houses of the Italian style, a number of de- 

 florations of various characters. These, if 

 not new in themselves, have at least been 

 applied and combined by him in a new and 

 peculiar manner; and the union of them 

 gives a surprising splendour and magnifi- 

 cence, as well as variety, to the summit of 

 that princely edifice. There is a point on 

 the opposite side of the lake, whence it is 

 seen ii^ full glory, and with its happiest ac- 

 companiments. The house, the lake, and 

 tiie rich bank of the garden, may be so 

 gi'ouped with some of the trees that stand 

 near the >vater and hang over it, and so 

 framed amidst their stems and branches, as 

 to exclude all but the choicest objects; and 

 whoever catches that view to^\aids the close 

 of the evening, when the sun strikes on the 

 golden balls and pours his beams through 

 the open parts, gilding every rich and bril- 

 liant ornament, will think he sees some en- 

 chanted palace. But let those decorations 

 be changed for the summit of any of the 

 most celebrated houses built since the time 

 of Vanbrugh, such as Fonthill, or Kcddle- 



