Book excerpt: Excerpt from An Elementary Course of Civil Engineering Could he have prevailed upon himself, in obedience to what appears to be the pervading taste of the moment, to have pursued a different course, he should have held himself not only as recreant to that cause, but as having contributed to weaken the powers of the human mind, by relieving it of the necessity for patient investigation and close reasoning, which alone can give it that vigour which achieves excellence, and commands success in every department of life. United States Military Academy, June 1, 1837. Note. As the author frequently receives letters from persons, about commencing the study of civil engineering, asking his counsel, both as to the best course to be pursued, and the best works to be studied, he would, in this place, respectfully offer the following remarks: A thorough acquaintance with the mathematics, the author considers as indispensable to a successful pursuit of this profession; without this essential ground-work, he confesses, that he is entirely at a loss to conceive how any sound acquirements, other than a few mechanical rules, acquired in the routine of practice, can be made in it. Without wishing to prejudice the works of others, the author would call attention to the very complete Course of Mathematics of Professor Davies, late Professor of Mathematics in the Military Academy, as the best that has fallen under his observation in the English language. The great success of this gentleman as a teacher, is alone a sufficient guarantee of the excellence of his works, in the arrangements of which, moreover, he has followed the best of mathematical schools, - the French. As more immediately connected with the mathematics, and as an indispensable branch of knowledge to the engineer, the author would also mention a Treatise on Topography, by Lieutenant Eastman of the United States Army, now acting as Assistant Teacher of Drawing in the Military Academy, which is now in the hands of the publisher, and may be shortly expected from the press. The merits of this gentleman as a finished draughtsman may lead us to expect an excellent work on this branch. Connected with the Art of Constructions and applied mathematics, the author would mention the name of M. Navier. The European reputation of this eminent savan and engineer, would render eulogium from the author more, if possible, than supererogatory. His name is connected, either as author or editor, with the ablest works on the subject under consideration, that have appeared in France within the last twenty years; and the best counsel that the author could give to every young engineer, is to place in his library every work of science to which M. Navier's name is in any way attached. Of treatises on special branches of civil engineering, the author would mention, Smeaton's works generally. The Articles 'Bridge, Canals, and Carpentry, ' in the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and the Supolements both to it and to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Tredgold on Carpentry. Tredgold on Cast-iron. Transactions of the Society of Civil Engineers. De Pambour on Locomotives. Wood on Rail-roads. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.