REPTON’$ LANDSCAPE GARDENING ia 
among those which distinguish the plea- 
sures of civilized society. from the pur- 
suits of savage and barbarous nations.’ 
We wouldask Mr.: Repton, what is the 
reason that other professors besides him- 
self, could not take advantage of theore- 
tical principles? Some gentlemen we 
know, shave not disdained to read and 
profit by the works or Whateley, Mason, 
G. Mason, Walpole, Delille, Price, Gil- 
pin, Knight, Sir William Chambers, &c. 
all of whom have displayed considerable 
taste'and judgment in their observations 
on those scenes of nature, whichare cha- 
racteriséed by beauty, picturesqueness, ‘or 
sublimity; and from some of whose works” 
we derive more information cp these 
, subjects than from Miz. Repton’s book. 
But ourauthor seems too confident in his 
own,taste and science to benefit by the 
advice of others; especially from some 
of these writers who, inculcating »prin- 
ciples diametrically oppov'te ta’ those 
espoused by him, we are not surpris- 
ed at his disdaining their suggestions. 
Mr. R. wishes to make the scenery, pretty, 
and wherever a rugged inequality pre- 
sents itself, the axe and shovel are di- 
rected to the smoothing operations. In 
the first chapter many examples of this 
kind are produced from the grounds at 
the Fort near Bristol, from Wentworth 
House, and some other places. In the 
second chapter Mr. R. prints a letter, 
which, he says, is written by ** one of the 
most able men of the age,” upon the 
question, * At what distance does any 
object appear at its greatest height ?? 
’ The third chapter descants en’ the 
situation and’ character of water, stating 
that, “it may be too naked or too much 
clothed.” It farther remarks that, ‘¢a 
river is easier to imitate than a lake— 
and that a bubbling spring may be imi- 
tated.”? The two following chapters 
treat of planting, with the different and 
diversified effects that can be, and are 
produced by clumps, combination of 
masses to produce great woods, and on 
the character and shape of ground which 
‘ought to be studied to produce the most 
beautiful effects. This will ‘not be 
doubted by any man of observation, nor 
will he, object. to many other similar 
maxims. . In this part of the work, is a 
minute detail of the drive, or park-road 
at Bulstrode, whose noble proprietor; the 
- Duke of Portland, first patronized, and 
lifted our author into notieé:’ In the 
“subsequent pages are detailed a. variety 
of plans, the execution of whichis cal- 
935. 
culated, according to our author’s opir 
nion, to produce beauty, elegance, and 
utility in the mansions and grounds of 
opulent landholders. The roads, walks,’ 
drives, lawns, waters, plantations, build- 
ings, grounds, are all respectively con- 
sidered ; and in treating ot each, the au- 
thor endeavours to shew what is con- 
formable, or in opposition to taste and 
beauty. 
Even if we fully acknowledged the, 
judgment of the author, and admitted 
his pretensions to sound taste, we should 
read his work with perpetual disgust, 
being constantly reminded, that any im 
provement and embellishment is only to 
be effected by binself. This ‘is the con - 
tinued theme, and we are repeatedly 
told, that no.other person has combined 
theory with practice;,consequently no other 
is competent to dress out nature inher 
most beautiful and captivating apparel. 
All his “ Observations on Modern Gar- 
dening” tend to this one point—that 
H., Repton, esq. of Hiare-street, near 
Romford, Essex, is the only scientific 
“ landscape, gardener” in Great Britain, 
aud, that gentlemen who wish to have 
their parks and gardens beautified, or 
even want elegant and appropriate minsions 
for those parks, cannot display greater 
judgment than by applying to the man 
who has had ‘a very large portion of Eng- 
lish scenery committed to his care for 
improvement.”’ SPORE Ve 
In the preceding observations we have 
mosily dwelt on the defects of this vos 
lume ; the pleasanter part of our duty 
remains behind. As’a specimen»of the 
best style and best’ taste of our author, 
we gladly extract the following passages © 
whigh occur in his red-book at Corsham: 
house, Wiltshire, the magnificent seat o 
Paul Cobb Methuen, Esq. . 
«©The following extract,” he observes, 
<< nay serve to exemplily the impropriety o 
improving the grounds without previous at- 
tention to the style, character, and situation 
of the house. Dak st} 
«« At the time Corsham-house was erected, 
instead of the modern, houses now. placed in 
the centre of parks, distant, from every other 
habitation, it was the glory and pride of an 
Enztish baron to, live in or near the town or 
ahaa’ 
village which conferred its title on his palace, 
and often on himself. Nor, was the proximity 
of the village attended with. any inconyeni- 
ence, so long as the house. was dipineeenia 
it by ample, court-yards, ov massive gates ; 
» some of its, fronts might look. into a garde lp 
lawn, or pack, where the neighbours could 
not iy Yet, even these views, in some 
oy te ? AQ Sous 
