POSITION OF THE HOUSE. 107 



amount of park and woodland scenery than could other- 

 wise be obtained. 



In support of these views, we might instance some 

 of the finest residences near London. Sion House and 

 Holland House, though not mere \illas, exhibit no affec- 

 tation of long approaches. At Bedford Lodge, Campdeu 

 Hill, a suburban vWla of the Duchess of Bedford, the 

 house is separated from the lane which leads to it merely 

 by the gate and entrance court, and wall enclosing the 

 latter. At Mrs. Lawrence^s \'illa of Ealing Park, cele- 

 brated for its highly decorated garden, pleasure- gromids, 

 and beautifid little park, from the proximity of the house 

 to the road by which is the principal access to the place, 

 a very short approach is all that is necessary. 



All these examples show the value put on internal 

 space by the owners of these residences. It may be said, 

 indeed, that these are only proofs of the desire to have 

 room in the interior for flower-grounds and shrubberies, 

 and therefore they were likely to be adopted by persons 

 ha^ing a taste for floriculture. That may be partly true ; 

 but the gi'omid occupied in them by flower-gardens and 

 pleasure-grounds could as readily have been applied to 

 the production of rural scenery in general, and therefore 

 may be equally recommended to those who have no 

 special predilection for plants. Certainly, to place the 

 house near the entrance boundary is the most efiectual 

 method of obtaining the seclusion which every one wishes 

 in the country, and securing space for la\^^ls, kitchen 

 garden, orchard, pasture-fields, or whatever else a man 

 may set his heart on. Anything almost seems in better 

 taste than an exaggerated and ostentatious approach con- 

 trived for the purpose of showing off to strangera the 

 columns and pilasters and fine proportions of the house. 



