19 December 1778 Saturday
Vuë d'un autre temple, dans la Ville de Pesto, que l'on croit communement avoir été dédié à Junon. La façade A est celle qui regardoit la mer, et étoit la principale. Les trois socles B, qui forment tout le bassement le démontrent. Audessus d'eux, étoit appuyée la montée, qui conduisoit au temple. Ces socles C continuent aprés dans les cðtés du temple, quelque peu au dela de la moitie, où ils se changent en un bassement, ou soustruction D pour soutenir le terrain qui regarde la façade de derriere. Les colonnes de ce temple sont moins grandes que celles de celui de Neptune. Il est bâti à la dorique, et étoit enduit d'un stuc tres fin. L'on n'auroit pas du dans un tel cas, se servir de pierres moins dures que le travertin, cependant les couches de pierres qui composent la gorge renversée marquée en E étoient d'une pierre semblable au tuf. Cette pierre, qui aujourd'huy tombe en poussiere, fait bien voir qu'elle n'étoit pas propre à resister aux inclemences de l'air. Cela s'étoit fait à la verité pour mettre de la varieté dans les marbres, mais cela n'en fut cependant pas moins une faute; car l'on n'approuvera jamais que l'on substitue une pierre moins dure à une autre plus solide, d'autant plus que chaque partie devoit être enduite de stuc. Ce membre d'Architecture introduit ici, semble contrarier l'ordre Dorique, et paroit plus tðt produire de l'embaras, que de la legereté. L'on aimeroit mieux un Listeu, quoique d'un usage ancien, qu'une telle nouveauté. La corniche F est tellement ruinée, que l'on n'en peut prendre aucune idée Celle du fasage, ou Fronton G se découvre en partie; elle a des saillies unies à des lambris. Ouvrage dont il n'est pas possible de rendre raison; le caprice seul ayant dirigé l'Archtecte dans son execution. Il est vrais emblable, que ce n'est pas le même, qui a construit le temple de Neptune, que l'on a décrit cy devant. Cav. Piranesi F
View of another temple, in the City of Pesto, which is commonly believed to have been dedicated to Juno. Façade A is the one that looked out to sea, and was the main one. The three plinths B, which form the entire basement, demonstrate this. Above them rose the ascent, which led to the temple. These pedestals C continue later in the sides of the temple, somewhat beyond the middle, where they change into a basement, or subtraction D to support the ground which faces the rear facade. The columns of this temple are smaller than those of that of Neptune. It is built in the Doric style, and was coated with a very fine stucco. In such a case, we should not have used stones less hard than travertine, however the layers of stones that make up the reversed gorge marked at E were of a stone similar to tuff. This stone, which today is falling into dust, shows clearly that it was not fit to resist the inclemency of the air. This was done in truth to put variety in the marbles, but it was nonetheless a fault; for we will never approve of substituting a less hard stone for another more solid, especially since each part had to be coated with stucco. This member of Architecture introduced here, seems to thwart the Doric order, and seems sooner to produce embarrassment, than levity. One would prefer a Listeu, although of an old use, than such a novelty. The cornice F is so ruined, that one cannot take any idea of ??it That of the fasage, or Pediment G is discovered in part; it has projections united with paneling. Work for which it is not possible to explain; whim alone having directed the Architect in its execution. It is likely that it is not the same who built the temple of Neptune, which was described above.
19 December 1812 Saturday
Morning thick haze, air damp, wind SW. I went to the in 4th Street. Sent Ward's ...... to Dr. Abercrombie, and a Treatise on Human Reason to Dr. White. Went downtown, visited T. Gilpin, my brother's family, Dr. Griffiths, C. Hare, J. Reed. The inquisition to be held next Saturday at 3. I gave him my idea of the mode of proceeding, but told him I would attend if nothing particular should happen to prevent my going to town. About noon the haze began to break and promises a fair afternoon. When I returned to Mulberry Street, Sally had concluded to accompany me . We dined and got off before 3. The sky cleared and we had a pleasant ride. Reached home just as the sun set. S.L. came out in his gig, stopped at his mother's an hour and reached us about six.
19 December 2022 Monday
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