87 



It is now about threescore years since Walpole wrote, and 

 it is remarkable how well his anticipations have been verified. 

 While the French, in general, have little cultivated landscape 

 gardening, a real taste for it has by degrees extended itself 

 all over Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the northern parts 

 of Europe. From this observation respecting France, I ex- 

 cept, of course, a few places in the neighbourhood of Paris, 

 which have been laid out in a superior way, in imitation of 

 the English style, such as Arnouville, Courances, Mar^eau. 

 and, above all, Ermenonville, the pride of French garden- 

 ing.* The rest are such examples, as Frenchmen might be 

 expected to produce, of an art, which in its character is essen- 

 tially and radically English. 



The remarks of Walpole may, in a great measure, be 

 applied to the art of giving Immediate Effect to Wood, as 

 being one of the most important accessories to that of creating 

 or improving real landscape. Since the time of Lewis XIV., 

 there is no reason to think, transplanting has made great 

 advances in France. The magnificent and expensive scale 

 on which the efforts of that prince were conducted, rather 

 discouraged than invited imitation or competition. The 

 French nobility and gentry, in former times, never resided 

 much on their estates ; and the Revolution, which has 

 changed many other things, has made httle alteration on 

 their taste for rural pleasures. What a man has not frequently 

 under his eye, he feels little desire to improve or embellish. 

 The freedom and freshness of natural scenery can have 

 few charms for him, who is taught to consider Paris as the 

 undoubted centre of all earthly enjoyment; and another 

 century might pass away, ere a true-born Frenchman could 

 either acquire or comprehend this species of British pre- 

 dilection. The art, therefore, of giving Immediate Effect to 

 Wood, like that of creating real landscape; is now regarded; 



* Hirschfdd, Tlieoric dcr Garteukuiitl, Baud V. p. 238— 2C7, &c. 



