with the shape of the grounds; and, if one line shews more beauty and interest than another, to prefer it; and if it is not actually the nearest possible, to make it more natural and easy. For this reason, I marked a line from the south, through the plantation, to shew the most interesting scenery of Wingerworth, when the lake shall be completed; and also to ascend the hill more gradually than by any other line.

ENTRANCE FROM CHESTERFIELD.

The line of this approach is not only too steep, but it is very naked and uninteresting. It may be made more easy, by a little more curvature, to ascend the hill, and direct the eye to some grass-land beyond the road, which will appear a continuation of the park. The following vignettes [figs. 188 and

189], will shew the effect of the alteration in the road, and of placing a lodge across the present line of road.

CONCLUSION.

It would be impossible to enumerate all the points in which new beauties might be elicited from the natural situation and circumstances of Wingerworth; it seems to have

been unfortunately treated, in all that regards its pleasureground walks, as if it had been a villa at Clapham, or a flat scene in Lincolnshire; but I will not advise the alteration of what has been so recently finished; I will rather turn my

[Fig. 189. Entrance gate and lodge at Wingerworth, with the line of road altered, &e.

attention to the general effect of the whole, and the improvement of its great features, leaving the lesser errors to outgrow and correct themselves.

The too hasty removal of hedges and masses of trees, in compliance with the modern fashion of mistaking extent for beauty, has made it difficult to give the ground, so cleared, the appearance of an ancient park; and we must rather look forward to the future effect of those large masses, which have been more judiciously planted, than to the mistaken assemblage of dots and clumps, with which modern gardening is apt to disfigure an open lawn.

FRAGMENT XV.

MY LORD,

TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD ERSKINE, &c. &c.

In answer to your Lordship's query, I will begin by stating it in your own words, because it is probable

you have kept no copy of them, and I have no recollection of having made the remark you record, although I fully confirm it.

Your letter says, "I have followed your advice in the shel"ter given to my cottage, without sacrificing my prospect; "and you said very truly, that when a man is annoyed with sun, wind, or dust, he puts his hand near his face, and does "not depend on distant shelter."

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I then recommended you to plant only beech, and now you ask if there may be added a few cedars of Lebanon, pineaster, and silver firs. This I must answer by the help of a sketch, to explain what is so obvious, when explained, that I consider it only as a proof that the most enlightened minds will sometimes hesitate on subjects which they have not studied with the eyes of a painter and landscape gardener: the former sees things as they are, the latter as they will be. Indeed, I have frequently observed, that, in planting a tree, few persons consider the future growth or shape of different kinds. Thus, the beech and the ash will admit of a view under their branches, or will admit of lower branches being cut; while the fir tribe and conic-shaped trees will not.

The annexed landscape [fig. 190] is composed of those

materials, which may rather be called tame and beautiful, than romantic or picturesque. It consists of a river quietly

winding through a valley, a tower on the summit of a wooded promontory, and a cottage at the foot of the hill; a distant village spire, and more distant hills, mark the course of the valley to all this is added a foreground, consisting of two large trees to the left, and three small ones to the right.

:

The former can never be supposed to grow much larger, but the latter may, in time, fill the whole space now occupied by the dark cloud over them; and, in so doing, they will neither injure the landscape, nor hide any of its leading features. Let me now direct the attention to the two small fir-trees in the foreground, which appear so out of character with the scene, and so misplaced, that they offend even as they are here represented; but we must remember, that in a few years these trees will grow so high as to out-top the tower on the hill; and also spread out their side branches till they meet, to the total exclusion of all the valley, and all that we admire in the landscape.

Thus, the hand which should only shade, will then be placed before the eyes; and the landscape, as well as the sun, wind, and dust, would be better excluded by a Venetian blind

at once.

I have seldom known trees planted singly, or dotted on a lawn, with permanent good effect; because, few who have planted such trees, have courage to take them away after they have begun to grow: for this reason, I have always asserted that it is better to cut down a large tree, which actually impedes the view, than to plant a small one, which will very soon do the same thing.

FRAGMENT XVI.

CONCERNING VILLAS.

IT has often been hinted to me, when called on for my opinion concerning places of small extent, that I can hardly be expected to give to them the same attention as to those of many hundred acres. My answer has generally been, that, on the contrary, they often require more attention than larger places. They may be compared to the miniature, with respect

to the portrait large as life: the former requires to be more highly finished, but the likeness is the chief object; and this likeness in the picture, may be compared, in landscape gardening, to that pecular identity which adapts the place to the wants and wishes of the proprietor, and the character exclusively belonging to each. To pursue the simile one step further if the nobleman will be painted as a mail coachman, or the plain country gentleman in the dress he wore at a masquerade, we shall look for the likeness in vain: so if the park be ploughed and sown with corn, or a field of twenty acres affect to be a park, the art of landscape gardening becomes useless it does not profess to improve the value of land, but its beauty it does not profess to gratify vanity, by displaying great extent, but to extend comfort, as far as it is feasible; and, if possible, to inculcate the great secret of true happiness "not to wish for more." It is not by adding field to field, or by taking away hedges, or by removing roads to a distance, that the character of a villa is to be improved: it is by availing ourselves of every circumstance of interest or beauty within our reach, and by hiding such objects as cannot be viewed with pleasure: for I have often found, in places of the largest extent, that their principal views are annoyed by some patch of alien property, like Naboth's vineyard; some

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:

[Oh! might I have that angle yonder,
Which disproportions now my field.]

It seldom falls to the lot of the improver to be called upon for his opinion on places of great extent, and of vast range of unblended and uninterrupted property, like Longleate or Woburn: while, in the neighbourhood of every city or manufacturing town, new places, as villas, are daily springing up; and these, with a few acres, require all the conveniences, comforts, and appendages, of larger and more sumptuous, if not more expensive places. And as these have, of late, had the greatest claim on my attention, and may, perhaps, be found more generally useful to those who wish to enjoy the scenery of the country, without removing too far from active life, I