1304

GLOSSARY.
groumh evon, regulating descents, draining morasses, conducting waters fo
tion of land, etc
In the practice of levelling, it is evident that the level line,
carried on by means of a spirit level or other instrument used for
the purpose, is a tangent to the earth : it is therefore necessary to
nuike an allowance for the difference between the true level B C and
the apparent level B D. This difference is, of course, equal to the
excess D C of the secant of the arch of distance above th'e radius of
the earth. Hence, from station to station, accordingly, allowance
must be made. The subjoined Table exhibits the corrections or
values of the length C D.
the irri":a-
Distance Diff. Qf Lev. Distance DifF. of Lev. Distance Diff. of Lev. Distance
-
Diff. of Lev.
orBC. or CD. or BC. or CD. or BC. or CD. orBC. or CD.
Yards. Inches. Yards. Inches. Miles. Teet. In. Miles. Feet. In.
100
0-026
900
2-(l81
A
01 6
23 11
200 0123 1000
2-570
^
2 7
32 6
300
0-231
1100
3-110
^
4 8
42 6
400
0-411
1200 3-701 1 8 9 53 9
500
0-643 1300
4-344
2 2 8 10 66 4
600
0-925
1400
5-038
3 6 11 80 3
700
1-260
1500 6-784
4 10 7 12 95 7
800 l-G4o 16U0 6-580
5 16 7 13 112 2
LiiYER. In mechanics an inflexible rod, moveable about a fulcrum, or prop, and having
forces applied to two or more points in it. The lover is one of the mechanical powers,
and beiiig the simplest of them all, was the first attempted to be explained.
Leyek Boaeds. a set of boards so fastened that they may be turned at any angle to
admit more or less light, or to lap upon each other so as to exclude all air or light
through apertures. See Louvre Boauds.
Lewis, or Lewissox. An instrument used by builders to raise stones of more than ordi-
nary weight to the upper part of a building. It was revived by a French artisan in
the reign of Louis XIV., and is now generally employed. It operates by the pieces
forming its dovetail end being held in iheir corresponding places in a hole sunk in the
stone, by a -middle straight piece, kcjit in its situation by a pin passing through it and
the dovetail pieces at top, and the coniuination of the whole is effected with a large
ring, which is attached to the rope or chain, and the stone lifted to its place.
Lias. A provincial name adopted liy geologists for an argillaceous limestone, which,
together with its associated bed, is characterised by peculiar fossils.
Library. An edifice or apartment for the reception of a collection of books. The most
ancient and celebrated library in existence is that of the Vatican : in the latter respect,
as well on account of its size as of the number of valuable manuscripts it contains. It
occupies in the suite of its apartments one of the sides of tho Vatican 900 feet in
length. In the architecture or arrangement there is nothing particularly to admire,
and indeed it was not originally intended for the purpose to which it has been
appropriated.
The Medicean library at Florence, the -work of Michael Angelo, has grand proportions,
but the details are as capricious as that great man could possibly have invented. The
library of St. Mark at Venice has already been described in the First Book. Sansavino
had to encounter many difficulties in respect of its site and connection with other
buildings, but Palladio considered the success of its design to have been so great as to
have made it worthy of any age.
Although a public library would seem to require a grave and simple style of treat-
ment, it is, nevertheless, properly susceptible of much richness, if the funds admit, and
it comports with the surrounding buildings to use muel. decoration. Security against
fire is the first important consideration in its construction
;
and the next is to ensure
the perfect quiet necessary for study. There can .scarcely be too much light, because
there are always modes of excluding the excess in the brightest days of summer. The
light should not be placed high up for the purpose of obtaining more room for the
presses which are to receive the book.s, because even a greater space may be obtained,
as in the magnificent library at Trinity College, Cambridge, by WreiL, by making the
presses .stand against the piers at right angles with the longitudinal walls, and placing
the windows between them. Moreover, the presses, when placed longitudinally
against
the walls, the windows being above, have the titles of tho books they contain in-
distinct, from being too much in shadow. The library just mentioned is in every
respect one of the finest works of Sir Christopher Wren ; it is 190 feet long, 40 feet