1 76 ftbe (Barren 



istic in any of them ; to discover and to show all 

 the advantages of the place upon which he is 

 employed ; to supply its defects, to correct its 

 faults, and to improve its beauties. 



For all these operations, the objects of nature 

 are still his only materials. His first inquiry, 

 therefore, must be into the means by which 

 those effects are attained in nature, which he 

 is to produce ; and into those properties in the 

 objects of nature, which should determine him 

 in the choice and arrangement of them. 



Nature, always simple, employs but four ma- 

 terials in the composition of her scenes, ground, 

 wood, water, and rocks. The cultivation of na- 

 ture has introduced a fifth species, the buildings 

 requisite for the accommodation of men. Each 

 of these again admits of varieties in figure, di- 

 mensions, color, and situation. Bvery landscape 

 is composed of these parts only ; every beauty 

 in a landscape depends on the application of 

 their several varieties. 



OF GROUND. 



The prevailing character of a wood is gener- 

 ally grandeur ; the principal attention therefore 

 which it requires, is to prevent the excesses of 

 that character, to diversify the uniformity of its 

 extent, to lighten the unwieldiness of its bulk, 

 and to blend graces with greatness. But the 



