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With regard to avenue roads, I own that, how much soever they may he 

 in accordance with some tastes, they are not at all so with mine. They seem 

 to frown on liberty, and to forbid the pure air of heaven to circulate freely. 

 1 admit that an avenue of stately trees is " ancestral," as Mrs. Hemans says, 

 and noble and majestic; but it has none of the stirring life within it of 

 varied drives through light and airy expanses, where the sunshine is gloriously 

 overhead, and where there is no gloom. 



But I would not have the approach carried perceptibly out of the way 

 for the sake of exploring scenery, nor brought so near the dwelling rooms as 

 to disturb their privacy, or the repose of the pleasure ground. "When, how- 

 ever, it can be done with propriety, and from a suitable distance, a view of 

 the edifice ought occasionally to be obtained. Perhaps a near view of the 

 house is generally best obtained when it possesses an entrance and two private 

 fronts, by the approach being directed towards the angle of the house, (as 

 represented in the Villa Plan), commanding one principal or private front 

 and the entrance in perspective, and leaving the other front to be seen from 

 the pleasure ground. We too often meet with seats distinguished for their 

 fine architecture, yet entirely lost as to general effect, by the approach passing 

 through a close avenue, or confined scenery, up to the very entrance. As the 

 promenade or terrace walk is generally too near the house for those principal 

 fronts to be properly inspected from it, architectural beauties are consequently 

 lost, unless the spectator withdraws either to the lawn or into the park to 

 obtain a view of them. 



I would not, however, remove an avenue venerable by antiquity, with its 

 mansion to correspond, if it did not materially interfere with the surrounding 

 scenery, though not in accordance with what might be desired as in the best 

 taste. 



Avenues planted in the present century, and bordering carriage drives, 

 remind one too strongly of the monotonous appearance of the telegraph-posts 

 on a railway, or of the lamp-posts in Oxford-street. 



Whilst on this subject, I may mention the impropriety of old avenues 

 being replenished with young trees. By such a practice, we are ever attempt- 

 ing to build up what nature is pulling down before our eyes. Insignificant 

 sprigs amongst noble trees are incongruous in the extreme. Even should 

 they succeed in growth, by the time they are of moderate size other failures 

 will have taken place, and so we shall always have a ragged, broken, and 



