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It was not without Reason the Ancients thought that the Rules of those
Proportions, which make the Beauty of Buildings, were taken from the Proportions
of human Bodies, and that as Nature has given a stronger Make to
Bodies fit for Labour, and a slighter to those of Activity and Address; so there
are different Rules in the Art of Building, according as a Fabrick may be
design'd massy or more delicate. Now these different Proportions, accompanied
with their proper Ornaments, make the Differences of the Orders of
Architecture; in which, the most visible Characters which distinguish them,
depend on the Ornaments, as the most essential Differences consist in the
Proportions that their Parts have in regard of each other.

These Differences of the Orders, taken from their Proportions and Characters,
without much exact Punctuality, are the only things that Architecture
has well determined: all the rest, which consists in the precise Measures of
the several Members, and a certain Turn of their Figures, has, as yet, no certain
Rules in which all Architects agree. [Pp. i-ii]

'Tis certain, then, that there are some Beauties in Architecture, which
are positive, and some that are only arbitrary, tho' they seem positive through
prejudice, from which it is very difficult to guard ourselves. 'Tis also true,
that a good judgment is founded on the Knowledge of both these Beauties;
but it is certain, that the Knowledge of arbitrary Beauties, is most proper to
form what we call a right Tast [sic], and 'tis that only which distinguishes
true Architects from those that are not so; because common Sense alone is
sufficient for knowing the greatest part of positive Beauties. [P. x]

As Architecture, as well as Painting and Sculpture, has been often handled
by Men of Letters, so it has been govern'd by this Humour more than the

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But those who will not allow that the Reasons which cause those beautiful
Works to be admir'd, are incomprehensible, after having examin'd all that
belongs to this Subject, and been instructed by the most able Persons; will be
convinc'd, if they consult good Sense, that 'tis no great Absurdity to think
that those Things, for which no Reason can be found, are really without any
that contributes to their Beauty, and that they have no other Foundation than
Chance, and the Humour of the Workmen, who sought for no Reason to
guide them in the Determination of those things, the Preciseness of which,
was of no Importance. [Pp. xv-xvi]

Now, tho' the Truth of what I mention of the Antique, be a Thing more
difficult to be prov'd, than what I have taken from the Moderns, the Book
which Mons. Desgodets [No. 39] has lately printed of the Ancient Buildings
of Rome, will be a great Assistance to such Readers as are curious to be instructed
in these things, as it was very servicable to me in finding precisely
the different Proportions, which that Architect has taken with the greatest
Exactness. [P. xxi]

Ordonance, according to Vitruvius, is that which regulates the Size of
all the Parts of a Building, with respect to their Use. . . .

An Order of Architecture, then, is that which is regulated by the Ordonance,
when it prescribes the Proportions of intire Columns, and determines
the Figure of certain Parts which are proper to them, according to the
different Proportions which they have. [Pp. (1)-2]

Gothick, or Modern Architecture, is that which is far removed from
the Manner and Proportions of the Antique, having its Ornaments Wild and
Chimerical, and its Profiles incorrect: However, it is oftentimes found very
strong, and appears very rich and pompous, as, particularly in several of our
English Cathedrals. This Manner of Building came Originally from the
North, whence it was brought by the Goths into Germany, and has since
been introduced into other Countries. [New pagination: p. v]

Symmetry, comes from the Greek Symmetria, with Measure, and signifies
the Relation of Parity, both as to Height, Depth and Breadth which the
Parts have, in order to form a Beautiful Whole. In Architecture we have both
Uniform Symmetry, and Respective Symmetry; in the Former, the Ordonnance
is pursued in the same Manner throughout the whole Extent; whereas
in the Latter, only the Opposite Sides correspond to each other. [New pagination:
p. ix]