266 



claredthat if the mania was not checked, in a few years more, 

 three trees Avouhl not be found in a strait line from the Land's- 

 end to the Tweed.* Whenever consulted upon the alterations 

 to be made in grounds, he so invariably observed that there 

 were great *' capabilities" about it, that he was generally knowo 

 by the nick-name of " Capability Brown". 



That Brown possessed taste to comprehend that which is 

 ploasing, and genius sufhcient to obtain such effect in some of 

 his designs, it is impossible for an unbiassed Critic to tlony; 

 but on the other hand his greatest admirers cannot pretend 

 that he even approached in any of the branches of design to his 

 predecessor Kent. By his opponents however he has been too 

 much decried, as by his followers he has been too lavishly ex- 

 tolled. His management of the Water at Blenheim can never 

 be excelled ; in this material of Landscape it was that he was 

 most excellent. In the management of the ground and the 

 woodland he was less happy, inasmuch as that he seldom varied 

 in his plan. His decliviliis were all softened into gentle slopes ; 

 riantations belted the Estate ; while clumps and single trees 

 were sprinkled over its area. That these were planted without 

 any consideration or object, which taste pointed out as desira- 

 ble, it is unjust to assort, in many instances still extant a hap- 

 piness of effect is produced which he must indeed have been a 

 fortunate man to have obtained by chance. The view which he 

 procured of Cheney Church to Latimers, a seat of Lord Caven- 

 dish demonstrates that he could create b3auties, and renders 

 any contrary supposition gratuitous. That he was not always 

 successful, is most certain, and may be allowed cf any nian 

 without compromising his claims to the possession of a genius ; 

 but of Brown it must also be allowed that he undertook more 

 than he could perform, for one mind, however fertile its inventive 

 powers, could never have furnished fresh designs for the thou- 

 sands of places which he wasrequired to lay out. Unfortimatcly 



♦ Ibid. 77. 



