the custom of the Greeks, giving it the name aßérov. If
therefore, kings of such great power did not despise brick
buildings, those who, from their great revenue and spoils
in war, can afford the expence not only of squared and
rough stone, but even of marble buildings, must not
despise brick structures when well executed. I shall
now explain why this species of walls is not permitted in
the city of Rome, and also why such walls ought not to
be permitted. The public laws forbid a greater thick-
ness than one foot and a half to be given to walls that
abut on a public way, and the other walls, to prevent
loss of room, are not built thicker. Now brick walls,
unless of the thickness of two or three bricks, at all
events of at least one foot and a half, are not fit to carry
more than one floor, so that from the great population of
the city innumerable houses would be required. Since,
therefore, the area it occupies would not in such case con¬
tain the number to be accommodated, it became abso¬
lutely necessary to gain in height that which could not be
obtained on the plan. Thus by means of stone piers or
walls of burnt bricks or unsquared stones, which were
tied together by the timbers of the several floors, they
obtained in the upper story excellent dining rooms. The
Roman people by thus multiplying the number of stories
in their houses are commodiously lodged. Having ex¬
plained why, on account of the narrowness of the streets
in Rome, walls of brick are not allowed in the city, Ishall
now give instructions for their use out of the city when
required, to the end that they may be durable. On the
top of a wall immediately under the roof, there should be a
course of burnt bricks, about one foot and a half in height,
and projecting over the walls like the corona of a cornice;