of gardening among the Ancients. 321 
and formality of their manner of living, and 
manners, correfponds with their tafte for regular 
figures, and uniformity of appearance, in the 
laying out of ground. It may not, perhaps, 
be too great a refinement to remark, that fuch 
a tafte is conformable alfo to a defpotic govern¬ 
ment, which is jealous of all innovations, and, 
of courfe, affords no opportunity for exertions 
of genius, in any capacity. It is worthy of ob- 
fervation, that the regular tafte, above referred 
to, prevailed in this country, at a time when 
our fyftem of manners, drefs, and behaviour 
was extremely ceremonious, formal, and re- 
ferved, and approaching to thofe of the eaftern 
countries. As this ftiffnefs wore off, the tafte 
of the people improved. Shakefpeare was no 
longer cenfured for inattention to dramatic ftrift- 
nefs; the turgid, but regular bombaft of Black- 
more, fell into difrepute and ridicule, and a 
more eafy and natural ftyle was adopted, both in 
fentiment and writing. 
The general method of laying out grounds, 
in this country, feems at prefent to be very 
rational. Natural beauties, or refemblances 
thereof, are chiefly attempted ; which are the 
more proper, as being more conformable to 
the climate and fituacion of the country, and 
difpofition of the people, who are beft pleafed 
with great and fublime objects, which are to 
be found only in nature. The clofe walk, how- 
Vol. I. Y ever 
