268 tTbe (Barfcen 



all Kent's works, was not planned on the model 

 of Mr. Pope's, at least in the opening and re- 

 tiring shades of Venus' vale. The whole is as 

 elegant and antique as if the Emperor Julian 

 had selected the most pleasing solitude about 

 Daphne to enjoy a philosophic retirement. 



That Kent's ideas were but rarely great was 

 in some measure owing to the novelty of his art. 

 It would have been difficult to have transported 

 the style of gardening at once from a few acres 

 to tumbling of forests ; and though new fash- 

 ions, like new religions (which are new fash- 

 ions), often lead men to the most opposite ex- 

 cesses, it could not be the case in gardening, 

 where the experiments would have been so ex- 

 pensive. Yet it is true, that the features 

 in Kent's landscapes were seldom majestic. 

 His clumps were puny, he aimed at immedi- 

 ate effect, and planted not for futurity. One 

 sees no large woods sketched out by his direc- 

 tion. Nor are we yet entirely risen above a too 

 great frequency of small clumps, especially in 

 the elbows of serpentine rivers. How common 

 to see three or four beeches, then as many 

 larches, a third knot of cypresses, and a revo- 

 lution of all three ! Kent's last designs were in 

 a higher style, as his ideas opened on success. 

 The north terrace at Claremont was much supe- 

 rior to the rest of the garden. 



