BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF THE LATE HUMPHRY REPTON, ESQ. (Written expressly for Loudon's Edition of THE following records of some of the principal events in the life of the late Humphry Repton are gleaned from a collection of MSS. in his own handwriting, containing interesting details of his public and private life; and it is somewhat difficult to select, from materials so varied, such as may best convey to the reader a general idea of the history and character of the author of the works contained in this volume. The papers alluded to were left as a valued memorial for his children; it may be imagined, therefore, that they contain details of a private nature, which would be found devoid of interest to the world. Mr. Repton, indeed, possessed a mind as keenly alive to the ludicrous, as it was open to all that was excellent, in the variety of characters with whom his extensive professional connexions brought him acquainted; and he did not fail to observe and note down many curious circumstances, and traits of character, in themselves highly amusing, but, for obvious reasons, unfit subjects for publication. We We may remark, however, that not one taint of satire or ill-nature ever sullied the wit which flowed spontaneously from a mind sportive sometimes even to exuberance. After all such curtailments have been made, however, there still remains so much that might be considered curious or interesting to the general reader, that it is difficult to limit B this Sketch within the bounds necessary for the present publication. To those who have had an opportunity of personal acquaintance with the subject of these Memoirs, it cannot but be interesting to trace the early history and gradual progress of one whose genius and varied accomplishments eventually enabled him to rise to the highest eminence in his profession; or, perhaps, it would be speaking more correctly to say, that his talents enabled him to exalt into an honourable profession, that pursuit which, before his time, had been looked upon but as an occupation for the gardener or nurseryman. The term "Landscape Gardener" was first adopted by Mr. Repton: and Mr. Uvedale Price, in his well-known Essay on the Picturesque," accuses him of " assuming a title of no small pretensions." His reply to this shews that he was fully aware of the difficulties that were to be conquered, when he first determined to make that pursuit his profession which had hitherto been only his amusement." He remarks: 66 "It is the misfortune of every liberal art, to find amongst its professors some men of uncouth manners; and, since my profession has more frequently been practised by mere daylabourers, and persons of no education, it is the more difficult to give it that rank in the polite arts which I conceive it ought to hold. But I am more particularly called upon to support its respectability, since you attack the very existence of that profession, at the head of which both you and Mr. Knight have the goodness to say I am deservedly placed." That Mr. Repton succeeded in this, his laudable ambition, can be denied by none who remember him in the days of his celebrity, when he was looked up to, by the highest ranks of society, as the acknowledged arbiter of taste, from whose fiat there was no appeal. The name of "Landscape Gardener" may now, indeed, be considered as "one of no small pretensions,' since it is expected that he who so calls himself, should be a person not only gifted by Nature with the love of all that is beautiful, but that culture and education should have refined his taste, and improved his powers of judgment; while a knowledge of the habits of polished life, to be acquired only by an admittance into the best society, must have taught him how to combine those thousand little nameless circumstances which render the mansions and surrounding pleasure-grounds of our " Homes of England" the admiration of all who can appreciate that truly English word "comfortable." Unfortunately, the monumental works of the landscape gardener are not like those of the architect, which live to future ages, and become a lasting record of the taste and genius of their contriver. Time makes unrelenting havoc with designs which, during the first ten or twenty years, may have afforded unmixed satisfaction. Young trees will outgrow their situations, while old ones will be uprooted by age or accident; flower-gardens which owed their charm to the light but fragile trellis ornament, or the constant culture of their elegant parterres, will fall into decay, or be neglected by their owners; while the facility with which any alterations may be made, aiding the love of change which is natural to most minds, in the course of years leaves no trace of that master-hand which had first laid the foundation of future improvement.* It is, therefore, by Mr. Repton's printed works alone that his well-earned fame can be properly appreciated; and, in the republication of those works, their present Editor is conferring a benefit on the public, by bringing them forward in a form which will render them more accessible to the general reader. Humphry Repton was born at Bury St. Edmund's, May 2nd, 1752. His father was Mr. John Repton, who, for many years, held the honourable and lucrative situation of Collector of Excise. From many trifling anecdotes recorded by his son (who never mentions him but in a tone of deep reverence, blended with warm affection), we gather that he was a man of high religious principles, and great benevolence of heart; with manners peculiarly dignified, and possessing a firmness of mind, which frequently led him to suppress any outward demonstration of the best feelings of his nature. During his residence in Bury, he married Martha, daughter of Mr. John Fitch, of Moor Hall, in the county of Suffolk, a descendant of Sir Thomas Fitch, who was created a Knight On visiting places which were known to be more particularly formed by Mr. Repton's taste, the writer of this Sketch has questioned the presiding gardener, but has generally been answered-" It was all my master's laying out." Banneret on the field of Agincourt. She was a woman of singular personal beauty, and sweetness of disposition, and was in possession of a small landed property at Stoke, near Clare. This happy union was blessed with three children; the eldest, a girl, named Dorothy (who was married to Mr. John Adey, a much-esteemed solicitor, at Aylsham, in Norfolk); the second, Humphry, the subject of these Memoirs; and the third, John, who rented and passed the greater part of his life at Oxnead Hall, in the same county. At a very early age, Humphry was sent to the Grammarschool at Bury: he says, "I was too young to recollect much of those happy days, as they are always deemed by men, but of which children think differently, since the fear of the rod and the ferula, with the labour of the lesson and the task, are not less evils, while they last, than the fears of riper age, or the anxieties of manhood; perhaps the true difference between the life of a child and that of a man should be estimated by his power of enjoying pleasures, rather than in his experience of evils. The character of the future man may be traced in the boy; he may become a great man, or a rich man; but whether a happy man or not, will much depend upon the degree of natural cheerfulness with which Heaven has originally endowed him; since it is hardly in the power of Fate to confer much happiness on the man of gloomy disposition, nor lasting misery on one of cheerful temperament. The former will sigh upon a throne, while the latter may smile in a dungeon. Through the darkening medium of care, we see imaginary ills in the future, and even the brightness of the past is clouded: but care seldom clouds the views of childhood; which, forgetful of the past, and regardless of the future, enjoys the present moment; and much of the secret of happiness through life lies in the modification of this short sentence." From this school he was removed to the Grammarschool at Norwich, in which city his parents then resided;— and thus seven years passed in laying the foundation of classical knowledge; and he was rapidly rising to a high station amongst his schoolfellows, when, as he expresses it, "My father thought proper to put the stopper in my vial of classic literature; having determined to make me a rich, rather than a learned man. Perhaps wisely considering, that |