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splendour of ornament should give spirit 

 and variety, to the unifomi, though gi'and 

 and touching character of simphcity. 



Where architecture, even of the simplest 

 kind, is employed in the dwellings of man, 

 art must be manifest ; and all artificial ob- 

 jects may certainly admit, and in many in- 

 stances require the accompaniments of art; 

 for to go at once from art to simple un- 

 adorned nature, is too sudden a transition, 

 and wants that sort of gradation and con- 

 gruity, which, except in particular- cases, 

 is so necessary in all that is to please the 

 eye and the mind. Many ye^rs are elapsed 

 since I was in Italy, but the impression 

 which the gardens of some of the villas near 

 Rome made upon me, is by no means ef- 

 faced ; though I could have washed to have 

 renewed it, before I entered upon this sub- 

 ject. I remember the rich and magnificent 

 effects of balustrades, fountains, marble ba- 

 sons, and statues, blocks of ancient ruins, 

 with remains of sculpture, the whole mixed 

 with pines and cypresses. I remember also 

 their effect, both as an accompaniment to 



