the tops of your 
 chimnies, the fmoke that comes from the 
 lower chimney being obdruCted in its natu- 
 ral courfe, like a ball, reverberates and 
 forces its paffage down the lame funnel 
 from v/ hence it came, having no dronger 
 power to oppofe it 3 neither fire enough, 
 nor drength of air, which are both abfo- 
 lutely neceffary in fuch a fituation. 
 
 I have feen tops of chimnies railed to a 
 very dangerous height, almod without a pof- 
 fibility of being fu ; p reed, or tied with iron 
 F 4 fpars j 
 
t 7 2 1 
 
 fpars; and tin funnels of 12 feet long placed 
 on thefe dangeroufly raifed tops, before the 
 people could live in their own houfes. But 
 this high chimney, fo enormous in its kind, 
 fo dangerous, and to the laft degree foolifh, 
 is fuch, that no fenfible thinking perfon 
 would live in that houfe on any confidera- 
 tion. One of thefe flands in King’s- flreet, 
 St. James’s, at the end of the great affem- 
 bly-room : it has flood thefe four years, but 
 it is very amazing it was not blown down 
 the firft high wind that took its broad-fide. 
 
 Many are the dangerous and too high 
 chimnies in London, and it is miraculous 
 that we are feldom vifited with dorms or 
 hurricanes; for was one to happen, as God 
 forbid, few or none of them but mufl in- 
 evitably perifh ! -And if people, whofe 
 
 houfes are over- top’d by any new eredions, 
 would ad confidently with reafon and their 
 own fafety, let them try any expedient 
 whatever, but not build in contradidion to 
 all the reafon and common fenfe in the 
 world. Needy people are glad to find a 
 Jyvafe where money has been got before 
 
 them y 
 
[ 73 ] 
 
 them ; but have neither prudence nor un- 
 derftanding to reflect on many dangerous 
 circumftances with which they are environ’d. 
 It is incredible to believe the fums of money 
 that have been expended in London to cure 
 fmoky chimnies, and often to little pur- 
 pofe but being plagued with dirt and blun- 
 dering workmen, who know very little of 
 the caufes or effeds of any part of matter, 
 fo that it is merely chance if at any time 
 they accomplifh the end. 
 
 By removing the caufe, the effed will 
 ceafe. If a fire be lighted in the middle of 
 any apartment, will not the fmoke expand 
 itfelf all over the fame ; but if a fire be put 
 in its proper place, and the chimney fronts, 
 funnels, and tops, be conftruded agreeable 
 to the diredions of this little treatife, no 
 doubt you may have clear and wholefome 
 rooms, the thing defired. 
 
 And as examples are the moft powerful 
 monitors on moft fubjeds, the ingenious 
 reader may, at his conveniency, view the 
 ftrangeft, the oddeft, the uglieft eredions, 
 raifings, or works, added at various and diffe- 
 rent 
 

 [ 74 ] 
 
 rent times, to the tops of the Admiralty 
 chimnies, which undoubtedly coft more 
 money than would have built a good houfe ; 
 but the word is, all to little purpofe. 
 
 Many blunders might be pointed out in 
 the great and public works through the 
 kingdom : all the fafhes of the fil'd floor of 
 that grand edifice are funk into the bottom 
 
 O 
 
 done or fill, fix or eight inches*; if one was 
 on a parallel with them, on the other fide 
 of the way, he would clearly fee into the 
 extent of this abfurdity, but from the dreet 
 they appear twice as large ; the rain that 
 beats againft thefe windows is difcharged by 
 a pidol bore through the done fill, which 
 is hollowed like a trough, fix inches deep, 
 and runs down the fronts of the main wall, 
 leaving a dirty mark all the way. 
 
 Another remarkable piece of art is fhewn 
 in the four dately columns that carry the 
 portico in the center ; for thefe columns are 
 
 * This was a remarkable blunder between the fur- 
 vey.or and the workman ; but feems to be placed to 
 the account of the architect. 
 
 only 
 
[ 75 3 
 
 only one diameter too long in their {hafts, 
 which are four feet 
 
 The cenforious may condemn thefe col- 
 lateral obfervations, which the ingenious and 
 candid will not difapprove, finee they affed 
 no cha'rader now living, and may be at- 
 tended with real advantage to the public, if 
 duly obferved. 
 
 Before doling the fubjed, we {hall il- 
 luftrate the fame with a fad which may be 
 depended upon : A gentleman who had a 
 houfe at the bottom of a hill or riling 
 ground, w 7 hole heighths were nearly equal, 
 but the latter was higher than the tops of 
 the chimnies. When the wind blew over 
 this contiguous eminence, it blew the fmoke 
 back in fuch clouds, that there was no bear- 
 ing any fire therein. Of this an account 
 was written to this author, and he gave 
 thereto the following reply : 
 
 * This falls likewife to the honour of the archi- 
 tect. — A proper pedeltal cut in the column would re- 
 duce the {haft to Ionian fize : and as the prefent 
 times can boaft of feveral architects of inimitable 
 merit, I hope foon to fee thefe prepofterous monflers 
 rendered a credit to the greateft and molt ingenious 
 people on earth. 
 
[ 76 ] 
 
 S I R, 
 
 You do me much honour by the favour- 
 able opinion you have fo politely expreffed, 
 and in defiring my advice, which I freely 
 give, fubmitting it to your own better judg- 
 ment, 
 
 I find that the houfe was built before it 
 was yours, and that the fronts of all your 
 chimnies are too large, and the funnels too 
 ihallow. 
 
 In order therefore to give you relief from 
 a fmoky and dirty houfe, which I know 
 you abhor, let your chimnies be contra&ed 
 in their front to the final left modern fize, 
 proportioned to the rooms $ for a room of 
 20 feet by 1 6, 3 feet 2 inches in heighth 
 by 3 feet 4 inches in breadth. 
 
 But firft, all the fronts mnif be taken 
 down, and the funnels be contracted about 
 1 4 or 1 6 inches from right to left, the deeper 
 the better. Throw arches over from front 
 to back, and carry up floping that the 
 foot may not lie in flakes, as far as the 
 workman can conveniently : perhaps this 
 floping will anfwer beft on one fide, only 
 
 the 
 
[ 77 ] 
 
 the tops of your chimnies muft be raifed 
 higher than the contiguous eminence 5 for 
 when the wind blows over, finding, as it 
 were, a perpendicular opening, and the air 
 colleded into one column, it will be of vaft 
 force, efpecially when ading in one direc- 
 tion joined with the fun in his meridian : 
 for his heat will over-power the natural 
 body of air colleded from the room below 
 and the additional fmoke, that it is no won- 
 der if at fuch feafons, you were diftreffed 
 with fmoke and fulphureous vapours. 
 
 But in the firft place, raife the tops of 
 your chimnies a few feet, and make two 
 fmall openings, one on each fide, but not 
 parallel with the diftrefling wind : cover the 
 top with a large heavy flag done, clofely ce- 
 mented with good lime or tarras, that it may 
 be able to refift the wind, and not be blown 
 off*. By this, the perpendicular diredion of 
 the air will be prevented, and on whatever 
 point the wind fets, there is a paffage for 
 the fmoke, and a mean to prevent its rever- 
 berating into the apartments below 5 as has 
 been found to the Angular advantage of 
 many perfons. If 
 
[ 78 3 
 
 If this experiment does not anfwer, make 
 up the whole front of your chimney within 
 two inches of the old jambs 3 a fquare of 
 that depth will fall all round, leaving only 
 the fpace of your grate for the opening, 
 which may be from 24 to perhaps 15 or 16 
 inches, or more * 3 and let the heighth be 
 from 30 to 36 inches, the lower the better 3 
 the lowed: bar of the grate not exceeding 
 .10 or 12 inches from the flab. By this 
 plain method, and fetting a pot of good 
 dimenfions on the top of the chimney, I 
 have effectually cured feveral in my own 
 houfe in King-ftreet, St. James’s, which 
 were really intolerable. 
 
 The fronts of your new works may be 
 covered with marble, or whatever is moil 
 agreeable to your fancy and tafte. 
 
 The leafl: expenfive methods often turn 
 out the bed: 3 I heartily wifh this may be 
 the cafe in yours 3 if not, when you have 
 tried the eafied:, and it does not anfwer, 
 then let another be tried. I fhall be glad 
 to hear from you 3 and wherein I can con- 
 
 * This is meant only for frnall apartments. 
 
 tribute 
 
[ 79 ] 
 
 tribute to the happinefs of your family, 
 freely command 
 
 Your mod obedient fervant, 
 
 W. Benevolus. 
 
 In the 4 th and lad proportion we pro- 
 mifed to indrud our readers how to prevent 
 all vermin being introduced into houfes, and 
 clearing houfes of them, and of dedroying 
 the word kind, the bugs ; a thing hitherto 
 unattempted. 
 
 It is hard to afcertain how this fpecies was 
 fird introduced into England : probably 
 they came with the French refugees, who 
 fled from the perfecution of Lewis 3e Grand : 
 they are fo furprifingly prolific, that if they 
 get footing into one room, they will, if not 
 prevented with the utmofl care and atten- 
 tion, foon fpread through the whole. 
 
 Whoever would have clean houfes, let 
 them beware of introducing old furniture 
 from any quarter : let the bed workmen 
 be always employed, particularly beddead- 
 makers, chair-makers and upholdercrs, emi- 
 nent for cleannefs, and of a fair character. 
 
 Now 
 
[ 8o ] 
 
 Now to make a bedftead, fopha, or chair, 
 fo as no vermin can exift in them ; take the 
 beft Englifh oak, or any other good found 
 wood, for your bedftead frames : take efpe- 
 cial care that no cracks, holes, or fplinters 
 be in your whole piece of work ; let both 
 your head-board and laths be of oak, of a 
 proper thicknefs, all well planed, fmoothed, 
 and neatly framed. Three days before you 
 put up your bedfteads, lay them over in 
 every part with a mixture of fpirit of tur- 
 pentine, mercury, and fpirit of fait, all 
 beat up well in a mortar; but more parti- 
 cularly prime all the mortices within very 
 well, and all the ends of your tenons, and 
 alfo the tops and bottoms of your pofts, even 
 before you put on the caftors ; this done, 
 you may put up your bedftead and furni- 
 ture, and be fatisfied that no vermin will 
 exift in the firft, though in the fecond they 
 pofiibly may. 
 
 Thofe who pretend to cure bedfteads and 
 chambers from vermin, and do not take the 
 bedfteads and furniture down, nor rip off 
 the ildrting, and even the top cornices of the 
 
 warmeft 
 
t 81 ] 
 
 Wafmeft corners of the room, do only de- 
 ceive their employers, like the quacks, who 
 heal the outfide of a fore, but leave the can- 
 ker-worm within ; which, in a little time, 
 breaks out worfe than ever. 
 
 If any bugs be in a room, the beds there 
 will never be clear, unlefs the Warmeft cor- 
 ners be taken down : if there be none at 
 the fire fide* or in the funny corners, yoti 
 may be fare there will be none in the cooler 
 parts. I have known thoufands on the 
 back part of the jfkirting, which being pul- 
 led down, and carried into the back-yard, 
 was laid over with fpirit of turpentine, &c. 
 well fired, and then fet up again when there 
 was an effectual cure. 
 
 Before you put up thofe parts of the wain- 
 fcotting, let them all be well primed with 
 the mixture abovementioned, and you will 
 have good reafon to exped a real remedy ; 
 but if thefe methods do not anfwer, it is 
 owing to the oldnefs of the houfe, to which 
 a new one muft fucceed as foon as poffible. 
 If the furniture of any bed be of fuch a 
 nature that it cannot be cleaned at home, 
 O it 
 
[ 82 ) 
 
 it muft be fent to the beft filk-dyer or 
 icourer, and all the fringes and every part 
 of it taken to pieces ; without which, even 
 they only who can do it, are unable to an- 
 fwer for its being done to perfection. 
 
 If any old bedftead, or even new be in- 
 fected, let them be taken down through- 
 out: let the whole be well prim’d, par- 
 ticularly within the mortifes, with the 
 fpirit of turpentine, &c. then all fired and 
 well fcraped within the mortifes with 
 chiffels ; and before you put them up, 
 be all primed with the mixture above pre- 
 fcribed. A good old bedftead, thus treated, 
 will be little worfe than a new one. But if 
 you can fpare your bedfteads for fome weeks 
 or months, commit them naked to the 
 yard or out-houfe, which will be of Angu- 
 lar ufe, exceffive heat or exceffive cold being 
 the abfolute cure of all vermin. 
 
 How to know if there be Vermin in a Bed , 
 without taking it down . 
 
 Unrip the furniture from the warmeft 
 top corner poll of the bedftead ; and with 
 g lighted candle examine clofely, for if any 
 
 be 
 
[ *3 3 
 
 be in the bed, that is their principal pkc& 
 If you fee none, rub the top of the bed- 
 ftead pretty hard with your fingers, for there 
 may be eggs almoft invifible, which will 
 fmell as rank by firong rubbing, as if alive: 
 for in warm weather, or in a warm room, 
 they are foon difturbed, and quick in their 
 motion. 
 
 By this method, you will fee in a minute 
 or two the real cafe. I have known but 
 one in a very fine bed, and that was brought 
 in by a gentleman the firfi: night he lay in 
 it : the bug, on examining the place, was 
 dete&ed j but no remainder w 7 as left behind, 
 to the no fmall joy of the proprietor, a lady* 
 who never had a Angle complaint of that 
 kind thefe three years. 
 
 Thefe vermin lay their eggs in the warmeft 
 and fafeft places of beds and furniture ; nay, 
 in holes and corners : and if a male and fe- 
 male are introduced, they propagate fur- 
 prifingly. Their eggs are firfi: white, and 
 like fmall grains of whiting or chalk but 
 in a few days grow bigger, and perfe&ly 
 black, like fmall grains of gunpowder ; and 
 G a when 
 
C 4 1 
 
 when they firfl begin to move, they are as 
 complete and perfect in their parts, as when 
 they arrive at their largeft fize, yet are but 
 juft perceptible by the naked eye. When 
 they arrive at maturity, the male is larger 
 than the female, but of a blacker brown : 
 if two remain undiflurbed for two fummers, 
 they engender thoufands if the apartments 
 be warm : but the cold deflroys both them 
 and their eggs, as it does every other thing. 
 There are many fkins which they will not 
 touch : thick and dark fkins are not their 
 favourite foil : a Granger who has a fair 
 fkin, (lands a chance of being bitten by 
 them : feveral perfons have in one night's 
 time been fo flung by them, as to be left 
 next morning like one in the fmall pox, 
 and in an high fever befides. 
 
 A gentleman travelling once thro’ Italy, 
 lay in as fine and clean apartments as could 
 be, and on bedfleads of poliihed iron, 
 drawn every night to the center of the floor 
 of the room : he was often devoured, in a 
 manner, by them ; he averred, they drop* 
 ed from the deling, perpendicularly upon 
 
 him, 
 
 2 
 
[ 8 5 ] 
 
 him, and were often gone before he could 
 get up, returning to their holes in the cor* 
 ners of the room, or cornices, where there 
 might be fome rends in the plaifter walls. 
 
 Many beds have been hung like failors 
 hammocks, and yet the fleepers in them 
 have been ferved the fame way j but we 
 hope that the remedies propofed will be 
 duly attended to. 
 
 How to cure Kitchens and lower Apartments 
 from Black Beetles. 
 
 Take about 30 or 40 gallons of boiling 
 hot water, and mix a quantity of limeftone 
 in it, until it be as thick as cream ; then 
 take four pounds of the coarfeft brown 
 fugar, and half a pound of arfenic; mix 
 them all well, and keep them in quick mo- 
 tion, for the arfenic will preponderate in- 
 ftantaneoufly, unlefs it is prevented by very 
 quick agitation \ then take a fquirting ma- 
 chine, and by it injedt this in every corner 
 and crevice of the kitchen or room where 
 the vermin are : then float your kitchen 
 with cold water, and two nights after take 
 G 3 coarfe 
 
E 86 ] 
 
 eoarfe browfi fugar mixed with arfenic, and 
 lay all round the corners of the apartments, 
 which will, if properly managed, deftroy 
 all both within and without. When yoij. 
 are clear of them, let the remaining lime 
 and water be ufed in plaiftering up every 
 crevice and fufpeded place in the rooms. 
 But if there be any wood in the floors or 
 wainfcotting of the rooms, under which 
 the vermin find fhelter, all mud be con- 
 verted into ftone floors or plaiftered walls, 
 elfe our labour is vain. 
 
 As arfenic is a frightful name, I would 
 recommend the above operations to be done 
 in private, and when the family is out of 
 town. 
 
 How to clear Kitchens from Flies . 
 
 Take of the fame water prefcribed for 
 the beetles, and let all the walls and cieliogs 
 of your kitchen and apartments where the 
 diftrefs lies, he well primed, and thoroughly 
 wafhed over y give them of the fame fort of 
 fugar to feed upon for fome days, and you 
 \yiil foon get rid of them. 
 
[ 8 7 ] 
 
 Bat if this method prove abortive, fhut 
 up your kitchen very clofe (or any other 
 apartment where they trouble you) and 
 funk them well with brimflone : this me- 
 thod has been found of excellent ufe in 
 garrets infe&ed with buggs, but the wain- 
 fcotting muft alfo be ripped up, and ferved 
 as before directed. 
 
 Quicquid cgunt homines votum, timer , ira 3 
 voluptas 
 
 Gandiciy difeurfus , nojiri eft farrago li belli. 
 
 G 4 
 
 
jffi, 
 
 ) 
 
 
[ §9 ] 
 
 Feb . 1 6, 17690 
 
 JSJemo vir magnus fine all quo ajfiittu Divino 
 unquam fiuit. Tull. 
 
 I F it be true that no pofition, either in 
 philofophy or theology, has hitherto 
 been advanced, but has met with oppo- 
 nents, and a lamentable truth it is that 
 often the patrons of oppofition to the moffc 
 excellent and obvious maxims which tend 
 to the good of fociety, find infinite num- 
 bers that efpoufe their caufe : the more ri- 
 diculous, the greater numbers often follow 
 them. From hence is feen the abfolute 
 necefiity of government under proper laws 
 and fandions, and the infpedion and direc- 
 tion of virtuous, fteady, and intelligent 
 men; fuch, and fuch only, are the glory 
 and dignity of human nature ! For though 
 it be true that feveral excellent perfonages 
 have been harrafled all their life-times, and 
 fuffered death at laft, by defigning and felf- 
 interefted men ; yet it is as certain that the in- 
 ward 
 
 \ 
 
[ 9° 1 
 
 ward tranquillity and effential happinefs, 
 (both living and dying) of the former, is as 
 fuperior to the latter, as light and chearful- 
 nefs of mind is preferable to Egyptian dark- 
 nefs and horror. 
 
 The prefent times afford too, too many 
 inftances of thefe truths; and I appeal to 
 every fenfible and thinking being, whether 
 in the late and immediate fhameful and 
 fcandalous divifions about a Catiline, his 
 efpoufers and partisans have not at all times 
 adted and fpoke fimilar to their patron’s 
 words and adtions, foaming out fedition, 
 calumny, and falfhoods agaioft the peace 
 of fociety in general, and many virtuous 
 men in particular, without any the leafl re- 
 gard either to facred or civil characters, and 
 the beft of princes that ever lived ! 
 
 I know it is impoffible to convince or re- 
 form mankind from errors, after they have 
 fo openly avowed and juftified themfelves 
 and their patron. But it is not to the pre- 
 judiced and partial we appeal, ’tis to men of 
 judgment and virtue; who dare oppofe and 
 ftep forth boldly, to flop and Hem the tor- 
 2 rent 
 
[ 91 3 
 
 rent of fedition, however tremendous! 
 To thefe great fouls we owe all that is 
 valuable here ; 2nd ’tis to them, and them 
 only, their writings, actions, and examples, 
 we have any tolerable profped of a happi- 
 nefs hereafter. 
 
 My motto has laid down thefe pofitions 
 as abfolute truths; that is, that no good 
 man ever exifted, but his excellent adions 
 were direded by heaven. And I have fo 
 much charity, even for this patron of fedi- 
 tion himfelf, and for his fenfible adherents 
 (if any be) that neither he nor they will 
 have the aflurance or effrontery, to afcribe 
 any of their writings or adions to celeftial 
 caufes, but furely to the evil fpirit, who 
 fows difcord and malignity among the li- 
 centious and profane fons of men. 
 
 Is it poffible, that men who believe the 
 exiftence of an infinitely wife, juft, good, 
 and merciful Being ! and that they are ac- 
 countable for their adions, if not always 
 here, yet certainly hereafter, to fly in the 
 face of all laws, civil and religious, as this 
 Quixote and his adherents have done fo 
 
 long ; 
 
r 92 i 
 
 long ;~even ever fince the general peace 3 to 
 which, for univerfal good to mankind, par- 
 ticularly to Great Britain, no treaty ever be- 
 fore can be compared ? 
 
 For blefled are, ever were, and ever will 
 be, the peace-makers for they are, ever 
 were, and ever will be, the children of 
 God. 
 
 W s BENE VOL US. 
 
 March 16, 1769. 
 
 Addrefied to Lord Eg— — -t 0 
 
 When wicked men bear rule , the poft of honour 
 is a private Jlation * Addifon’s Cato. 
 
 I Cannot tell whether any other apology 
 can be made for this celebrated fpeech, 
 than that the fpeaker, who is fuppofed to 
 utter it, was at that period of time in a de- 
 lirium 3 as every one, both before and fince, 
 who adts fuch an unnatural part, ever was 
 and ever will be 5 and I do appeal to every 
 
 fenfible 
 
[ 93 1 
 
 fenfible perfon, whether reverting my motto 
 is not full of more noble fentiments and 
 ideas, which, if brought forth into aftion, 
 muft tend to the abfolute good of mankind, 
 as it always has done in every nation of the 
 world* — If great and illuftrious characters 
 have not been the inftruments in the hand 
 of Providence, of preferving and delivering 
 every nation from cruelty and opprefiion, 
 who, or to whom can we afcribe the infi- 
 nite benefits thofe nations of ours have en- 
 joyed for thefe hundred-and-feventy years 
 juft elapfed : for undoubtedly had it not 
 been for them, and them only, we had 
 been at this day in the horrid darknefs of 
 barbarifm, or pontifical flavery; fo that I 
 am aim oft perfuaded, u when wicked men 
 “ bear rule, the poft of honour is the public 
 cc ftation.” Since no real merit can be juftly 
 afcribed to any general or ftatefman, who 
 never had any difficulties to encounter, or 
 turned his back on his country in diftrefs 
 and danger; fo in proportion to the arduous 
 circumftances with which either have been 
 involved, and gained the defired end, the 
 
C 94 ] 
 
 happinefs of their own people, they have 
 or fhould have been crowned with immor- 
 tal honour : for fure neither general, ftatef- 
 man, nor fea-captain of noble courage (who 
 had above all other objeds the good of their 
 king and country at heart) gained laurels by 
 turning their backs on their country’s foe. 
 
 If it be an undoubted maxim here, that 
 a difturbed liberty (now and then) is infi- 
 nitely to be preferred to a quiefcent flavery, 
 how glorious then is public fpirit, when 
 conduded with judgment and honourable 
 motives ; but when any of thefe effentials 
 are wanting, all that fuch empty bladders 
 can accomplifh, is nothing but noife and 
 fadion. 
 
 We have no occafion to go further back 
 than the hiftory of our own times, in fearch 
 of great ftatefmen, and illuftrious captains 
 both by fea and land — at whom pofterity will 
 undoubtedly ftand amazed ! but more par- 
 ticularly within thefe eight or nine years 
 juft elapfed. Here is the wonderous aera ! 
 I defy the annals of England, or of Great 
 Britain, to match them, tho' that filly and 
 
 imper* 
 
[ 95 ] 
 
 impertinent queftion has been often alked. 
 Who were the Englifh minifters by laft 
 poft ? 
 
 Indeed it muft be confefled, they have 
 all meant well in every plan they adopted ; 
 that is, if doing and undoing one another’s 
 fchemes contributed to the fervice of their 
 country: none of their predecefiors could 
 compare with them in the leaft degree ; but 
 the great misfortune is, too frequent con- 
 ceptions bring forth nothing but wind and 
 vapour ! 
 
 The wife King of Ifrael faid, that when 
 wicked men are in ptrwer, the people mourn : 
 and if it was not for this glorious hope, 
 that although they fpread their influence 
 abroad, for a while look frefh and gay like 
 the green bay tree on the fruitful plains of 
 Indojlan *, yet they are foon cut down, 
 peri(h, and wither away, fo that their place 
 is no where to be found, 
 
 # In Auguft, 1769, fuch bad news came from In- 
 dia of Hyder Aly having beat the Company’s forces, 
 that their flocks were fallen more than a half of what 
 they were before the news came. 
 
 To 
 
[ 9 6 j 
 
 To find out great and good minifiers 
 here, is a great and arduous tafk indeed, 
 confidering who and with whom they have 
 to do ; and it is as certain, that as infallibi- 
 lity falls not to the (hare of humanity, there 
 is no individual or body of men, but ill 
 many particulars deferve cenfure ; fo that 
 when any are raifed aloft on a fudden, they 
 are viewed like a beacon on a mountain's 
 top, and all their foibles, follies, nay, and 
 many, even natural defedts, exaggerated 
 beyond reafon, or the impartial expectations 
 of difcetning minds. For it is certain, if 
 Gabriel was commiffioned from on high, he 
 could not pleafe every body ; and it would 
 be miraculous if he gained the majority on 
 his fide, though he worked wonders for the 
 good of all. 
 
 No mortals fure, except thofe of juft 
 fenfe and feeling, can poffibly imagine the 
 difficulties and perplexities the heft of ftatef- 
 men undergo ; and indeed none but great 
 fouls, who can bear them, fhould ever un- 
 dertake fuch Herculean labours. One 
 thing I am perfuaded of being a truth, 
 
 which 
 
[ 97 ] 
 
 Which none of undemanding will deny, that 
 there are now as great and able men in this 
 prefent age, as ever any age could boaft of $ 
 and it would not be a very difficult matter 
 to point them out, fince oiie of the greateft 
 orators that ever lived has told us who they 
 are that fhould prefide over the people. 
 Says he, they fhould be blamelefs, i. e. men 
 of good report — not lovers of gold— not 
 novices— the hufband of one wife, having 
 children. 
 
 I fhall clofe this epiftle with one obferva- 
 tion more, that if any of thefe charaderiftics 
 are wanting in a minifter of ftate, he or they, 
 when weighed in the balance, will foon be 
 found wanting in many more, 
 
 W. Bo 
 
 H 
 
 For 
 
[ 9 § 3 
 
 For the PUBLIC LEDGER. 
 
 Jan. 30, 1771. 
 
 To G E O R G E STEADY, E% 
 Sir, 
 
 I Cannot help congratulating my country 
 on the news of Spain’s humble con- 
 defcenfion in difavowing the afl: of their 
 governor’s feizing Falkland’s Ifland, and 
 after keeping it eight months, being obliged 
 to deliver it back, with whatever belonged 
 to us; and though their renunciation is 
 equivocal enough, yet we hold it as fure as 
 Gibraltar or Port Mahon— For though the 
 latter was wrefted from us in the beginning 
 of the laft war, the traitor paid as high a 
 price for his cowardice as was poffible to be 
 given. As for the former, whoever means 
 or thinks ever to negledt, abandon, relin- 
 quifh tamely, or privately give up, on any 
 terms or confideration whatever (though 
 exchanged for the Peruvian mountains) de« 
 ferves to be hung as high as Haman, be- 
 
 caufe 
 
C 99 J 
 
 taufe it firft coft us a very high price* and 
 is of infinite value for our trade and naviga- 
 tion ; is as a key to the whole Mediterra- 
 nean, and like mighty opening doors, under 
 Britannia’s diredtion, takes in, and fhuts out 
 friends and enemies, as beft anfwers her in- 
 tereft, honour, and glory. Great politicians 
 often, at particular feafons, infinuate many 
 things they never intend to do or counte- 
 nance ; and if the late celebrated S~ — y 
 
 L- — d S- — d— h faid that it was of little con- 
 fequence to Great Britain, he furely meant 
 only to footh Spain with his depth of poli- 
 tics, as was pradtifed in the beginning of 
 the reign of George I. But I muft beg 
 leave to acquaint him, if he fupports that 
 dodtrine, or recriminates his old fat ballads* 
 which his confeflor Parfon Truliber ufed 
 to rant for his lord and mafter’s entertain- 
 ment, and at the fame time beat his lord- 
 fhip quite out of the field, he may depend 
 upon this as an infallible truth, that he will 
 not hold his prefent honourable fituation 
 much longer than he held being Secretary 
 for the Northern Department. I wi£h this 
 Ha ~ laft 
 
[ 100 ] 
 
 laft convention with Spain, &c, be not as 
 poorly founded as the principles of the 
 T witchers! If fo, it is impoffible to exift 
 long, but fall to the ground, becaufe it has 
 no folid foundation. Every fenfible and 
 fpirited Briton expeded adequate and pro- 
 per indemnifications for the atrocious infult 
 and immenfe expence, the confequence of 
 it ; but it feems we have, or are to have 
 no more than equivocal words, that nobody 
 can poffibly underftand, and that if the 
 principals themfelves do, that is the ques- 
 tion. 
 
 However thefe things may be, we have 
 this confolation, that a little time will clear 
 up thefe matters, if poffible, and alfo il- 
 luftrate, whether the Family Compad was 
 not at the bottom of this rafh ad of the 
 great Spanifh Monarch, who, in conjunc- 
 tion with his dear brother, (for I will not 
 join their able minifters in the groupe, be- 
 ing that would rob their matters of the 
 principal honour) believed the Britifh nation 
 were all at variance with one another, be- 
 caufe, for thefe ten years part, fo much 
 
 four- 
 
[ IOI ] 
 
 fcurrility and nonfenfe has been published, 
 not to our honour, to be fure : but thefe fa- 
 gacious monarchs forgot that true fable, and 
 its eflential meaning, of the Bull and his 
 Dogs. 
 
 It is certainly a great and glorious work 
 to produce good from evil intentions or 
 aftions; and whether the confequence of 
 this rafli a£t may end in war or peace, it is 
 hard to fay 5 but this we may fay truly, that 
 it has roufed the Britifti Lion a little, foiled 
 the republicans, routed and difperfed their 
 fcandalous caballing, and united every fen* 
 Able and true Briton to the intereft of their 
 country, and honour of their moft excellent 
 fovereign, whofe greateft joy muft, does, 
 and even will chiefly confift in mildly go- 
 verning the braveft, moft opulent, and moft 
 ingenious people on earth. 
 
 Si quid novijli rettius ijlis , 
 
 Candidus imperiti ft non his utere mecum . 
 
 W. B* 
 
 H 3 London A 
 
[ 102 ] 
 
 London , April 28, ijju 
 
 To the Printer of the PUBLIC LEDGER* 
 
 Salus Populi fuprema Lex . 
 
 e Aving no particular knowledge of any 
 of the contending parties, as a free 
 citizen of the world, and friend to the pub- 
 lic good, I think it a duty incumbent on 
 every man to throw in his mite on every 
 important occafion, where public benefit is 
 really concerned 5 and do ferioufly appeal 
 to many eminent artizans themfelves, how 
 often they have almoft fiaffered fhipwreck 
 in navigating their fumptuous barges from 
 the city to Weftminfter, and in their re- 
 turn, by being run faft and fixed, on the 
 fand banks oppofite to Durham-yard, which 
 have increafed with the buildings ten fold, 
 almoft within thefe fixiy years. The hurt 
 and danger of thefe growing fand hills is a 
 matter of weight, and calls for the ferious 
 attention of the legiflatiire. 
 
 I was extremely pleafed to hear* that the * 
 
 6 
 
[ I°3 3 
 
 Hon. Houfe of Commons had approved of 
 the embankment and the encroachments on 
 the river there, and that the molt Honour- 
 able Houle of Lords had that matter before 
 them now for their judgment on the fub- 
 jeft, and am fully of opinion, they will al- 
 moft unanimoufly agree with the lower 
 houfe, for the following, and many better 
 reafons than I modeflly can, or intend to 
 ofter, viz. 
 
 That all matter, whether liquid or con- 
 denfed, holds the fame direction, and ever 
 will, which was given it in the beginning : 
 that is, takes the neareft way, and makes 
 the ftraiteft line to their deftined place, if 
 not forced out of its natural direction by 
 objedls lying in its way, or drove with fu- 
 perior ftrength by the wind, which nothing 
 could refill:, if not restrained by the Author 
 of its being ! 
 
 The embanking the river, and encroach- 
 ing on the muddy hollow fide from the 
 north corner of Weffminfter-bridge to the 
 parallel corner of Blackfriars-bridge, make- 
 ing fine buildings, wharfs, &c, &c. after 
 H 4 that 
 
[ i®4 3 
 
 that amazing and elegant pattern executed 
 on the dunghill of old Durham-yard, would 
 beat every thing of its kind in Europe, and 
 feed thoufands of the beft workmen in the 
 world, who muft travel to other countries 
 for fubfiftence, if not fupported by the 
 brave and generous, who add a more fupe- 
 rior dignity to human nature, than all the 
 ftock-brokers in the world. 
 
 This embanking will contribute to the 
 fafety of the navigation, becaufe it will 
 make clear and fafe a great part of the river 
 which now is nothing but foil, and it will 
 throw the whole quantity of water which 
 occupied that foily part of the river on the 
 oppofite fide, and, by degrees, clear the 
 fandy banks quite away to the depth where 
 it can be of no detriment, but quite abforb- 
 ed. To effedi this defired end, let the 
 fandy hills be torn up by machines, whofe 
 extremities are neareft the deep water, or 
 the north end be often dug and loofened, 
 and left to the winds and tides; it is pro- 
 bable, by a little art and proper care, that 
 fncre of thefe obftrudtions will be annihilate 
 6 ed 
 
[ IOJ ] 
 
 ed in a year, than has been carried off in 
 boats for thefe twenty laft paft. The cele- 
 brated Addifon obferves in fome part of his 
 writings, that the excellent buildings finifh- 
 ed by Louis le Grand during his reign, 
 brought more money into France from tra- 
 vellers than they coft in building; let us 
 imitate the noble examples of even our ene- 
 mies, but their tyranny and oppreflion of the 
 fubjedt ever abhor. 
 
 If any real gentleman is of a different 
 opinion, fhall be exceeding glad of being 
 properly convinced, I am open to convi&ion, 
 2nd always joy in falutary argumentation. 
 
 Si nos his utere me cum, Hqr. 
 
 W. B. 
 
 May 6 , 177J, 
 
 To the Printer of the PUBLIC LEDGER. 
 
 TTJE are told by the papers, that the 
 VV city had presented a petition im- 
 ploring his Majefty not to pafs the embank- 
 ing Bill of the river Thames, 
 
 I was 
 
[ io6 ] 
 
 I was forry for this llep, becaufe it wears 
 the face of obftinacy, and indicates a want 
 of underftanding. Can it be fuppofed that 
 the King will rejed a Bill, patted by both 
 Houfes of Parliament, with the matureft 
 deliberation that could be wifhed ? Salus Po- 
 fuli fuprema Lex , is, and indeed ought to 
 be, the abfolute rule and guide of every 
 wife adminiftration ; if it had not been fo 
 upon former occafions, this famous city it* 
 felf, at this day, would be little better than 
 a filthy channel, fuch as Durham-yard was, 
 but two years and a, half ago ! 
 
 Was it not for this fupreme law, neither 
 fleets nor armies, magazines, public or pri- 
 vate good buildings, bridges, roads, turn- 
 pikes, or manufactories, fhould we have 
 had, even to this period; no Mr. Printer, 
 we Ihould have been like the uncultivated 
 Hottentots, whofe manners are much the 
 fame now, as England’s about feventeen 
 hundred years fince. 
 
 Is it poflible for any impartial and fen- 
 fible man to believe, that the embanking of 
 the river Thames will not improve the na- 
 vigation 
 
[ I0 7 3 
 
 vigation of it ; when it is certain, fome 
 hundred years ago, the Strand in London 
 was a branch of it, and now more than 
 twenty thoufand houfes are built on that 
 antient embankment ? The river, before 
 thefe neceflary encroachments, was hardly 
 navigable for any thing ; and by this frefli 
 embankment, will undoubtedly .be greatly 
 improved ; for the navigation, by being cir- 
 cumfcribed in a narrower compafs, will 
 confequently be deeper and fafer. Befides, 
 the filling up of the great hollow belly of 
 the north fide from one end of Weftminfter- 
 bridge to the parallel end of Blackfriars, 
 will throw fuch a weight of water on thofe 
 intolerable fand-banks oppofite, that by the 
 affiftance of art, properly ufed, in tearing 
 up their furfaces and extremities, added to 
 the natural flxength of the current, and the 
 flux and. reflux of the tide, as muft carry 
 off thofe fhameful nuifances ; and give in- 
 expreflible joy to every difcerning and im- 
 partial mind. 
 
 yam nova projenius Ccelo ! 
 
 k w. a 
 
[ io8 ] 
 
 June io, i jju 
 
 To the Printer of the PUBLIC LEDGER. 
 
 I N fome of the papers the other day, 
 there appeared a letter addrefled to my 
 Lord Chatham, which told us that all the 
 <c victories we gained in the laft glorious 
 cc war, were thrown away by a temporary, 
 “ inglorious, and deftru&ive peace.” 
 
 It is faid (perhaps with truth) that the 
 peace might have been better ; but this is 
 only a pofftion, and carries no argument 
 along with it. The true queftion is, whe- 
 ther the laft peace was not more honourable 
 and advantageous, than carrying on the 
 war any longer could have been ? 
 
 There is a faying, which is allowed to 
 be an excellent one, that the conclufion of 
 all works crowns or kills the whole; and 
 had we miffed reducing the Havannah, it 
 is a thoufand to one but all our former 
 victories had been ufelefs, and that a peace 
 muft havt been made, though ever fo indif- 
 ferent. 
 
[ J°9 ] 
 
 ferent. Eighteen millions befides muft have 
 been provided for the fucceeding campaign, 
 and feventeen thoufand men were wanted 
 in Germany, where nothing could be ex- 
 pected further. 
 
 If any treaty in hiftory, antient or mo- 
 dern, could with propriety be denominated 
 adequate, great, and glorious, this fure un- 
 der confederation, deferves thefe noble epi- 
 thets : becaufe it took in and comprehended 
 more of this globe, than any other which 
 can be named, a great part of Europe, 
 Afia, Africa, and America. 
 
 If it be a truth of undoubted certainty, 
 that the abfolute ruin of the greateft con- 
 querors has refulted from their not flopping 
 where they could well govern, and utterly 
 negleding that golden rule of treating 
 others as they would wifh themfelves to be 
 treated, it muft appear to every humane 
 and fenfible mind, that the. laft general 
 peace was of infinitely more value than if 
 we had conquered and kept all the gold 
 and filver mines both of Mexico and Peru ; 
 becaufe too much gold, without honefl in- 
 
 duftry, 
 
[ no } 
 
 duftry, has been the deftrudtion of their 
 pofleflors, and ever will prove fo. Befides, 
 there is a neceflity of preferving a proper 
 contraft in trade ; for it is a certain fadt, that 
 when Guadalupe and Martinico were in our 
 own hands, and the feas at that period 
 much clearer of privateers than before, we 
 paid ten-pence per pound for fugars, though 
 before we gave only feven-pence. Such is 
 the honefty of mankind > and to illuftrate 
 this mode of reafoning, let me aik, if there 
 were but one baker in a parifh, would the 
 inhabitants be fo well ferved in any refpedt 2 
 as when a dozen follicit for their cuftom ? 
 
 W. B. 
 
 THE END. 
 
ERRATUM. 
 
 T HE ingenious and candid Reader will 
 fee, in page 18. the acute triangle, 
 which defcribes the flanks of the arches, by 
 miftake called equilateral , &c. 
 
 As arfenick has a frightful meaning, it 
 may be excluded in all the operations, and 
 the fpirits of fait or turpentine ufed in its 
 ftead. 
 
 Joifts of wood may, with propriety, be 
 ufed over all the arches, and floors of 
 wood inftead of plaifter or tarras, according 
 to every gentleman’s fancy or inclination.