ENTRANCES TO COUNTRY SEATS AND VILLA RESIDENCES. 



[SEE FRONTISPIECE.] 



Every traveller through England must have been struck by the effect produced upon 

 its rural scenery, not only by the entrances to the more extensive parks of the nobility, 

 but also by the numerous gateways and lodges which are found to almost every country 

 house, and to the small pleasure grounds even of the suburban villas. Few, if any, ap- 

 pendages to a residence, which has onlj' a limited extent of ground surrounding it, add so 

 much elegance to its general appearance, or importance to its character, as does an entrance 

 suitable to its position and extent. We say suitable, because much as the stately entrance 

 arch, and its accompanying lodge, gives dignity to the mansion of the millionaire, a far 

 less structure satisfies the requirements of the villa. 



Whatever may be the beauty of pleasure grounds or the magnificence of the park, how- 

 ever diversified the ground, or varied the scenery of the landscape, unless the attention be 

 arrested by a judicious entrance way, half the effect which the whole is calculated to pro- 

 duce, is lost. On the contrary, when upon drawing near a country seat, the eye is gra- 

 tified by the elegance of the entrance gatewa}', proportioned to extent, and appropriate in 

 structure to the principal edifice, an indication of refinement is conveyed to the mind, and 

 we prepare ourselves, imperceptiblj^ to admire the beauties and embellishments which we 

 expect to follow the fitness of the approach. 



Take a few acres of our native wilds, where the undulation of surface admits readily of 

 the production of diversified effect; cut down a few trees, leaving a gi-oup here, and there 

 a noble denisen of the forest, to challenge the attention of the observer; then surround 

 your domain with a fence, and place a good entrance gateway to the whole, and you have 

 converted in a few hours, a wilderness into a garden, and taught the savage a lesson of 

 civilization ! 



We have been gratified to see that this truth appears daily to become more and more noted 

 around us. In the vicinity of New-York, and other parts of the country, we have obser- 

 ved many an edifice of the nature alluded to springing up, and with the view to foster so 

 desirable and well directed a taste, we have presented our readers with an engraving in the 

 present number, taken from an entrance gateway which has long been in high esteem with 

 the landscape gardeners of England. 



This arch is one which is adapted to grounds of considerable extent, and the mansion to 

 which it belongs bears an architectural character in accordance with its general features. 



It must be borne in mind, that the style of architecture of the principal edifice, and its 

 size, must form the guide upon which the fitness of the entrance is determined upon. Nor 

 is the position of less importance than the style. Whetlier it be a simple gate, an arch, 

 or lodge, or a combination of more than one of these, the position of it should rarely, if 

 ever, be parallel to the road of approach. A greater or less angle, the exact proportion 

 of which should be regulated by the general features of the ground, will set off to much 

 more advantage the pretension of the entrance, than will be practicable if it is erected on 

 a line with the road. It should always be placed a few feet, and often some yards from the 

 side of the road, and, if possible, in the immediate vicinity of a few trees, whose age and 

 grateful shade, may add both dignity and beauty to the new erection. 



