1obſerv'd that in Autumn the Leaves of Trees
always began to fall to the South-ſide ſirſt;
and in Buildings ruinated by Time, I have
taken Notice that they always began to decay
firſt towards the South. The Reaſon of this
may perhaps be that the Heat and Force of the
Sun lying upon the Work while it was ſtill
in Hand might exhauſt the Strength of the
Cement; and the Stone itſelf being frequently
moiſten'd by the South-wind, and then again
dry'd and burnt by the Rays of the Sun,
rots and moulders. Againſt theſe and the like
Injuries therefore, we ſhould oppoſe our beſt
and ſtouteſt Materials. What I think too is
principally to be obſerv'd, is to let every Row
or Courſe of Stone throughout the Wall be
even and equally proportion'd, not patch'd up
of great Stones on the right Hand and little
ones on the left; becauſe we are told that the
Wall by the Addition of any new Weight is
ſqueezed cloſer together, and the Mortar in
drying is hinder'd by this Preſſure from taking
due hold, which muſt of Courſe make Cracks
and Defects in the Work. But you may be
ſafely allow'd to make the inward Shell, and
all the Front of the Wall of that Side, of a
ſofter and weaker Stone; but whatever Shell
you make, whether inward or outward, it
muſt be always perpendicular, and its Line
exactly even. Its Line muſt always anſwer
juſtly to the Line of the Platform, ſo as not in
any Part to ſwell out or ſink in, or to be
wavy, or not exactly plum, and perfectly well
compacted and finiſhed. If you rough. Caſt
your Wall as you build it, or while it is freſh,
whatever Plaiſtering or Whitening you do it
over with afterwards will laſt, in a Manner, for
ever. There are two Sorts of Stuffing; the
one is that with which we fill the Hollow that
is left between the two Shells, conſiſting of
Mortar and broken Fragments of Stone thrown
in together without any Order; the other con
ſiſting of ordinary rough Stone, with which
we may be ſaid rather to wall than only to fill
up. Both plainly appears to have been in
vented by good-husbandry, becauſe any ſmall
Coarſe Stuff is uſed in this Kind of Work.
But if there was Plenty of large ſquare Stone
eaſily to be had, who I wonder, would chooſe
to make Uſe of ſmall Fragments? And indeed
herein alone the Ribs of the Wall differ from
what we call the Finiſhing, that between the
two Shells of this latter we ſtuff in coarſe Rub
biſh or broken Pieces that come to Hand;
whereas, in the Former we admit very ſew
or no unequal Stones, but make thoſe Parts of
the Wall quite through, of what we have
call'd the ordinary Sort of Work. If I were to
chooſe, I would have the Wall throughout
made of nothing but regularCourſes of ſquared
Stone, that it might be as laſting as poſſible;
but whatever hollow you leave between the
Shells to be filled up with Rubbiſh, you ſhould
take Care to let the Courſes of each Side be
as even as poſſible and it will be proper be
ſides to lay a good many large Stones, at con
venient Diſtances, that may go quite through
the Wall to both Shells, in order to bind and
gird them together, that the Rubbiſh you
ſtuff them with may not burſt them out.
The Ancients made it a Rule in ſtuffing their
Walls, not to continue the Stuffing uninterrup
ted to the Heigth of above five Foot, and then
they laid over it a Courſe of whole Stone. This
faſten'd and bound the Wall, as it were, with
Nerves and Ligaments; ſo that if any Part of
the Stuffing, either through the Fault of the
Workman, or by Accident, happen'd to ſink,
it could not pull every Thing elſe along with
it, but the Weight above had in a Manner
a new Baſis to reſt upon. Laſtly, we are
taught what I find conſtantly obſerved
among the Ancients, never to admit any Stone
among our Stuffing that weighs above a Pound,
becauſe they ſuppoſe that ſmall ones unite
more eaſily, and knit bettter with the Cement
than large ones.
always began to fall to the South-ſide ſirſt;
and in Buildings ruinated by Time, I have
taken Notice that they always began to decay
firſt towards the South. The Reaſon of this
may perhaps be that the Heat and Force of the
Sun lying upon the Work while it was ſtill
in Hand might exhauſt the Strength of the
Cement; and the Stone itſelf being frequently
moiſten'd by the South-wind, and then again
dry'd and burnt by the Rays of the Sun,
rots and moulders. Againſt theſe and the like
Injuries therefore, we ſhould oppoſe our beſt
and ſtouteſt Materials. What I think too is
principally to be obſerv'd, is to let every Row
or Courſe of Stone throughout the Wall be
even and equally proportion'd, not patch'd up
of great Stones on the right Hand and little
ones on the left; becauſe we are told that the
Wall by the Addition of any new Weight is
ſqueezed cloſer together, and the Mortar in
drying is hinder'd by this Preſſure from taking
due hold, which muſt of Courſe make Cracks
and Defects in the Work. But you may be
ſafely allow'd to make the inward Shell, and
all the Front of the Wall of that Side, of a
ſofter and weaker Stone; but whatever Shell
you make, whether inward or outward, it
muſt be always perpendicular, and its Line
exactly even. Its Line muſt always anſwer
juſtly to the Line of the Platform, ſo as not in
any Part to ſwell out or ſink in, or to be
wavy, or not exactly plum, and perfectly well
compacted and finiſhed. If you rough. Caſt
your Wall as you build it, or while it is freſh,
whatever Plaiſtering or Whitening you do it
over with afterwards will laſt, in a Manner, for
ever. There are two Sorts of Stuffing; the
one is that with which we fill the Hollow that
is left between the two Shells, conſiſting of
Mortar and broken Fragments of Stone thrown
in together without any Order; the other con
ſiſting of ordinary rough Stone, with which
we may be ſaid rather to wall than only to fill
up. Both plainly appears to have been in
vented by good-husbandry, becauſe any ſmall
Coarſe Stuff is uſed in this Kind of Work.
But if there was Plenty of large ſquare Stone
eaſily to be had, who I wonder, would chooſe
to make Uſe of ſmall Fragments? And indeed
herein alone the Ribs of the Wall differ from
what we call the Finiſhing, that between the
two Shells of this latter we ſtuff in coarſe Rub
biſh or broken Pieces that come to Hand;
whereas, in the Former we admit very ſew
or no unequal Stones, but make thoſe Parts of
the Wall quite through, of what we have
call'd the ordinary Sort of Work. If I were to
chooſe, I would have the Wall throughout
made of nothing but regularCourſes of ſquared
Stone, that it might be as laſting as poſſible;
but whatever hollow you leave between the
Shells to be filled up with Rubbiſh, you ſhould
take Care to let the Courſes of each Side be
as even as poſſible and it will be proper be
ſides to lay a good many large Stones, at con
venient Diſtances, that may go quite through
the Wall to both Shells, in order to bind and
gird them together, that the Rubbiſh you
ſtuff them with may not burſt them out.
The Ancients made it a Rule in ſtuffing their
Walls, not to continue the Stuffing uninterrup
ted to the Heigth of above five Foot, and then
they laid over it a Courſe of whole Stone. This
faſten'd and bound the Wall, as it were, with
Nerves and Ligaments; ſo that if any Part of
the Stuffing, either through the Fault of the
Workman, or by Accident, happen'd to ſink,
it could not pull every Thing elſe along with
it, but the Weight above had in a Manner
a new Baſis to reſt upon. Laſtly, we are
taught what I find conſtantly obſerved
among the Ancients, never to admit any Stone
among our Stuffing that weighs above a Pound,
becauſe they ſuppoſe that ſmall ones unite
more eaſily, and knit bettter with the Cement
than large ones.
IT is not altogether foreign to our Pur
poſe, what we read in Plutarch of King Minos,
that he divided the Plebeans into ſeveral Claſ
ſes, according to their ſeveral Profeſſions, upon
this Principle, that the ſmaller the Parts are
a Body is ſplit into, the more eaſily it may
be governed and managed. It is alſo of no
little Conſequence to have the Hollow com
pletly fill'd up, and every the leaſt Crevice
cloſe ſtopt, not only upon the Account of
Strength, but likewiſe to hinder any Animals
from getting in and making their Neſts there,
and to prevent the Gathering of Dirt and
Seeds, which might make Weeds grow in the
Wall. It is almoſt incredible what huge
Weights of Stone, and what vaſt Piles I have
known moved and opened by the ſingle Root
of one Plant. You muſt take Care therefore
to let your whole Structure be girt and fill'd
compleatly.
poſe, what we read in Plutarch of King Minos,
that he divided the Plebeans into ſeveral Claſ
ſes, according to their ſeveral Profeſſions, upon
this Principle, that the ſmaller the Parts are
a Body is ſplit into, the more eaſily it may
be governed and managed. It is alſo of no
little Conſequence to have the Hollow com
pletly fill'd up, and every the leaſt Crevice
cloſe ſtopt, not only upon the Account of
Strength, but likewiſe to hinder any Animals
from getting in and making their Neſts there,
and to prevent the Gathering of Dirt and
Seeds, which might make Weeds grow in the
Wall. It is almoſt incredible what huge
Weights of Stone, and what vaſt Piles I have
known moved and opened by the ſingle Root
of one Plant. You muſt take Care therefore
to let your whole Structure be girt and fill'd
compleatly.