88 



mown lawn, uniting with the grass of the adjoining pastures, 



and presenting that permanent verdure which is the natural 

 consequence of our soft and humid climate, but unknown to 

 the cold regions of the north, or the parching temperature of 

 the south. This it is impossible to enjoy in Portugal to any 

 great extent; where it would be as practicable to cover the 

 general surface with the snow of Lapland, as with the verdure 



of England : I mean naturally ; yet artificially it may be effected 



on a small scale by shade and irrigation; some hint, therefore, 



11 be given for producing this effect, if only as a specimen of 



English verd 



Thirdly, There is another circumstance belonging to Eno 



which may possibly be imitated in any climate 



lish Gard 



and that relates to the prevailing lines of walks, &c 



. In the old Gardens of France and Italy, and I suppose it is 

 the same in Portugal, the walks are always straight, the surface 

 generally flat, and all the shapes, whether of land, of water, of 



beds, or of parterres and borders, are drawn in circles, or 



squares, by straight mathematical rules. These are evidently 

 works of Art, and do not pretend to any resemblance to Nature: 

 indeed, when the ground has been formed into level terraces, 

 supported by straight walls, 'perhaps a straight walk, parallel 



to the wall, is more rational than the affectation of a serpentine 



walk, which can only be justified either by irregularity of sur- 

 face, or by the variety of views. In a straight walk the view 



forward is always the same, but in a curving walk it 



with every step we take : thus whether it consist of disTant 



vanes 



