152 Xanbscape Hrcbitecture 



an excess of deviation from a straight towards a 

 circular line shortens the view, weakens the idea of 

 continuation, and though not chargeable with stiff- 

 ness, yet approaches to regularity; whereas the line 

 of beauty keeps at a distance from every figure which 

 a rule can determine or a compass describe. 



"A considerable degree of roundness is, however, 

 often becoming, where the stream changes its direc- 

 tion, and if the turn be effected by a sharp point of 

 land on one side, there is the more occasion for cir- 

 cuity on the other. The river should also be widened 

 under that other bank; for it is the nature of water 

 thus driven out of its course to dash and encroach 

 upon the opposite shore; where this circumstance 

 has been attended to, the bend appears natural; and 

 the view ending in space gives scope to the imagina- 

 tion: the turn therefore ought generally to be larger 

 than a right angle ; if it be less, it closes immediately, 

 and checks the idea of progress. 



"Water is so universally and so deservedly ad- 

 mitted in a prospect, that the most obvious thought 

 in the management of it is to lay it as open as 

 possible, and purposely to conceal it would generally 

 seem a severe self-denial: yet so many beauties may 

 attend its passage through a wood, that larger por- 

 tions of it might be allowed to such retired scenes, 

 that are commonly spared from the view, and the 

 different parts in different styles would then be fine 

 contrasts to each other. If the water at Wotton 

 (the seat of Mr. Greville, in the vale of Aylesbury 



