144 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



The other instance, where Mr. Repton's 

 name occurs, may be considered as comph- 

 mentary rather than severe : — 



" Mr. Repton, who is deservedly at the 

 " head of his profession, might effectually 

 " correct the errors of his predecessors, if to 

 " his taste and facility in drawing (an advan- 

 " tage they did not possess), to his quickness 

 " of observation, and to his experience in the 

 " practical part, he were to add an attentive 

 " study of what the higher artists have done 

 " both in their pictures and drawings. Their 

 " selections and arrangements would point 

 " out many beautiful compositions and effects 

 " in nature, which, without such a study, 

 " may escape the most experienced observer. 



" The fatal rock on which all professed 

 " improvers are likely to split, is that of 

 " system : they become mannerists, both from 

 " getting fond of what they have done before, 

 " and from the ease of repeating what they 

 " have so often practised ; but to be reckoned 

 " a mannerist is at least as great a reproach 

 " to the improver as to the painter. Mr. 

 " Brown seems to have been perfectly satis- 

 " fied, when he had made a natural river look 

 " like an artificial one : I hope Mr. Repton 



