Chapter IV 



Water 



THERE being no part of my profession so cap- 

 tivating in its effect, and oftentimes so readily 

 executed, as making a large piece of artificial water, it 

 may be proper, in this volume, to give a few specimens 

 of different improvements presumed to have been 

 produced by it: though, if all that I have written to 

 explain and elucidate this subject were to be inserted, 

 the whole of the volume would be engrossed by it. I 

 must, therefore, for the present, only mention a few 

 places where artificial pieces of water have been orna- 

 mented under my directions : ^ viz. at Holkham, the 

 magnificent lake has been dressed by walks on its 

 banks, and a peculiar ferryboat invented to unite the 

 opposite shores. 



Welbeck. From the number of small promontories 

 and bays, together with its termination full in view of 

 the house, the water at Welbeck had acquired the char- 

 acter, and indeed the name, of a lake : but as a large 

 river is always more beautiful than a small lake, the 

 character has been changed, not only by continuing it 

 beyond the house, but also by altering its line, and 

 taking off those projections which were inconsistent 

 with the course of a natural river. 



Tatton Park. It has often been asserted by authors 

 on gardening that all pieces of fresh water must come 

 under one of these descriptions, — a lake^ 2ipooly a river, 

 or a rivulet : but since my acquaintance with Cheshire, 



