TREATMENT OF WATER. 285 



supposed our proposed lake to be located in a valley that 

 must be filled to the brim, or in a tame flat when the water 

 would rise to the same level as the adjacent ground. In such 

 situations there could be but little room for the display of a 

 high degree of picturesque beauty. On the contrary, when 

 the surrounding ground in many places rises gradually, or is 

 naturally higher than the proposed level of the water, there 

 is room for all the variety of banks of various heights, form, 

 and outline, which so spring out of the neighbouring undu- 

 lations and eminences, and connect themselves with them, 

 as to appear perfectly natural and in proper keeping. 



In arranging these outlines and banks, we should study 

 the effect at the points from which they will generally be 

 viewed. Some pieces of water in valleys, are looked down 

 upon from other and higher parts of the demesne ; others, 

 (and this is most generally the case,) are only seen from the 

 adjoining walk, "at some point or points where the latter ap- 

 proaches the lake. They are most generally seen from one, 

 and seldom from more than two sides. When a lake is 

 viewed from above, its contour should be studied as a whole; 

 but when it is only seen from one or more sides or points, 

 the beauty of the coup d ^ceil from those positions can often 

 be greatly increased by some trifling alterations in arrange- 

 ment. A piece of water which is long and comparatively 

 narrow, appears extremely different in opposite points of 

 view ; if seen lengthwise from either extremity, its apparent 

 breadth and extent is much increased; while, if the spectator 

 be placed on one side and look across, it will seem narrow 

 and insignificant. Now, although the form of an artificial 

 lake of moderate size should never be much less in breadth 

 than in length, yet the contrary is sometimes unavoidably 

 the case ; and being so, we should by all means avail our- 



