234 Notes 



after crossing several interesting small enclosures, with forest- 

 like borders, it enters and sweeps through the wood. Little 

 Fentums, No. 1 6, to join the old drive, or at least such parts 

 of it as can be made subservient to a more interesting line. 

 After crossing a valley and streamlet at No. 17, and another 

 at No. 18, it should ascend the hill of Piper's Wood, in which 

 there are at present no drives, and at No. 19, a branch may 

 lead on to the common, as a green way to London. The 

 drive, sweeping round to No. 20, opens on a view of the 

 village and valley of Fulmer, with a series of small ponds, 

 which, in this point of view, appear to be one large and beau- 

 tiful piece of water : this scene may be considered the most 

 pleasing subject for a picture during the whole course of the 

 drive. This would be a proper place for a covered seat, with 

 a shed behind it for horses or open carriages ; ' but it should 

 be set so far back as to command the view under the branches 

 of trees, which are very happily situated for the purpose at 

 No. 20. 



From hence the drive descends the hill, in one bold line. 

 No. 21, with a view towards the opposite wood across the 

 valley. Having again ascended the hill, in wood, there are 

 some parts of the present drive which might be made interest- 

 ing by various expedients. At No. 22, one side of the drive 

 might be opened to shew the opposite hanging wood in glades 

 along the course of the drive. At No. 23, a shorter branch 

 might be made to avoid the too great detour, though there is 

 a view into the valley of Fulmer, at No. 24, worthy to be pre- 

 served.^ In some parts the width of the drive might be varied 

 and some of the violent curvatures corrected ; in others, the 



' In long drives such attention to convenience is advisable ; a thatched hovel of 

 Doric proportions nmay not only be made an ornament to the scenery, but it will often 

 serve for a shelter from sudden storms in our uncertain climate ; for this reason it should 

 be large enough to contain several open carriages. 



^ I have distinguished, by italics, some peculiar circumstances of variety, from hav- 

 ing observed great sameness in the usual mode of conducting a drive through a belt of 

 young plantation, where trees of every species are mixed together. There is actually 

 more variety in passing from a grove of oaks to a grove of firs or a scene of brush- 

 wood than in passing through a wood composed of a hundred different species of trees 

 as they are usually mixed together. 



