Gbomas 



any style which the nature of the place will al- 

 low ; a number of them is expected, all different, 

 sometimes contrasted, and each distinguished 

 by its beauty. If the space be divided into lit- 

 tle slips, and made only a collection of walks, 

 it forfeits all its advantages, loses its character, 

 and can have no other excellence than such as 

 it may derive from situation j whereas by a more 

 liberal disposition it may be made independent 

 of whatever is external ; and though prospects 

 are nowhere more delightful than from a point 

 of view which is also a beautiful spot, yet if in 

 such a garden they should be wanting, the ele- 

 gant, picturesque, and various scenes within 

 itself almost supply the deficiency. 



THE GARDENS AT STOWE. 



This is the character of the gardens at Stowe ; 

 for there the views into the country are only 

 circumstances subordinate to the scenes, and 

 the principal advantage of the situation is the 

 variety of the ground within the enclosure. 

 The house stands on the brow of a gentle 

 ascent ; parts of the gardens lie on the declivity, 

 and spread over the bottom beyond it ; this emi- 

 nence is separated by a broad winding valley 

 from another which is higher and steeper ; and 

 the descents of both are broken by large dips 

 and hollows, sloping down the sides of the hills. 



