Notes 237 



banks of the river which flows through the grounds and falls 

 into the Frith of Forth at a short distance from the house, an 

 approach has been made, which, for variety, interest, and pic- 

 turesque scenery, may vie with anything of the kind in Eng- 

 land ; while it remains a specimen of the powers of landscape 

 gardening in that part of Scotland where the art had been 

 introduced only by those imitators of Mr. Brown's manner 

 who had travelled into the north. His own improvements 

 were confined to England. 



^9 Earl Harcourt, although possessing great good taste^ 

 gives the whole merit of this garden to Mason the poet, as he 

 does of his pleasure-grounds to Brown. Thus, superior to 

 that narrow jealousy which would deny the just tribute of 

 praise to the professor, his lordship is satisfied with having 

 been the liberal friend and patron of merit. 



3° Mr. Knight has endeavoured to ridicule all display of ex- 

 tent of property, which I consider one of the leading principles 

 of the art. I contend that it is impossible to annex the same 

 degree of importance to a modern house, however large, by the 

 side of a highroad, that may be justly given to one surrounded 

 by an extensive park. To this principle of improvement I have 

 given the name of " appropriation." 



3' Mr. Price builds a theory of improvement on the study 

 of the best pictures, without considering how little affinity 

 there is betwixt the confined landscape exhibited on canvas 

 and the extensive range which the eye at once comprehends ; 

 and argues that the best works of the painter should be models 

 for the improver. 



3^ One great error in Mr. Brown's followers has been the un- 

 necessary extent of parks. It is my opinion that, provided the 

 boundary can be properly disguised, the largest parks need not 

 exceed two or three hundred acres, else they are apt to become 

 farms within a pale, or they are forests rather than parks. 



32 Since I began these remarks on Attingham, Mr. Price 

 has published a second volume of Essays on the Picturesque^ 

 the whole of which is founded on his enthusiasm for pictures ; 

 and he very justly observes (page 269), " Enthusiasm always 



