96 



be broken and diversified like a similar ex- 

 tent of lawn-; though by no means in the 

 same degree : for the delight which we re- 

 ceive from the element itself, compensates a 

 gi'eat deal of monotony. Islands, when va- 

 ried in their shape and accompaniments, 

 have the same effect as forest thickets ; cir- 

 cular islands, that of clumps : and the same 

 system which gave rise to round distinct 

 clumps, of course produced islands equally 

 round and unconnected. As the prevailing 

 idea has been to shew a great uninterrupted 

 extent, whether of grass or of water, islands 

 on that account have been but little in- 

 fashion : I have seldom^ indeed, seen more 

 than one in any piece of artificial water, and 

 that, apparent!}', made rather for the sake 

 of water-fowl, than for ornament. When 

 one of lliese circular islands is too near the 

 shore, the canal which separates them is 

 mean, and the island from most points ap^ 

 pears like a projection from the ihore itself; 

 and when, on the other hand, it is nearly in 

 the centre, (a position of which I have seen 

 sonic very ridiculous instances,) it has much 



