PREFACE. IX 



practical discussion in that Letter, it might 

 be said, even by those who are most partial 

 to my ideas on the subject, " it is true 

 " that you have shewn the tameness and 

 " monotony of Mr. Brown's made-water 

 " and regularly sloped banks, and the su- 

 " perior beauty and variety of those in 

 " natural lakes and rivers; but by what 

 "■ means can these last be imitated ? how 

 " can those numberless varieties, which 

 " often owe their charms to a certain art- 

 " less and negligent appearance, be pro- 

 " duced by the dull mechanical operations 

 " of common labourers? If you would 

 " have us quit the present style, shew us 

 " some method of practical improvement 

 " which may be acted upon." This is 

 what I have attempted in the first of these 

 three Essays ; and the detail, which, from 

 the novelty of the plan, I have been obliged 

 to enter into, nmst be my excuse for its 



