in his own family circle. For more than thirty years of his life, success, beyond his hopes, attended him in the profession he had marked out for himself; and in the exercise of which, he not only felt pleasure himself, but frequently had the power of promoting it in others. And to these blessings was added that of health, which had never known a day's interruption, till the unfortunate night of January the 29th, 1811; when, returning with his daughters from a ball given by Sir Thomas Lennard, his carriage was overturned, owing to an accumulation of snow in the road; he received an injury in the spine, from which he never entirely recovered. For many weeks this accident confined him to his bed, deprived of all power of motion. In a situation so trying to one of his active disposition, his mind still retained its energy; and his patient endurance of suffering, and cheerfulness of spirits, never deserted him for a moment. It was many months ere he was able to resume his usual pursuits; and there is little doubt that the loss of his accustomed exercise laid the foundation of that complaint which, for the remaining years of his life, occasioned him, at times, great agony; and which his physician pronounced to be Angina Pectoris. It was well known to himself (and he did not conceal it from those most dear to him), that the termination of this disease would be as sudden as it must be fatal;-but the stroke was so long delayed, that hope had almost raised a doubt in the minds of his friends as to the truth of that awful fate which he himself never forgot was hanging over him. On the morning of the 24th of March, 1818, he came down to breakfast, not more unwell than usual (the act of dressing had, for some time, been attended with a few moments of spasm in the chest), but he no sooner reached the breakfast-room, than he fell into the arms of his servant, and expired without a groan. So instantaneous was his death, that before his son could hasten from the adjoining room, his spirit had fled for ever. Perhaps there is no stronger proof of Mr. Repton's love for the beauties of nature, than the wish he had latterly expressed, that his remains might be deposited in a "garden of roses." To gratify this innocent fancy, he himself selected the small enclosure on the south side of the picturesque church of Aylsham, in Norfolk: a simple Gothic monument records his name and age, followed by some lines written by himself: "The tomb of Humphry Repton, who died March 24th, 1818. 'Not like the Egyptian tyrants-consecrate, In the same grave reposes that gentle being, who, for fiveand-forty years, had been the beloved participator in all his joys and griefs: she did not long survive him; and it was her last request that they should not be separated in death. Out of a family of sixteen children, but seven reached the age of manhood; and at their parents' death, only four sons and a daughter remained of this numerous family. The latter still resides with her eldest brother, John Adey, who is, perhaps, less known as a follower of his father in the art of landscape gardening, than as one deeply versed in antiquarian lore; from which peculiar taste he has gathered an accurate knowledge of ancient Gothic architecture, many specimens of which are to be found in the engravings that accompany his father's works. The second son, Edward, who was originally intended for his father's profession, having evinced a preference for the Church, was sent to Magdalen College, Oxford, and is now a Prebendary of Westminster. The third son, William, is in the law, and possesses the small paternal estate at Aylsham; and the fourth son, George Stanley, who has for many years practised as an architect, married the eldest daughter of the late Lord Chancellor Eldon, only a few months previous to the death of his father. One of the most ardent wishes of that father's heart was gratified, by living to see his children united and happy: and we cannot better close this Notice, than by transcribing his own concluding words, so expressive of the ruling feeling of his mind:-"My ship of life is sinking, and it is time to quit it; these pages will serve to shew how actively I have performed the voyage-how I have glided through calms, and struggled through tempests. I have touched at every port, and where have we met with happiness unalloyed? or, where found a man not disappointed? Nowhere! Yet still I must repeat, that there is more of good than of evil; and for this redundancy, all our gratitude must, at last, resolve itself into that reiterated aspiration from my heart-Laus Deo." A. B. The following is a List of Mr. Repton's published works, of which, those only that treat on landscape gardening are reprinted in the present volume : The Hundred of North Erpingham, in the History of Norfolk, &c. 1781. 8vo. The Bee; or, a Critique on the Exhibition of Paintings at Somerset House. 1788. 8vo. 1788. 12mo. Variety; a Collection of Essays. The Bee; a Critique on the Shakspeare Gallery. 1789. 8vo. Letter to Uvedale Price, Esq. on Landscape Gardening. 1794. 4to. Sketches and Hints on Landscape Gardening; collected from Designs and Observations now in the possession of the different Noblemen and Gentlemen for whose use they were originally made: the whole tending to establish fixed Principles in the Art of laying out Ground; 16 coloured Plates. Lond. 1795. Oblong quarto. 2l. 12s. 6d. Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening; including some remarks on Grecian and Gothic Architecture; collected from various MSS. in the possession of different Noblemen and Gentlemen: the whole tending to establish fixed Principles in the respective Arts; with many Plates. Lond. 1803. 4to. 51. 5s. Odd Whims; being a republication of some Papers in Variety; with a Comedy, and other Poems. Lond. 1804. 2 vols. 12mo. An Inquiry into the Changes of Taste in Landscape Gardening; to which are added, some Observations on its Theory and Practice, including a Defence of the Art. Lond. 1806. 8vo. 5s. Designs for the Pavilion at Brighton; humbly inscribed to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Including an Inquiry into the Changes of Architecture, as it relates to the Palaces and Houses in England. By H. Repton, Esq. with the assistance of his Sons, John Adey Repton, F.A.S., and G. S. Repton, Architects. Lond. 1808. Folio. 61. On the supposed Effects of Ivy upon Trees. Trans. Linn. Soc. 1810. Vol. xi. p. 27. Fragments on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening; including some Remarks on Grecian and Gothic Architecture; collected from various Manuscripts in the possession of the different Noblemen and Gentlemen for whose use they were originally written: tending to establish fixed Principles in the respective Arts. By H. Repton, Esq. assisted by his Son, J. Adey Repton, F.A.S Lond. 1816. 4to. 61. SKETCHES AND HINTS ON LANDSCAPE GARDENING: COLLECTED FROM DESIGNS AND OBSERVATIONS NOW IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DIFFERENT NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN FOR WHOSE USE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY MADE: THE WHOLE TENDING TO ESTABLISH FIXED PRINCIPLES IN THE ART OF LAYING OUT GROUND. BY H. REPTON, ESQ. (Originally published in 1795, in one volume, oblong quarto.) YOUR MAJESTY's gracious patronage of this Volume, while it impresses me with the deepest gratitude, excites in me a desire that the Work were more worthy of the Royal favour. If it should appear that, instead of displaying new doctrines, or furnishing novel ideas, it serves rather, by a new method, to elucidate old established principles, and to confirm long received opinions, I can only plead in my excuse, that true taste, in every art, consists more in adapting tried expedients to peculiar circumstances, than in that inordinate thirst after novelty, the characteristic of uncultivated minds, which, from the facility of inventing wild theories, without experience, are apt to suppose, that taste is displayed by novelty, genius by innovation, and that every change must necessarily tend to improvement. That Your Majesty may long continue to be the Patron of liberal arts, the encourager of polite literature, and the great arbiter of true taste in this country, must ever be the prayer of those who delight in contemplating the genius and industry of Great Britain, fostered by our glorious constitution, under the benign protection of Your Majesty. Permit me, SIRE, to subscribe myself, with the most profound humility, YOUR MAJESTY'S most dutiful Subject and Servant, H. REPTON. Harestreet, near Romford, Dec. 6, 1794. [* We have reprinted this Dedication, because it contains what, it appears, Mr. Repton considered as principles: viz., 1. that true taste, in every art, consists more in adapting tried expedients to peculiar circumstances, than in an inordinate thirst after novelty, &c.; and, 2. that this inordinate thirst after novelty, is a characteristic of uncultivated minds.-J. C. L.] |