Gbomas Wbatelg 179 



The force of them is most strongly illustrated 

 at Claremont * ; where the walk to the cottage, 

 though destitute of many natural advantages, 

 and eminent for none ; though it commands no 

 prospect ; though the water below it is a trifling 

 pond ; though it has nothing, in short, but in- 

 equality of ground to recommend it, is yet the 

 finest part of the garden. For a grove is there 

 planted, in a gently curved direction, all along 

 the side of a hill, and on the edge of a wood, 

 which rises above it. Large recesses break it 

 into several clumps, which hang down the de- 

 clivity ; some of them approaching, but none 

 reaching quite to, the bottom. These recesses 

 are so deep as to form great openings in the 

 midst of the grove ; they penetrate almost to 

 the covert ; but the clumps being all equally 

 suspended from the wood, and a line of open 

 plantation, though sometimes narrow, running 

 constantly along the top, a continuation of grove 

 is preserved, and the connection between the 

 parts is never broken. Bven a group, which near 

 one of the extremities stands out quite detached, 

 is still in style so familiar to the rest as not to lose 

 all relation. Bach of these clumps is composed 

 of several others still more intimately united : 

 each is full of groups, sometimes of no more 

 * Near E)sher in Surrey. 



