BRIDGES. 



A Bridge is an important feature in connection with water, and seldom fails 

 to give interest to the landscape. It ought to he placed to front the best 

 point of view, or nearly so. In forming a piece of water, (as before shewn), a 

 narrow neck must be contrived either between an island and the outline of 

 the pond, or the whole piece must be so contracted that the bridge shall not 

 be too long or extensive. (See Park Plan.) But as a bridge may tend also 

 to give an idea contrary to the repose and privacy which a lake generally 

 suggests, its position should be carefully chosen. At all events, it should be 

 placed so as to give as much of the lake as possible on the side between it 

 and the principal point of view from the residence (see Plan) ; because a 

 bridge suggests the idea of a public road, and a public road would naturally 

 fix, as it were, the boundary of the park or domain, and lead to the conclusion 

 that the water beyond it may not belong to the domain. Perhaps the best 

 position would be at some narrow part of the lake, as remote as convenient, 

 so as to shew the principal body of water between the bridge and the place 

 from whence it is viewed, and that, whilst crossing the bridge, the boundary 

 of the water should be completely lost to the eye in various parts, as well by 

 its position as by judicious planting. Thus the extent of a moderate sheet 

 of water might be concealed, even from the stroller crossing the bridge. 

 (See Plan.) I have frequently seen a bridge placed across the neck of a 

 pond, so near to its extremity as to suggest to the spectator whether it could 

 have been formed for any utility at all, and thus destroying the interest which 

 might have been created had utility been more apparent. • 



Of whatever a bridge may be composed, whether of wood, iron, or stone, 

 or of whatever extent it may be, it should be perfectly horizontal or level 

 across. The effect is inharmonious when it falls each way from the centre. 



A bridge of masonry is best adapted for a river, on account of the 

 probability of its use by public conveyances; therefore, the appearance of 



