Chapter I 



Introduction — General Principles — Utility 

 Scale — Examples of Comparative Proportion 

 Use of Perspective 



THE theory and practice of landscape gardening 

 have seldom fallen under the consideration of the 

 same author ; because those who have delivered their 

 opinions in writing on this art have had little practical 

 experience, and few of its professors have been able to 

 deduce their rules from theoretical principles. To such 

 persons indeed had its practice been committed that 

 it required no common degree of fortitude and perse- 

 verance to elevate the art of landscape gardening to its 

 proper rank and amongst those which distinguish the 

 pleasures of civilised society from the pursuits of savage 

 and barbarous" nations. 



Not deterred by the sneer of ignorance., the contra- 

 diction of obstinacy, the nonsense of vanity, or the 

 prevalence of false taste, I made the attempt; and with 

 the counsels and advice of men of science, and the 

 countenance of some of the first characters in the 

 kingdom, a very large portion of its scenery has been 

 committed to my care for improvement. Hence it 

 might be expected that, with some degree of confidence, 

 I now should deliver the result of my observations ; 

 yet, from the difficulties continually increasing with my 

 knowledge of the subject, I submit this work to the 

 public with far more diffidence than I did my former 



