Chapter I 



'Different Characters and Situations 



ALL rational improvement of grounds is, necessar- 

 ily, founded on a due attention to the character 

 and situation of the place to be improved : the former 

 teaches what is advisable, the latter what is possible, 

 to be done ; while the extent of the premises has less 

 influence than is generally imagined ; as, however large 

 or small it may be, one of the fundamental principles 

 of landscape gardening is to disguise the real boundary. 



In deciding on the character of any place, some at- 

 tention must be given to its situation with respect to 

 other places ; to the natural shape of the ground on 

 which the house is or may be built ; to the size and 

 style of the house, and even to the rank of its possessor ; 

 together with the use which he intends to make of it, 

 whether as a mansion or constant residence, a sporting- 

 seat, or a villa ; which particular objects require distinct 

 and opposite treatment. To give some idea of the vari- 

 ety that abounds in the characters and situations of 

 different places, it will be proper to insert a few speci- 

 mens from different subjects : I shall begin this work, 

 therefore, by a remarkable instance of situation, only 

 two miles distant from the capital. 



Brandsbury " is situated on a broad swelling hill, the 

 ground gently falling from the house (which looks on 

 rich distances) in almost every direction. Except a very 

 narrow slip of plantation to the north, two large elms 

 near the house, and a few in hedge-rows at a distance. 



