ON CHINESE GARDENS, 267 



Art must therefore supply the scantiness of nature ; and not 

 only be employed to produce variety, but also novelty and effect ; 

 for the simple arrangements of nature are met with in every com- 

 mon field, to a certain degree of perfection, and therefore are too 

 familiar to excite any strong sensations in the mind of the beholder, 

 or to produce auy uncommon degree of pleasure. 



It is indeed true, that novelty and variety may both be attained, 

 by transplanting the peculiarities of one country into another, by 

 introducing rocks, cataracts, impending woods, and other parts of 

 romantic situations, in flat places ; by employing much water 

 where it is rare, and cultivated plains, amidst the rude irregula- 

 rities of mountains ; but even this source is easily exhausted, and 

 can seldom be put in practice, without a very great expence. 



The Chinese are no enemies to strait lines, because they are 

 generally speaking, productive of grandeur, which often cannot 

 be attained without them ; nor have they any aversion to regular 

 geometrical figures, which they say are beautiful in themselves, 

 and well suited to small compositions, where the luxuriant irre- 

 gularities of nature would fill up and embarrass the parts they 

 should adorn, They likewise think them properest for flower- 

 gardens, and all other compositions, where much art is appar- 

 ent in the culture ; and where it should not be omitted in the 

 forms. 



Their regular buildings they generally surround with artificial 

 terraces, slopes, and many flights of steps ; the angles of which 

 are adorned with groups of sculpture and vases, with ornaments 

 intermixed with all kind of artificial waterworks, which, connect- 

 ing with the architecture, spread the composition, serve to give 

 it consequence, and add to the gaiety, splendor, and bustle of ' 

 the scenery. 



Round the main habitation, and near all their decorated struc- 

 tures, the grounds are laid out with great regularity, and kept 

 with great care ; no plants are admitted that intercept the view 

 of the buildings, nor any lines but such as accompany the archi- 

 tecture properly, and contribute to the general symmetry and 

 good effect of the whole composition ; for they hold it absurd to 

 surround an elegant fabric with disorderly rude vegetation ; say- 

 ing, that it looks like a diamond set in lead, and always conveys 

 the idea of an unfinished work, 



When the buildings are rustic, the scenery which surrounds 

 them is wild; when they arc grand, they are gloomy; when gay, 



