Cbomas TJdbatetg 213 



nade on the side of ten lofty pillars retires in 

 perspective. It is seen from every part, and 

 impressing its own character of dignity on all 

 around, it spreads an awe over the whole, but 

 no gloom, no melancholy attends it. The sensa- 

 tions it excites are rather placid, but full of 

 respect, admiration, and solemnity ; no water 

 appears to enliven, no distant prospect to enrich, 

 the view. The parts of the scene are larger, the 

 idea of it sublime, and the execution happy ; 

 it is independent of all adventitious circum- 

 stances, and relies on itself for its greatness. 



The scenes which have been described are 

 such as are most remarkable for beauty or 

 character, but the gardens contain many more ; 

 and even the objects in these, by their several 

 combinations, produce very different effects, 

 within the distance sometimes of a few paces, 

 from the unevenness of the ground, the variety 

 of the plantations, and the number of the build- 

 ings. The multiplicity of the last has indeed 

 been often urged as an objection to Stowe ; and 

 certainly when all are seen by a stranger in two 

 or three hours, twenty or thirty capital struc- 

 tures, mixed with others of inferior note, do 

 seem too many ; but the growth of the wood 

 every day weakens the objection, by concealing 

 them one from the other. Bach belongs to a 

 distinct scene ; and if they are considered sep- 



