267 



his numerous imitatorswere without even a particle of his menial 

 endowments ; the art became most monotonous, and, as Mr. 

 Loudon says, the professor required no farther examination of 

 the ground than to take the levels for forming- a piece of watei', 

 which water uniformly assumed one shape and character, and 

 diiFerod no more in different situations, than did the Belt and 

 the Clump. 



Shenstone and Mason at the above period demonstrated that 

 they could succeed in the practice as well as in writing of Or- 

 namental Gardening. The Leasowes when it came into the 

 hands of the former was merely a grazing farm, but he left it a 

 perfect fairy-land. Every thing that a classical taste could 

 point out as decorative; or picturesque in scenery, were 

 secured to it. It was a Bijou, and when Repton blamed him 

 for not being more extensive in his lawn, &c. ho neither com- 

 prehended the design of Shenstone, or the genius of the place. 

 Whately and Gilpin have both described it very fully. Mason 

 left monuments of his powers at his Rectory at Aston, and in 

 Lord Ilarcourt's flower Garden atNuneham in Oxfordshire. 

 Unfortunately there were no professors of talent sufficient to 

 profit by theirexample, and the more easy mode which Brown 

 and his corrupt imitators adopted was so palpably and ignorantly 

 unvarying that it soon roused the satire of better judges and 

 insured its own reformation. 



Brown was evidently aimed at under the name of Layout, in 

 a novel entitled "Village Memoirs," published in 177-3, in 

 which he is represented as a general undertaker of Gardens, 

 Avho introduces the same objects at the same distances in all. 

 The excellent translation in 1783 of Girardin's " De la compo- 

 sition dcs Paysages," and the admirable preface attached to it 

 written by Daniel Mallhus Esq. likewise pointed out>listinctly 

 the correct, and true taste in designing. The PicturesTque Tours 

 of ]\Zr. Gilpin published between the years 1783 and 1809; the 



