PARKS AND GARDENS. 97 



was affected, ( 134 ) and the people were excited to revolt. 

 u What is it," says an ancient Chinese writer, Lieu-tscheu, 

 that we seek in the pleasures of a garden ? It has always 

 been agreed that these plantations should make men amends 

 for living at a distance from what would be their more con- 

 genial and agreeable dwelling-place, in the midst of nature, 

 free, and unconstrained. The art of laying out gardens 

 consists, therefore, in combining cheerfulness of prospect, 

 luxuriance of growth, shade, retirement, and repose, so 

 that the rural aspect may produce an illusion. Variety, 

 which is a chief merit in the natural landscape, must be 

 sought by the choice of ground with alternation of hill and 

 dale, flowing streams, and lakes covered with aquatic plants. 

 Symmetry is wearisome \ and a garden where every thing be- 

 trays constraint and art becomes tedious and distasteful." ( 135 ) 

 A description which Sir George Staunton has given us of 

 the great imperial garden of Zhe-hol, ( 136 ) north of the 

 Chinese wall, corresponds with these precepts of Lieu-tscheu 

 precepts to which our ingenious contemporary, who formed 

 the beautiful park of Moscow, ( 137 ) would not refuse his 

 approbation. 



The great descriptive poem, composed in the middle of 

 the last century by the Emperor Kien-long to celebrate the 

 former Mantchou imperial residence, Moukden, and the 

 graves of his ancestors, is also expressive of the most 

 thorough love of nature sparingly embellished by art. The 

 royal poet knows how to blend the cheerful images of 

 fresh and rich meadows, wood-crowned hills, and peaceful 

 dwellings of men, all described in a very graphic man- 

 ner, with the graver image of the tombs of his fore- 

 fathers. The offerings which he brings to his deceased 



