LINE OF THE APPROACH. 27 



embankments are imayoidable, as tliev may be on 

 shorty abrupt^ rolling nndiilations, or steep sm^faces^ 

 tliev slioiilcl be rendered as inconspicnous as may be. 

 Easy inclinations in all cases are extremely desii'able_, and 

 to obtain these on rough gi'ound considerable sacrifices 

 must often be made, both in adding to the length and 

 diminishing the beauty of an approach. Into this 

 species of work, however, the fiu'or of railway-making 

 has inti'oduced some of its most ^-iolent operations, and 

 has added veiy little to approaches, as good roads, while 

 it has taken much fi'om then agi-eeableness, as good 

 drives through a park. Before proceeding to blast rocks 

 with gunpowder, or to cut into or through ridges, it is 

 well to see whether we cannot save expense and the 

 beauty of the gi'ound by de^-iating a little to the right 

 or left. One of these new approaches, formed in 

 defiance of all such considerations as those now indicated, 

 and executed by a ci-devant railway surveyor, has been, 

 not unaptly, styled by observant neighbours, ^^The Lodge 

 and Stables Direct Line,^^ from its passing close by the 

 latter offices in its way to the house. In tliis case, however, 

 there are probably more faults than cutting and embank- 

 ing. A well laid- out approach will seldom be made to cross 

 the park on the drawing-room fi'ont of the house, in its 

 way to the piincipal entrance. It is desirable, however, 

 that the house should be seen from it in one or two 

 advantageous positions, and that it should be in part 

 visible fi'om the windows of the public rooms, in order 

 that the inmates may perceive the approach of ^-isitors. 

 If there are circumstances which make it unavoidable 

 for the approach to pass the di'awing-room front, it 

 should be kept at such a distance, and conducted at such 



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