DRESS GROUND. 49 



in its accompaniments, without sacrificing 

 the o-eneral character and effect. 



It may be allowed, perhaps, that shelter 

 rather than taste dictated the deep masses of 

 wood in which some of the mansions under 

 the old system are embedded : in such cases, 

 it is surely lawful to substitute arrangement 

 for quantity — variety for dull uniformity. The 

 operation, however, requires much caution 

 and judgment, especially with trees situated 

 near the house ; as an error may be fatal in 

 that situation, which, in a more remote one, 

 might be unobserved, or more easily repaired. 

 In this, as in every circumstance of improve- 

 ment, the leading character of the place 

 should guide the hand of the improver. 



Though it would be difficult to find any 

 prospect that might not be improved by 

 trees on the foreground, yet they may occa- 

 sionally be so thick as to render it necessary 

 to break them, both for the improvement of 

 the several groups, and for the general com- 

 position. 



It is hazardous, on so delicate a subject as 

 this, to give a general prescription : circum- 

 stances hardly perceptible to the untutored 

 eye may, to that which has been accustomed 



E 



