20 PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



residence. It is probably sufficient, in almost all cases, 

 to allow it a tbird-rate position in tbe scale of import- 

 ance. The site of tbe bouse, as related to tbe park 

 generally and to tbe leading road of tbe district, clearly 

 ougbt to bold tbe first place, and tbe second may be. 

 safely conceded to tbe pleasure-grounds and flower- 

 gardens. Tbese points, indeed, sbould not be deter- 

 mmed irrespective of tbe approach, a not uncommon 

 mistake in tbe opposite direction; but in forming a 

 general idea of tbe wbole place, and particularly in tbe 

 construction of tbe roads, care sbould be taken tbat tbe 

 site of tbe bouse and tbe seclusion of tbe adjacent 

 grounds sbould not be sacrificed, as tbey too often are, 

 to tbe vanity of baving a fine approach. In most cases, 

 there is no great difficulty in making a good approach, 

 at least when tbe house, offices, gardens, and pleasure- 

 grounds have been properly arranged ; but when these 

 objects have been ill-assorted, tbe work is far from being 

 an easy one, especially when the house has been set down 

 with its principal entrance to the south, when it should 

 have been to the north, or towards tbe east instead of 

 tbe west; or when tbe kitchen or other offices are 

 attached to tbe wrong wing of tbe house. Such mis- 

 arrangements may be said to be of daily occurrence, and 

 tbey often present almost insuperable obstacles in the 

 way of properly laying out tbe various parts of tbe 

 grounds. Tbese arise from tbe circumstance tbat no 

 definite plan of the place has been formed, nor even a 

 general idea of it conceived, till after tbe site of the 

 house has been fixed, and perhaps the work of building 

 has been partially, if not completely, executed. Tbe 

 proprietor then begins to think how he is to get to his 

 house ; he at length perceives difficulties in the forma- 



