[M2.21backL]                                                          [M2.21back]
                                                                      
[diagrams]                                                            		and shaft be first determined as opp; and from the
                                                                      		extremities a a with the distance of abacus breadth
                                                                      		strike 0 cutting shaft, and join:  then the  a b, is
                                                                      		the most nearest admissible approach to the horizontal)
                                                                      		In all cases however, while there are severe limits to over
                                                                      		horizontality, the line a b may be approached as
                                                                      		near to the vertical as to afford substantial support
                                                                      		to vertical lines of resistance:  and we have
                                                                      		these four distinct species of capitals . a . small
                                                                      		excess. low angle. b . small excess, high angle: c . large
                                                                      		excess, low angle. (yet not lower than 45). d: large excess
                                                                      		high angle. And of these:  a is a capital for colossal
                                                                      		size, with pressure on centre of shaft: b. colossal size,
                                                                      		with pressure on extremities of capital: c small size
                                                                      		with pressure on centre, d. do. with pressure on extremities
                                                                      Depth of Abacus:    This is evidently either arbitrary or dependent on the
                                                                      		toughness of composing stone.  I believe it should never be
                                                                      		deeper than three squares e f g h not shallower than six
                                                                      		squares e i k h: (And yet this I shall find too arbitrary
                                                                      		it must be open question I believe.)
                                                                      Curvature of Bell.  We have hitherto considered the line a b as a right
                                                                      		line, Aesthetically however it is to be remembered
                                                                      		that all lines which can be curved, must be so, and as
                                                                      		this line is

[Version 0.05: May 2008]