PREFACE.

...the matters in the spirit in which they ought to be treated, having had the patience to guide them without, so to speak, losing sight of them; which cannot fail to happen when one gives them pieces that are foreign to what they are accustomed to doing. In this, as in the rest, we have neglected nothing that could make the work worthy of the eagerness the Public has shown for so long to see it appear, based on the simple sketch original: "crayon." Here used metaphorically to mean a preliminary outline or prospectus. given to them in 1727, intended as a sequel to the Science of Engineers original: "Science des Ingénieurs." Bélidor refers to his own 1729 work, which became a foundational text for military and civil engineering.; and in 1739, under the title of the second part of Hydraulic Architecture.

Those who do not know Algebra In the 18th century, algebra was still considered a specialized, "learned" tool that many practical builders and craftsmen found intimidating or unnecessary., and who complain of having found much of it in the first part, will not make the same reproach of this one; having had no design to give this work a "learned" air, we have used it only in cases where we could not demonstrate by any other way the rules derived from it. It is true that this second part is much less susceptible than the other to abstract research, being almost entirely founded on experience meaning: practical observation and experimental results rather than pure theory. and common sense. The great point was to make order and clarity reign therein; this is what we mainly applied ourselves to, without wishing to dazzle with too frequent strokes of Physics and Mathematics that we could have scattered throughout, without those for whom we proposed to write becoming much more skillful, nor bolder in execution. It is wisdom, says a brilliant pen of our days A reference to a contemporary writer, likely Fontenelle, known for advocating for clarity and the avoidance of unnecessary flourish in scientific prose., to know how to govern oneself by the plan of one's building, and not to load it with ornaments that always disfigure as soon as they are not necessary.

Subjects that appear the most ungrateful cease to