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to suit every style of architecture, and that the adaptation of Landscape 

 Gardening to these different styles was always a matter of mere fancy and 

 fashion, rather than of any fixed principles whatever. But, although the 

 customs of the past, with their assumed true taste, are revived and imi- 

 tated by some professors, yet let us hope that good sense and good taste 

 will never allow its revival to succeed and supersede the free, cheerful, 

 and flowing style of modern gardening, which has supplanted, in a great 

 degree, the gloomy, harsh, and formal style of a few centuries ago. Let the 

 proprietors who are about to lay out their grounds, not suppose that because 

 they are building Gothic or Castellated Mansions, the grounds need be laid 

 out in the formal style. No; as I have already said, that, in my opinion, 

 would be a false principle. Before they adopt that course, let them visit the 

 various noblemen's and gentlemen's seats which are supposed to be excellent 

 specimens both of the ancient and modern styles, with their minds unbiassed; 

 they will then be able to understand the difference, and judge for themselves ; 

 and I am satisfied that in ninety-nine cases out of every one hundred, their 

 choice will be for the modern, and not for the ancient. 



In the formation of a new place I should always have a straight walk of 

 gravel or flags along the front of the house, whatever may be the style of 

 the mansion. I have no objection to the introduction of the terrace wall, 

 balustrades, steps, vases, and other architectural decorations, in accordance 

 with the general style of the building. Indeed, to all good houses these 

 accompaniments ought never to be wanting, as they not only apparently add 

 to their strength, and form a base to them, but by seeming a part, they 

 increase the extent, importance, and richness of the whole. In places of 

 pretension the entrance court and stable yard should also be enclosed (as 

 shown in the general plan for a palace or mansion grounds) by proper 

 ornamental walls, embellished with vases, urns, &c. ; and in arranging these 

 accompaniments I should place the terrace wall (as I have stated a few 

 pages before) from twenty-five to forty-five feet from the house, according to 

 the extent of the building. But this must be apportioned with judgment and 

 caution ; for, on looking from the house, were the distance from it too great 

 and the wall too high, the lawn beyond would on the one hand appear too 

 contracted, and on the other, in approaching the house from the park, the 

 connection of the two would be completely destroyed, for it would prevent the 



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