ROC 



507 



ROC 



ground with a thicket, which shall idable, which might otherwise have 



cease, or be lowered, as it descends, been unnoticed. A steep, in itself not 



A thicket, on other occasions, makes very remarkable, becomes alarming 



the rocks which rise out of it seem when a path is carried aslant up the 



larger than they are. If they stand side. A rail, on the brow of a pcrpen- 



upon a bank overspread with shrubs, dicular fall, shows that the lieii'lit is 



their beginning is at the least uncer- 

 tain, and the presumption is that they 

 start from the bottom. 



" Another use of this brushy under- 

 wood is, to conceal the fragments and 



frequented and dangerous; and a cor 

 mon foot-bridge, thrown over a cleft 

 between rocks, has a still stronger 

 effect. In all these instances the im- 

 agination immediately transports the 



rubbish which have fallen from the spectator to the spot, and suggests the 



sides and the brow, and which are 

 often unsightly. 



" Rocks are seldom remarkable for 

 the elegance of their foVms; they are 



dea of looking down such a depth ; in 

 the Inst that depth is a chasm, and the 

 situation is directly over it. 



'If the body of the rock is intended 



too vast and too rude to pretend to to be raised much above the ground 

 delicacy; but their shapes are often | level, a quantity of soil and rulibish 

 agreeable, and we can affect those should be carried into the centre of the 

 shapes to a certain degree — at least s[)ace. This soil, besides serving to 

 we can cover many blemishes in them support the rockwork, will also form a 

 by conducting the growth of shrubby , border for the plants to grow in. Hav- 

 and creeping plants about them. For ing at hand plenty of large rough stones, 

 all these purposes mere underwood broken bricks, or stony rubbish of any 

 suffices ; but for greater effects larger kind or colour, proceed with these to 

 trees are requisite. They are worthy imitate the form of natural rock as 

 of the scene, and not only improve- | nearly as possible. Rough, bold, an- 

 ments but accessions to its grandeur, gular projections, and deeply-formed 

 We arc used to rank them among the chasms, are the principal features in 

 noblest objects of nature ; and when natural scenery which please us most, 

 we see that they cannot aspire to the , A rock, with a flat unbroken surface, 

 midway of the heights round them, the [ whether horizontal or perpendicular, 

 rocks are raised by the comparison. A presents too much sameness to be pleas- 

 single tree is, therefore, often prefera- ing to the eye: therefore, in imitating 

 ble to a clump ; the size, though really . nature, the projections should be varied 

 less, is more remarkable; and clumps , and bold, and unless raggedness and 

 are, besides, generally exceptionable, intricacy form principal features in its 

 in a very wild spot, from the suspicion composition, it will lose much of its 

 of art which attends them. But a wood effect. If the rock-work be on a large 

 is free from that suspicion ; and its own scale, it should not be one continued 

 character of greatness recommends it to i line, but broken at intervals, in one part 



every scene of magnificence 



lost beneath the surface of the earth, 



" On the same principle, all the con- ] and again rising in another part and 



sideration which can be should be given 

 to the streams. No number of little 

 rills are equal to one broad river; and, 

 in the principal current, some varieties 

 may be sacrificed to importance. But 

 a degree of strength should always be 

 preserved. The water, though it iieeds 

 not be furious, must not be dull ; for 

 dignity, when most serene, is not lan- 

 guid ; and space will hardly atone for 

 want of animation. 



resuming its sinuous lorm. 



" So far there is little difference be- 

 tween this and the common method of 

 making artificial rock. When, how- 

 ever, every stone has been arranged to 

 suit the eye, the interstices between 

 them are to be filled up with any kind 

 of rough mortar. Of course fissures, 

 and similar places intended for the 

 plants which are to cover the rock, 

 must be left open, so that the roots may 



"Inhabitants furnish frequent oppor- penetrate to the soil beneath the stones 

 tunities to strengthen the appearances j The next operation is to daub the whole 

 of force by giving intimations of danger, i mass over with Roman cement. For 

 A house placed at the edge of a preci- ! this purpose the latter should be mixed 

 pice — any building on the pinnacle of a | with water until it is of the consistence 

 crag — makes that situation seem form- \ of thick paint, in which state it may be 



