This subject was clucidated by as many drawings as there were stations described; but as most of them were taken from the public road between Reading and Wallingford, the effect of these plantations will be seen from thence; and I have availed myself, as much as pos sible, of those examples which, from their proximity to a public road, are most likely to be generally observed. If the more common appearances in nature were objects of our imitation, we should certainly plant the valleys and not the hills, since nature generally adopts this rule in her spontaneous plantations; but it is " la belle nature," or those occasional effects of extraordinary beauty, which mature furnishes as models to the Landscape Gardener. And although a wood on the summit of a bleak hill may not be so profitable, or grow so fast, as one in the sheltered valley, yet its advantages will be strongly felt on the surrounding soil. The verdure will be improved when defended from winds, and fertilized by the successive fall of leaves, whilst the cattle will more readily frequent the hills when they are sheltered and protected by sufficient skreens of plantation". In recommending that the hills should be planted, I do not mean that the summits only should be covered by a patch or clump; the woods of the valleys should, on the contrary, seem to climb the hills by such connecting lines, as may neither appear meagre nor artificial, but following the natural shapes of the ground, produce an apparent continuity of wood falling down the hills in various directions. "Rich the robe, And ample let it flow, that nature wears On her thron'd eminence! where'er she takes Her horizontal march, pursue her step MASON. During the first few years of large plantations in a naked country, the outline, however graceful, will appear hard and artificial; but when the trees begin to require thinning, a few single trees or groups may be brought forward. The precise period at which this may be advisable must depend on the nature of the soil; but so rich is the ground in which plantations were made at Aston about ten years since, that this management has already been adopted with effect. I must observe in this place, that instead of protecting large plantations with hedges and ditches, I have generally recommended a temporary fence of posts and rails, or hurdles on the outside, and either advise a hedge of thorns to be planted at eight or ten yards distance from the outline, or rather that the whole plantation be so filled with thorns and spinous plants, that the cattle may not penetrate far when the temporary fences shall be removed, and thus may be formed that beautiful and irregular outline so much admired in the woods and thickets of a forest.' This remark is verified at Aston, where it is found that more cattle are fed in the park from the improved qualities of pasture, since the quantity has been reduced by the ample plantations made, within the last ten years.' The 7 The two succeeding chapters detail many expedients suggested for overcoming natural defects and inconveniencies; the success of which amply justifies the high opinion entertained of the author's talents. Chapter 7. exposes with just censure the ridiculous idea of a ferme orne; and the distinction is forcibly shewn between a park and arable scenery; between the residence of the landlord and that of the farmer. The 8th Chapter treats of the Pleasure-Ground. On this subject, we agree with Mr. R. in many points: but we cannot acquiesce in making an apparent and distinct line to separate the dressed ground, under the management of art, from that which is left in a state of neglected nature. We coincide with him in objecting to the idea that the appearance of art should terminate at the threshold of the door: but we think that all abrupt transitions should be avoided, and a due gradation maintained from art to nature:-or, in other words, that utility and cheerful cleanliness should by degrees mark the vicinity of the dwelling. We are inclined to think that these are Mr. R.'s sentiments, from such of his late designs as we have seen executed; and that the opinion, which this chapter seems to convey, is to be attributed only to a want of sufficient expla nation. Chapter 9. is chiefly occupied in defending the practice of Landscape Gardeners against the opinions of Messrs. Price and Knight; and some notice of the history of the art occurs in Chapter 10, in which a particular observation attracted our attention. After having cited an instance in which Mr. R. had advised the removal of many trees, he says: In thus recommending the liberal use of the axe, I hope I shall not be deemed an advocate for that bare and bald system of gardening which has been so justly ridiculed. I do not profess to follow either Le Nôtre or Brown, but selecting beauties from the style of each, to adopt so much of the grandeur of the former as may accord with a palace, and so much of the grace of the latter as may call forth the charms of natural landscape. Each has its proper situation; and good taste will make fashion subservient to good sense. The modern rage for natural landscape has frequently carried its admirers beyond the true limits of improvement, the first object of which ought to be convenience, and the next picturesque beauty. In this general way of speaking, nothing is clearly defined. The gradation which we recommend clearly marks the place of each object. Chapter 11. is miscellaneous. In the same paragraph (p.135.) the author asserts that general principles are impossible; and yet he hopes that some general principles' may be deduced from from the reasons on which the examples of his operations are founded, tending to prove that there are Rules for good taste. These ideas are not perfectly consistent. In this chapter, Mr. R. has again bestowed some labour in considering approaches to a mansion; a subject which occupied a great portion of his former publication*. We cannot think that his criticism on a pair of lodges, under the idea of their being frequently the abode of squalid misery,' is by any means generally just; nor is the added sarcasm worth recording, though the passage seems to have been introduced for that purpose. It must be the fault of the proprietor, not the necessary consequence of the establishment, if such wretchedness is there presented to the eye of the visitor; and even in a lodge placed at the approach to a work house, the governors are usually careful that the gatekeeper should be decent:-can we then conceive that the master of a lordly mansion should be less attentive to appearances? A handsome gateway distinguishes the entrance to a principal residence; and, whatever may be the custom of some proprietors, a servant is expected to be found officiating there for convenience, and to prevent improper intrusions indeed such a gateway, indicating such a principal entrance, cannot be complete without an attendant; and his station should be evident, in order that a stranger, wishing to make inquiry, should be at no loss. For convenience, the lodge should be close to the gate; and, in every view of propriety, no plan seems so well adapted to the purpose as that in which they are contiguous to each other. It appears ridiculous to meet with a grand gateway, by which the visitor knows he is to enter, while the means of obtaining entrance are denied, until, after a bewildering search, according to Mr. R.'s proposition, smoke is descried issuing from a neighbouring thicket! The lodge should in reality be an appropriate appendage to the gate; and whatever attempt may be made to throw ridicule on the custom of splitting the building into a pair,' this love of palpable uniformity is preferable to the obscurity which attends the adoption of an opposite extreme. We transcribe the subsequent passage, however, with much satisfaction: Instead of depopulating villages, and destroying hamlets in the neighbourhood of a palace, I should rather wish to mark the importance of the mansion, and the wealth of its domain, by the appearance of proper provision for its poor dependants; the frequent instances I have witnessed where the industrious labourer had many miles to walk from his daily task, have strongly inforced the necessity, not to say * See M. Rev. Vol. xix. N. S. p. 1. humanity, humanity, of providing comfortable and convenient residences for those who may have employment about the grounds. It is thus that the real importance of a place might be distinguished by the number of its cottages, or rather substantial houses appropriated to the resi dence of those belonging to the place; this would truly enrich the scenery of a country, by creating a village at the entrance of every. park; it is not by their number only, but by the attention to the neatness, comfort, and simple ornament of such buildings, that we should then judge of the style of the neighbouring palace; and whether the houses were of clay and thatched, or embellished with the ornaments of architecture, there would be equal opportunity for the display of good taste.' Every benevolent mind will accord with Mr. R.'s proposition; which is not less honourable for attention to the peasant, than for the good sense of placing the village so as to administer to the cheerfulness and convenience of the principal residence of preventing the uncomfortable and drear appearance of a solitary approach; and of raising images in the mind which accord with the idea of the consequence attending, and the support resulting from a robust and protected peasantry on a large landed property. This is the noblest feature of a great domain; and, in its adoption, the late erroneous practice will be changed for the more gratifying custom of former days. The poor peasant, instead of being driven to an inhospitable spot, will participate in the extensive improvements of his Lord; and the combination will present a picture, in due subordination, of the alliance between the tenantry and their chief: while the appearance of the village will give the proprietor an opportunity of impressing the stranger with a due idea of his state, and of his attention to the true supporters of his dignity and comfort **. Mr. On the subject of the peasant and his cottage, we cannot help recording the opposite modes pursued by two ecclesiastical dignitaries, of princely revenue in the sister kingdoms. The one, in our adjoining island, by a benevolent attention to the poor within his diocese, rendering their cabins not only comfortable, but of a clean and cheerful appearance, was constantly greeted by the peasantry with a joyful countenance whenever he passed their cot; and none of the rancour, so ofteu engendered by opposite religions, here prevailed against inward gratitude for real benefits received. The care which was taken to keep the dwellings in a clean coat had its influence on the inside, and the poor of that part of Ireland exhibited a strong contrast to those of other districts, in which filth characterized the inhabitants. In the other case, on this side of the water, a considerable sum was appropriated to serve the poor, when provisions were at a great price; and the dignitary applied it in the purchase of bacon and po tatoes, Mr. Repton has laid down a principle in his preface, (p. 13.) that an approach which does not evidently lead to the house, or which does not take the shortest course, cannot be right but he frequently deviates from this rule in his works, without shewing sufficient reason for his change of sentiment. We think that, from the principal park entrance to the mansion, the general approach undoubtedly requires a proper distinction, and that art should appear as attending on convenience. It is rarely prudent to distend the approach by a circuit round the park, for the sake of shewing its beauties and extent before the visitor reaches the house; because, when thus satiated, the mind has nothing more either to desire or to expect. Besides, a dressed road certainly interferes too much. with pure nature: they are incongruous, and ought to be kept distinct. At intervals, a slight view of the distant grounds, from the approach, is as much as will be desirable, in order to give some idea of what we are afterward to behold. These remarks have now extended to so much length, that we must defer the remainder of this article to our next Number. [To be continued.] tatoes, to be served out at a low consideration. The poor were required to attend at the palace gate, and, together with the mite which formed their destined share, they had a lesson read to them on frugality; and, on repeating their application, they were required to give an account of the manner in which every farthing of their earnings had been expended. The number of applications soon diminished; and in a little time it was found that the viands might be retained or sold to the usual venders, since the English cottager would rather bear with half a meal, purchased at a shop price, than have his independent mind insulted. It is the manner of conveying a benefit which heightens its value. An ostentatious display of bounty makes the receiver feel the disparity of condition; and it cxcites a dissatisfaction in the idea that chance has not given him the advantage possessed by a more fortunate fellowcreature, which is paramount to all other considerations. In another instance, a nobleman, by the rewards and punishments of exhibiting names hung up in a parish church, endeavoured to enforce the attendance of the poor parishioners at divine worship. Much pains were taken, without the desired effect: the defaulters were numeFous; and it is much to be feared that the best attendances were given from respect to the earthly lord. Not so with the good pastor of the west. Neither his ample fortune, nor his active exertions as a magistrate, can induce him to withdraw his attentions from his pa rishioners. He likewise notices the occasional absence of any of his Bock: but he calls at their habitations to learn whether disease or distress has been the cause; and at his church are few defaulters, though it is distant several miles from the residence of the majority of his parishioners. To the great dignitary we would say,-" Go thou, and do likewise." ART. Saun...s. 1 |