_Of the Foundation._
[Sidenote: _Lib. 6. Chap. 11._]
The Foundation is the most important part of the Fabrick; for the Faults
committed in it cannot be so easily remedied as in other parts.
[Sidenote: _Lib. 1. Chap. 5._]
To lay the Foundation well, you must dig till you come to solid Ground,
and even into the solid as much as is necessary to support the Weight of
the Walls; it must be larger below than above the Superficies of the
Earth.
[Sidenote: _Lib. 3. Chap. 3._]
When you have found firm Earth to make it more solid, you must beat it
with a Rammer; but if you cannot arrive at solid Earth, but find it
still soft and spungy, you must dig as far as you can, and drive in
Piles of Alder, Olive, or Oak, a little singed, near together, and fill
up the void Places between the Piles with Coal.
[Sidenote: _Lib. 1. Chap. 5._]
In short, you must make all Masonry with the most solid Stone that can
be found for this use.
To make the Binding of the Stones the stronger in the Foundation of
great Fabricks, you must put Piles of Olive a little singed and placed
very thick from one Parement or Course to another, which serves, as it
were, for Keys and Braces; for this Wood so prepar'd, is not subject to
Worms, and will endure for ever, either in the Earth or in the Water,
without the least Damage.
[Sidenote: _Lib. 6. Chap. 11._]
When you would make Cellars, the Foundations must be much larger; for
the Wall that is to support the Earth requires a greater thickness to
resist the strong Efforts that the Earth makes against it in Winter, at
which time it swells and becomes more heavy by reason of the Water it
has drunk up.