'266 ON CHINESE GARDENS. 



namental gardening is an object of legislative attention; it being 

 supposed to have an influence upon the general culture, and 

 consequently upon the beauty of the whole country. They observe, 

 that mistakes committed in this art, are too important to be tole- 

 rated ; being much exposed to view, and in a great measure ir- 

 reparable : as it often requires the space of a century to redress 

 the blunders of an hour. 



The Chinese gardeners take nature for their pattern, and their 

 aim is to imitate all her beautiful irregularities. Their first con- 

 sideration is the nature of the ground they have to work upon; 

 whether it be flat or sloping, hilly or mountainous, small or of 

 considerable extent ; abounding with springs and rivers, or labour- 

 ing under a scarcity of water ; whether woody or bare, barren or 

 rich ; and whether the transitions be sudden, and the character 

 grand, wild, or tremendous, or whether they be gradual, and the 

 general bent, placid, gloomy or cheerful. To all which circum- 

 stances they carefully attend ; choosing such dispositions as hu- 

 mour the ground, hide its defects, improve or set off its advan- 

 tages, and can be executed with expedition at a moderate ex- 

 pence. 



They are also attentive to the wealth or indigence of the patron 

 by whom they are employed ; to his age, his infirmities, temper, 

 amusements, connections, business and manner of living : as like- 

 wise to the season of the year in which the beauty of the garden 

 is likely to be most frequented by him ; suiting themselves in 

 their composition to his circumstances, and providing for his 

 wants and recreations. Their skill consists in struggling with the 

 defects and imperfections of nature, and with every other impedi- 

 ment • and in producing in spite of every obstacle, works that are 

 uncommon, and perfect in their kind. 



Thouo-h the Chinese artists have nature for their general model, 

 yet are they not so attached to her as to exclude all appearance of 

 art ; on the contrary, they think it, on many occasions, necessary 

 to make an ostentatious shew of their labour. Nature, say they, 

 afford us but few materials to Avork with ; plants, ground, and 

 water, are her only productions ; and though both the forms and 

 arrangements of these may be varied to an incredible degree, 

 yet have they but few striking varieties ; the rest being of the na- 

 ture of changes rung upon bells, which, though in reality differ- 

 ent still produce the same uniform kind of jingling, the variation 

 being too minute to be easily perceived. 



