233 



THOMAS WHATELY (some write it Wheatloy) Esq. of 

 Nonsuch Park near Epsom in Surrey, was I presume (he son 

 of the Rev. Joseph Whately, who became possessed of that 

 residence by the will of his Uncle, Joseph Thompson Esq. who 

 thougli a Dissenter left it to him on condition that he should 

 take Priest's Orders, which he did and resided there until he 

 died. In 1770 — 1, he published his work on Gardening, but 

 soon after becoming secretary to the Earl of Suffolk, a member 

 of Parliament, and Secretary of the Treasury, he had little 

 lime unemployed for literary pursuits. He had two brothers 

 one of them a Clergyman. He died in 1772.' I have seen 

 him mentioned as Sir Thomas Whately. After his death ap- 

 peared some remarks upon Shakespeare, which are only part 

 of a larger work which he had in contemplation. The work 

 which deserves our particular notice is entitled. 



Observations on Modern Gardening illustrated by descrip- 

 tions. London. 8vo. 1770. Martyn says an Edition in his pos^ 

 session is the 3rd, dated the next year. Another Edition in 

 4to. appeared in 1798, with Walpole's History of Gardening 

 inserted in the form of Notes ; and an Appendix containing an 

 Essay on the ditt'erent natural situations of Gardens which had 

 some years previously been published without an author's name, 

 byDodsley (See 1775.) It was translated very speedily info 

 French byLatapie and afterwards by Masson de Blamont; and 

 was praised though not above its merits by all the continental 

 Reviews. Ensor pronounced its style inimitable. Loudon 

 pronounces it " the grand fundamental, and standard work 

 on English Gardening.'' Of the principles of Taste which it 

 advocates I shall not mention anything here. It treats first of the 

 materials the Landscape Gardener has to work with; secondly 

 of the scenes producible with them ; and lastly the subjects 

 of Gardening. He illustrates his principles by descriptions 

 of Blenheim, Claremont, Esher, Hagley, Ham, Leasowea, 

 Painshill, Peirsfield, and Stowe. 



* Preface to the 2nd Ed, of his Remarks on Shakespeare, 



2 H 



