THOMAS WHATELY. 



OBSERVATIONS ON MODERN GARDENING. 



ARDBNING, in the perfection to which it 

 has been lately brought in Bngland, is 

 entitled to a place of considerable rank among 

 the liberal arts. It is as superior to landscape 

 painting, as a reality to a representation. It is 

 an exertion of fancy ; a subject of taste ; and 

 being released now from the restraints of regu- 

 larity, and enlarged beyond the purposes of 

 domestic convenience, the most beautiful, the 

 most simple, the most noble scenes of nature 

 are all within its province : for it is no longer 

 confined to the spots from which it borrows its 

 name, but regulates also the disposition and 

 embellishments of a park, a farm, or a riding ; 

 and the business of a gardener is to select and 

 to apply whatever is great, elegant, or character- 



