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not a consideration, sometimes a noble cascade may be obtained. To form a 

 natural tall, secure against floods or beavy water, will be attended witb more 

 difficulty than one which is built with regular masonry. Still it is possible 

 to form such a fall with massive stones, some tons in weight, judiciously and 

 firmly placed in mortar; but to do this effectually, a considerable breadth of 

 dam in all parts will have to be employed; and perhaps, in most cases, a wall 

 will be required, as shown in the sketch on Romantic Scenery, where the river 

 fall is again treated upon. The fall must not be formed in one straight line 

 across the river, but varied by deep and rugged recesses and angular projec- 

 tions, letting the convex parts meet the stream, which must be broken by 

 masses or considerable blocks of stone, rising in groups above the water here 

 and there to give variety. When the river happens to run over the slope of a 

 dam of masonry, it may be varied very much by groups of stones here and 

 there being allowed to stand some inches higher than the rest. 



When it is thought proper to improve the course of a river, either by 

 varying its breadth when it is considered too formal, or entirely changing its 

 course, so as to bring it more interestingly into view from the mansion, 

 nature should be strictly kept in view and imitated. Its course should not be 

 smooth and uniform, but its margins or banks should present deep bends and 

 angular as well as bold projections, evidently producing various breadths of 

 water: and it is important that its course should be so directed that the 

 spectator may view as much of its length as possible, rather than look across 

 it ; and as we see the natural course of a river formed by interruptions of 

 gentle and abrupt swells in the ground, with masses and groups of trees and 

 bushes, by which the stream is driven to take the lowest and uninterrupted 

 ground, so, in forming a new course, such examples will have to be imitated. 

 Islands may be occasionally introduced in some of the wider parts. In 

 planting the margins, which must be kept free in some places, so as to 

 command the best points of view on the river, alders, willows, junipers, 

 ferns, rushes, &c, may be employed. The dress must be least wild in those 

 parts where the margin of the river and the adjoining ground are naturally 

 smooth. 



A Lake, or Pond. — In arranging a sheet of water, our best skill will 

 often be called into exercise ; and we must, therefore, always bear in mind 

 that water seeks its bed in the lowest ground. It is, undoubtedly, proper that 

 the lowest part of the ground should be made choice of for the formation of 



