DECEMBER. 649 



the location intended for a dwelling is obviously of the first 

 and highest importance. This subject embraces elevation, 

 character of surface, exposure, aspect, soil, subsoil, climate or 

 character of the weather, and a general capacity for improve- 

 ment. Near large towns, where the air is always more or 

 less charged with smoke, an elevated site will always have 

 the clearest atmosphere ; and it is generally allowed that, for 

 persons in health, the atmosphere should not only be free from 

 impurities, but also charged with less than the average 

 quantity of moisture. In valleys, and in low situations, there 

 is always a larger proportion of moisture in the atmosphere 

 than in high places which have a dry soil and subsoil. It is 

 thought, however, that a moist atmosphere is the most favor- 

 able to consumptive people ; but we would add that this is a 

 point which can be determined only by the experience of the 

 invalid, as it is well known that frequently of two consump- 

 tive members of the same family, one is better in a dry, bracing 

 atmosphere, while the other requires the very opposite cir- 

 cumstances of climate. The author qualifies his remarks by 

 hinting that low situations are often dry, and elevated situa- 

 tions often wet, on account of the character of the soil. A 

 loio situation near the sea, he continues, is almost always 

 healthy, whether exposed to an east or west wind ; because 

 the air in both cases does more good by its bracing properties 

 than by any excess of moisture. On the other hand, elevated 

 situations on surfaces covered with peat-bog, or with marshy, 

 wet, and springy soil, are generally unhealthy. Prospect is 

 one of the advantages coming from elevation ; and scarcely 

 any object that can be created within the boundary-wall of a 

 small spot can compensate for the want of a distant prospect 

 to a general admirer of landscape. On the contrary, no dis- 

 tant prospect, however beautiful it may be, can compensate a 

 lover of plants for the want of a good garden ; the beau ideal, 

 therefore, is to unite both. 



Irregular surfaces are attended by an irregular climate ; 

 yet we may add that irregular surfaces afford the best chances 

 of protection from the winds. For persons of weak lungs 

 our author does not recommend irregular surfaces. A level 



