TREATMENT OF GROUND. FORMATION OF WALKS. 263 



or the long undulations exhibit the outlines of Hogarth's fa- 

 vourite line of grace. 



In places of large extent there may be scenes in different 

 portions of the park, of totally different character; one simply 

 beautiful, abounding with graceful and flowing lines, and 

 another highly picturesque, and full of spirited breaks and 

 variations ; such often form very pleasing and striking con- 

 trasts to each other, and should therefore, by all means, be 

 preserved : but they should also be rendered distinct by their 

 own surrounding plantations, else much of iheir effect as a 

 whole, when separately considered, will be lost upon the spec- 

 tator. For it should be remembered the mind is incapable 

 of appreciating or doing justice to two distinct and dissimilar 

 expressions at the same time. Whatever be the scene to be 

 improved, therefore, it should be taken by itself and considered 

 as a whole, if the eye command that scene alone. Then the 

 improver can proceed on the principle that every piece of 

 ground is distinguished by certain properties : it is either 

 tame or bold, graceful or rude, continued or broken ; and if any 

 variety inconsistent with these expressions be obtruded, it 

 has no other effect than to weaken one idea iDithont raising 

 another. " The insipidity of a fiat is not taken away by a 

 few scattered hillocks; a continuation of uneven ground can 

 alone give the idea of irregularity. A large, deep, abrupt 

 break, among easy swells and falls, seems at best but a piece 

 left unfinished, and which ought to have been softened ; it is 

 not more natural because it is more rude. On the other hand, 

 a fine small polislied form, in the midst of rough, mis-shapen 

 ground, though more elegant than all about it, is generally 

 no better than a patch, itself disgraced and disfiguring the 

 scene. A thousand instances miofht be added to show that 

 the prevailing idea ought to pervade every part, so far at least 



