Lettre de Joseph Williams à Jean-François Séguier,1778-03-07

Résumé 0

Réflexions sur l’antiquité. Marseille march 7 1778 My dear Sir, I often read you very learn’d letter with pleasure & aglow of gratitude & indeed the honor of you correspondance had added to my nature love of antiquity, the most animating vigour having carried me lately, these romans authors, who treat upon that interesting subject, my wish of attain a favorite point of curiosity have been gratifyd. In reading Diodorus, I find the Egyptian have a just claim to the honor of building without cement. The strong et permanent method of building attached the spirit of those people, but in point of ornament it was but fenbly employed. It their want of passion in this respect, that fabulum of invention, I attribute their incompetency to form and order of architectum of their own. So the sublimity of their art, the Graecians added all the graces if the beautifull. The principles [fol. 8v] of both, the mason carrii is happily possessed of a perfect model of architecture and at the same time a valuable leagacy of Roman affection for Narbonne Gali. I view this important object with the greater respect, at this crisis, as it contains a sentiment of fidelity of affectionate colonies to agreed the state. On my return of England, I shall have the satisfaction of seeing you at present shape and perhaps of it in the person of my friend Mister Wills, the son of lord chief justice Wills. He, as all men of taste, have already done, will view Monsieur Séguier valuable cabinet with pleasure. My learnd friend are given this gratification to Mister Will with all ti those feelings of gratitude already professed by Dear Sir Your most obeissant and most obedient William