POSITIOX OF THE HOUSE. 195 



management of tliem are moved vrith difficulty even by 

 indi\iduals who are members of tbem. Before fixing 

 on a locality or site^ see at least that there are well-fre- 

 quented roads in the neighbom'hood, for if they are not 

 in good repair at present_, it may be hoped that they wiU 

 not be allowed to continue so. Easy access to public 

 conveyances is also an advantage not to be overlooked^ 

 for though a gentleman may use his o^vn carriage^ some 

 of his family or his servants may find it convenient to 

 avail themselves of the public means of travelling. Even 

 for friends and other visitants twenty minutes^ distance 

 from a railway station may afford a pleasant morning or 

 evening walk. 



Position of the House in relation to the other parts of 

 the Residence. — After arrangements have been made for 

 the purchase or possession of the ground^ the proprietor 

 generally proceeds to fix the spot on which he is to set 

 down his house ; and the plan is often adopted^ and the 

 buildings are sometimes erected^ before any attention is 

 paid to the laying-out of the grounds. This is a vei-y 

 grievous mistake. The plan of the house,, its position, 

 and the designing of the gardens and dressed gi'oimds, 

 should be considered together^ and mutually adjusted to 

 each other. When the architect is the only person con- 

 sulted about the position of the house, unless he has a 

 more than ordinary knowledge of landscape gardening, 

 the only element he ^vill take into consideration will be 

 the securing of a site, which, according to his ideas, 

 will best exhibit his powers of architectural design. 

 Most probably the house wiU be so placed, and the 

 approach so contrived, as to make a decided impression 

 on strangers and other risitors. The place indeed will 

 often be little more than an enclosed approach to a house 



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