1will melt in Fire like Metal, and run into Stone;
and he adds, that this Stone is of ſuch a Na
ture, that when the Rain falls upon it in any
Building, the Cement all diſſolves, and the
Wall grows to be all of a Piece.
and he adds, that this Stone is of ſuch a Na
ture, that when the Rain falls upon it in any
Building, the Cement all diſſolves, and the
Wall grows to be all of a Piece.
WE are told, that they find in Troas, a
Stone very apt to cleave, call'd the Sarcopha
gus, in which any dead Corpſe buried, is in
tirely conſum'd in leſs than forty Days, all
but the Teeth; and which is moſt ſurprizing,
all the Habits, and every Thing buryed with
the Body, turns into Stone. Of a contrary
Nature to this is the Stone called Chernites,
in which Darius was buried, for that preſerves
the Body entire for a long Time. But of this
Subject enough.
Stone very apt to cleave, call'd the Sarcopha
gus, in which any dead Corpſe buried, is in
tirely conſum'd in leſs than forty Days, all
but the Teeth; and which is moſt ſurprizing,
all the Habits, and every Thing buryed with
the Body, turns into Stone. Of a contrary
Nature to this is the Stone called Chernites,
in which Darius was buried, for that preſerves
the Body entire for a long Time. But of this
Subject enough.
CHAP. X.
Of the Origin of the Uſe of Bricks, in what Seaſon they ought to be made,
aud in what Shapes, their different Sorts, and the Uſefulneſs of triangular
Ones; and briefly, of all other Works made of baked Earth.
aud in what Shapes, their different Sorts, and the Uſefulneſs of triangular
Ones; and briefly, of all other Works made of baked Earth.
It is certain the Ancients were very fond of
uſing Bricks inſtead of Stone. I confeſs,
I believe that at firſt Men were put upon mak
ing Bricks to ſupply the Place of Stone in
their Buildings, thro' Scarcity and Want of it;
but afterwards finding how ready they were
in working, how well adapted both to Uſe
and Beauty, how ſtrong and durable, they pro
ceeded to make not only their ordinary Struc
tures, but even their Palaces of Brick. At
laſt, either by Accident or Induſtry, diſcover
ing what Uſe Fire was of in hardening and
ſtrengthening them, they began in moſt Places
to bake the Bricks they built with. And ſrom
my own Obſervations upon the ancient Struc
tures, I will be bold to ſay, that there is not a
better Material for any Sort of Edifice than
Brick, not crude but baked; provided a right
Method be uſed in baking them. But we will
reſerve the Praiſes of Works make of Bricks
for another Place.
uſing Bricks inſtead of Stone. I confeſs,
I believe that at firſt Men were put upon mak
ing Bricks to ſupply the Place of Stone in
their Buildings, thro' Scarcity and Want of it;
but afterwards finding how ready they were
in working, how well adapted both to Uſe
and Beauty, how ſtrong and durable, they pro
ceeded to make not only their ordinary Struc
tures, but even their Palaces of Brick. At
laſt, either by Accident or Induſtry, diſcover
ing what Uſe Fire was of in hardening and
ſtrengthening them, they began in moſt Places
to bake the Bricks they built with. And ſrom
my own Obſervations upon the ancient Struc
tures, I will be bold to ſay, that there is not a
better Material for any Sort of Edifice than
Brick, not crude but baked; provided a right
Method be uſed in baking them. But we will
reſerve the Praiſes of Works make of Bricks
for another Place.
OUR Buſineſs is to obſerve here, that a
whitiſh chalky Earth is very much recom
mended for making them. The reddiſh alſo
is approved of, and that which is call'd male
Sand. That which is abſolutely ſandy and
gravelly is to be avoided, and the ſtony moſt
of all; becauſe in baking it is ſubject to warp
and crack, and if over baked will fret away of
itſelf. We are adviſed not to make our Bricks
of Earth freſh dug, but to dig it in the Au
tumn, and leave it to digeſt all Winter, and to
make it into Brick early in the Spring; for if
you make it in Winter, it is obvious that the
Froſt will crack it, and if you make it in the
Middle of Summer, the exceſſive Heat will
make it ſcale off in drying. But if Neceſſity
obliges you to make it in Winter, in extreme
cold Weather, cover it immediately over with
very dry Sand, and if in Summer, with wet
Straw; for being ſo kept, it will neither crack
nor warp. Some are for having their Bricks
glazed; if ſo, you muſt take Care not to make
them of Earth that is either ſandy, or too lean
or dry; ſor theſe will ſuck and eat away the
Glazing: But you muſt make them of a whitiſh
fat Clay, and you muſt make them thin, for
if they are too thick they will not bake tho
rowly, and it is a great Chance but they ſplit;
if you are oblig'd to have them thick, you may
in a great Meaſure prevent that Inconveniency,
if you make one or more little Holes in them
about half Way through, whereby the Damp
and Vapour having proper Vents, they will
both dry and bake the better.
whitiſh chalky Earth is very much recom
mended for making them. The reddiſh alſo
is approved of, and that which is call'd male
Sand. That which is abſolutely ſandy and
gravelly is to be avoided, and the ſtony moſt
of all; becauſe in baking it is ſubject to warp
and crack, and if over baked will fret away of
itſelf. We are adviſed not to make our Bricks
of Earth freſh dug, but to dig it in the Au
tumn, and leave it to digeſt all Winter, and to
make it into Brick early in the Spring; for if
you make it in Winter, it is obvious that the
Froſt will crack it, and if you make it in the
Middle of Summer, the exceſſive Heat will
make it ſcale off in drying. But if Neceſſity
obliges you to make it in Winter, in extreme
cold Weather, cover it immediately over with
very dry Sand, and if in Summer, with wet
Straw; for being ſo kept, it will neither crack
nor warp. Some are for having their Bricks
glazed; if ſo, you muſt take Care not to make
them of Earth that is either ſandy, or too lean
or dry; ſor theſe will ſuck and eat away the
Glazing: But you muſt make them of a whitiſh
fat Clay, and you muſt make them thin, for
if they are too thick they will not bake tho
rowly, and it is a great Chance but they ſplit;
if you are oblig'd to have them thick, you may
in a great Meaſure prevent that Inconveniency,
if you make one or more little Holes in them
about half Way through, whereby the Damp
and Vapour having proper Vents, they will
both dry and bake the better.
THE Petters rub their Veſſels over with
Chalk, by which Means, the Glazing, when
it is melted over it, makes an even Surface;
the ſame Method may be uſed in making
Bricks. I have obſerv'd in the Works of the
Ancients, that their Bricks have a Mixture of a
certain Proportion of Sand, and eſpecially of
the red Sort, and I find they alſo mix'd them
with red Earth, and even with Marble. I know
by Experience that the very ſame Earth will
make harder and ſtronger Brick, if we take the
Pains to knead every Lump two or three Times
over, as if we were making of Bread, till it
grows like Wax, and is perſectly clear of the
leaſt Particle of Stone. Theſe, when they have
paſs'd the Fire will attain the Hardneſs even
of a Flint, and whether owing to the Heat in
baking, or the Air in drying, will get a Sort
of a ſtrong Cruſt, as Bread does. It will there
fore be beſt to make them thin, that they
may have the more Cruſt and the leſs Crum:
Chalk, by which Means, the Glazing, when
it is melted over it, makes an even Surface;
the ſame Method may be uſed in making
Bricks. I have obſerv'd in the Works of the
Ancients, that their Bricks have a Mixture of a
certain Proportion of Sand, and eſpecially of
the red Sort, and I find they alſo mix'd them
with red Earth, and even with Marble. I know
by Experience that the very ſame Earth will
make harder and ſtronger Brick, if we take the
Pains to knead every Lump two or three Times
over, as if we were making of Bread, till it
grows like Wax, and is perſectly clear of the
leaſt Particle of Stone. Theſe, when they have
paſs'd the Fire will attain the Hardneſs even
of a Flint, and whether owing to the Heat in
baking, or the Air in drying, will get a Sort
of a ſtrong Cruſt, as Bread does. It will there
fore be beſt to make them thin, that they
may have the more Cruſt and the leſs Crum:
zoom in
zoom out
zoom area
full page
page width
set mark
remove mark
get reference
digilib