

150 





of ground, one near the green-house/ the other near the dairy. 

 These two streams united a little above the site of the old Abbey, 

 contributing greatly to its comfort by reservoirs and fish-ponds; 

 so requisite to the supply of a numerous ecclesiastical establish- 

 nient, whose chief food was the fish of fresh water. 



It is now too*late to inquire why this site was preserved 



the present house; or why the residence of 



a 



Nobl 



e 



Fa 



m 



iiy 



retains the name of Abbey, when every vestige of the original 



pile 



been destroyed. If any mistake is committed, it b 



comes the duty of the improver to suggest expedients that may 

 retrieve errors, or remedy defects. And since it is impossible 

 to raise the house in reality, or to alter its real situation, we 

 must endeavour to do so in appearance; at least we should cau- 

 tiously avoid every thing which tends to lessen the magnitude, 



to depress the importan 



to diminish the character which 



obviously belongs to Woburn Abbey, as now altered from 



monastic to a ducal residen 





CHARACTER AND SITUATION. 



So intimately connected is the Character of a place with the 



hardly possible to separate 



Situ atio 



of the House, that it 



them in idea; yet it 



obvious, that at Woburn thes 



two cir 



cumstances are at variance with each other. 



The Character of Woburn Abbey (whether we consider its 

 command of surrounding property, its extent of domain, the 

 hereditary honours of the family, the magnificence of the Man- 



t 



