MARCH. 119 



the same causes, no two groups are exactly alike. But 

 clumps, consisting of trees of about the same age and growth, 

 planted nearly at the same distance in a circular form, each 

 tree being equally pressed by its neighbor, are as like each 

 other as so many puddings turned out of tlie same mould. 



The next leading feature to the clump in this circular 

 system, rivalling it. in the power of creating deformity, is the 

 belt. Its sphere, however, is more contracted. Clumps, 

 like beacons on the summits of hills, alarm the picturesque 

 traveller many miles off, and warn him of his approach to 

 the enemy : the belt lies more in ambuscade, and the wretch 

 who falls into it, and is obliged to walk the whole round in 

 company with the improver, will allow that a &nake, with its 

 tail in its mouth, is comparatively but a faint emblem of 

 eternity. It has all the sameness and formality of the avenue 

 to which it has succeeded, without any of its simple gran- 

 deur. The avenue has a most striking effect, for the reason 

 that it is straight : no other figure can give that image of a 

 grand Gothic aisle, with its natural columns and vaulted 

 roof, whose general mass fills the eye, while the particular 

 parts insensibly steal from it in a long gradation of perspec- 

 tive. The broad solemn shade adds a twilight calm to the 

 whole, and makes it, above all other places, most suited to 

 meditation. To that also its straightness contributes ; for when 

 the mind is disposed to turn inwardly on itself, any serpen- 

 tine line would distract the attention. 



Our author equally condemns the general grouping and 

 arrangement of trees according to the new style of improve- 

 ments. One great cause of the superior variety and richness 

 of unimproved parks and forests, when compared with lawns 

 and dressed ground, is, that the trees and groups are seldom 

 totally alone and unconnected : of this and of all that is 

 most attractive in natural scenery, the two great sources are 

 accident and neglect. In forests and old parks, the rough 

 bushes nurse up the young trees, and grow up with them ; 

 and thence arises that infinite variety of openings, of inlets, 

 of glades and forms of trees. The effect of all these might 

 be preserv^ed and rendered more beautiful, by a judicious 



