379 



P. ]5b. 1. 20. The abbf* de Lille, who has, very pointedly 

 ridicuied the little fountain and the statues iu a 

 citizen's garden, and all such attempts to be mag- 

 niticent in miniature, has done justice to the real 

 magnificence and splendour of those on a large 

 scale, and has celebrated them iu verses well suited 

 to the effects he has described. Mr. Mason, on 

 the other hand, ha- altogether condemned upright 

 foiuitaios vrith iheir decorations, and the principle 

 on wiiich thev are made. He had cerlainlv a good 

 right to object to them in the Eniilish garden, of 

 which he has made Siraplicitv the arbitr?ss ; but 

 to condemn them absolutely and universally, sa- 

 vours more of national prejudice, than of genuine 

 comprehensive taste. .As 1 feel something of a 

 national pride, 1 am sorry to give a decided prefe- 

 rence to the French poet iu point of justness and li- 

 berality ; but I have often thought that Mr. Ma- 

 son s passion for the two words, Simp'.icity and Li- 

 berty, has in this, and in other instances, betrayed 

 him into opinions and sentiments of a very con- 

 tracted Liud. Upon this occasion he savs, 



" Thy poet Albion scorns, 



*' E'en for a cold unconscious element 

 '*■ Tq forge tbcfetters he would scorn to wear." 

 It is diS5cult to say, whether Simplicity, or Liber- 

 ty, vrouid have most reason to be disgusted with 

 so puerile a conceit. 



P. 159- 1. 17. The sauje aversion to syrometrTr- shew- 

 ed itself Dearly, at Uie same period, in other 

 arts as well as in gardening : fugues and imi- 



