14 The Art of Landscape Gardening 



incongruity in blending these attributes, provided the 

 natural situation continues to prevail; for this reason, 

 no violation will be offered to the genius of Tatton 

 Park, if we add to its splendour the amenity of inter- 

 esting objects, and give to its vastness the elegance of 

 comfort. 



It is not from the situation only that the character 

 of Tatton derives its greatness. The command of ad- 

 joining property, the style and magnitude of the man- 

 sion and all its appendages contribute to confer that 

 degree of importance which ought here to be the leading 

 object in every plan of improvement. Vastness of ex- 

 tent will no more constitute greatness of character in 

 a park than a vast pile of differently coloured building 

 will constitute greatness of character in a house. A 

 park, from its vast extent, may perhaps surprise, but 

 it will not impress us with the character of greatness 

 and importance unless we are led to those parts where 

 beauty is shewn to exist, with all its interest, amidst 

 the boundless range of undivided property. 



Wembly. In the vicinity of the metropolis there are 

 few places so free from interruption as the grounds 

 at Wembly ; and, indeed, in the course of my experi- 

 ence, I have seen no spot within so short a distance 

 of London more perfectly secluded from those inter- 

 ferences which are the common effects of divided pro- 

 perty and a populous neighbourhood. Wembly is as 

 quiet and retired at seven miles' distance as it could 

 have been at seventy. 



The fatal experience of some, who begin improvements 

 by building a house too sumptuous for the grounds, 

 has occasionally induced others to consider the grounds 

 independent of the house; but this, I conceive, will 

 unavoidably lead to error. It is not necessary that the 



