TREATMENT OP WATER. 277 



overhanging sky, give it an almost magical effect in a beau- 

 tiful landscape. The murmnr of the babbling brook, that 



" In linked sweetness long drawn out," 



falls npon the ear in some quiet secluded spot, is inexpressiblv 

 soothing and delightful to the mind ; and the distant sound of 

 a cascade that tumbles, with an almost musical dash, over its 

 bed of moss-covered rock, is one of the most attractive and 

 pleasing that we can hear, in the course of our walk of inspec- 

 tion over the grounds of a country seat. The simplest or the 

 most monotonous view may be enlivened by the presence of 

 water in any considerable quantity, and the most picturesque 

 and fascinating landscape, will by its addition, receive a new 

 charm inexpressibly enhancing all its former interest. In 

 short, as no place can be considered perfectly complete without 

 either a water view, or water upon its own grounds, wherever 

 it does not so exist, and can be easily formed by artificial 

 means, no man will neglect to take advantage of so fine a 

 source of embellishment as is this element in some of its va- 

 ried forms. 



" ■ Fleuves, ruasseiux, beaux lacs, claires fontaines. 



Venez, poitez partout la vie ct la fratcheur ; 



Ah ! qui peut remplacer votre aspect enchanteur ? 



De pies il nous amuse, et de loin nous invite : 



C'est le premier qu'on cherche, ct le dernier qu'on quitte. 



Vous fecondes les champs ; vous repetez les cieux, 



Vous enchantez I'oreille, et vous charmez les yeux.'' 



In this country, where the progress of gardening and im- 

 provements of this nature, is rather shown in a simple and 

 moderate embellishment of a large number of villas and coun- 

 try seats, than by a lavish and profuse expenditure on a few en- 

 tailed places, as in the residences of the English nobility, the 

 formation of large pieces of water at great cost, and extreme 



