Volume 1

An introduction to a general system of hydrostaticks and hydraulicks, philosophical and practical : Wherein the most reasonable and advantageous methods of raising and conducting water, for the watering noblemens and gentlemens seats, buildings, gardens, &c., are carefully (and in a manner not yet publish'd in any language) laid down ... / By Stephen Switzer.

  • Switzer, Stephen, 1682?-1745.
Date:
1729
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introduction to a general system of hydrostaticks and hydraulicks, philosophical and practical : Wherein the most reasonable and advantageous methods of raising and conducting water, for the watering noblemens and gentlemens seats, buildings, gardens, &c., are carefully (and in a manner not yet publish'd in any language) laid down ... / By Stephen Switzer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    retired himfelf for his Pleafure, ufing all Things with admirable Providence and Promptitude, agreeable to the Account which he him¬ felf gives, of his beautiful Vineyards, Gardens, Orchards, and Pools of Water, mentioned in that admirable Treatife of Ecclejiajles, or the !Treacher, Chap. viii. 4© 5. The remarkable Citterns at Ro/elayn, fome few Miles diftant from the antient City of Tyre^ were, by common Tradition, fuppos'd to be the Works of that Royal and Molt-wife Prince, as a Part of Recompence to Hiram, for thofe Supplies of Materials fent by him towards building the Temple, tho' others aferibe it to a much later Date, and that they could not be built till iince Alexander's Time, being carried over an Ihftmus, or Neck of Land, that was raifed by that Puiflant Monarch during the Time he belieged that City, where¬ by he joined it to the Continent. However it be, there are (as Mr. Maundrell^ in his Journey from Aleppo to Jerufalem, gives an Account) at this Day three Cifterns, or Refervoirs, which not only drive the four Mills that Hand between that Fountain and the Sea, but alfo fupply that ancient and cele¬ brated City with Water, for all Kinds of Ufes : One large Ciftern of twenty-two Yards Diameter, made of no other Materials than Gra¬ vel and fmall Pebles, but confolidated with a ftrong tenacious Ce¬ ment, fo that it appears to be one entire Veffel of Rock, elevated nine or ten Yards above the Ground; which could be no fmall Ex¬ pence, but a Demonftration that thofe primitive Genius's efteemed Works of this Kind worthy of their greateft Labour, Care, Attention, and Expence. One of the other Cifterns was of twenty Yards Diameter, and the other of twelve Yards; which being joined together, have for along TraftofTime fupplied one of the antienteft, as well as largeft Cities of the World with Water. The next Water-Works we have an Account of, were thofe ftu- pendioufly admirable ones of Semir amis, who, when fhe built or enlarged the Walls of Babylon, turned the River Euphrates, as fome fay, into a Bafin of forty Miles Square, whilft fhe per¬ fected that great Work, and till fuch Time as a new Canal was formed for the Reception of the River, with the feveral Trenches through which it was convey’d. What could be the Reafon why fuch a Bafin, as is before mentioned, fhould be made, is not eafy to conceive, fince the new Canal might have been dug, during the Con¬ tinuance of the old one, (as we now do our new Rivers, during the Continuance of thofe that were running before;) and befides, even forty Miles Square could not long contain fo great a River as that B 2 which