372 JVbfes made during a Visit to 



evidence of the progress of a superior taste for arcliitectural 

 fitness and expression: two things not often taken into con- 

 sideration in selecting a situation, or of adapting the house to 

 the pecuHar features of the surrounding country, and it is 

 upon the borders of such a magnificent stream, and amid the 

 picturesque spots and sylvan scenes which enrich its banks, 

 that an ordinary building betrays its want of harmony and ex- 

 pression. So obvious are its defects, that it at once suggests 

 to the man of taste the necessity of improvement in substitut- 

 ing architectural proportions. Hence we see, that many of 

 tlie well wooded and picturesque places which have been se- 

 lected for country residences, have lost none of their beauty 

 when a villa of proj)er fitness and expression has been added, 

 but, on the contrary, the view has been adorned to a great de- 

 gree. It is necessary that every individual who would im- 

 prove upon the prevailing taste for building, should have some 

 moral courage, to carry out his views; for it is often that those 

 who commence properly, destroy the whole effect, by giving 

 way to the opinions of those who have neither taste nor good 

 judgment to substantiate their ideas. We have been led into 

 this train of thought by having in our eye not only the highly 

 finished Tudor villa of our correspondent, Mr. Downing, but 

 the residences of other gentlemen, of which we took some 

 note during our tour, and to which we shall, at a future time, 

 have occasion to invite the attention of our readers. 



JsTursery ofJMr. C Doicning. — About a mile from the centre 

 of the village of Newburgh is situated the grounds of Mr. 

 Downing. They are about thirteen acres in extent, forming 

 nearly a square. The house stands nearly in the centre, about 

 a quarter of a mile from the river, and from whence magnifi- 

 cent and extended views are obtained, particularly down the 

 river, with West Point in the distance. The house is built 

 in the Grecian style, after Mr. Downing's own plan, and it is a 

 neat and convenient residence. 



It is only, we believe, four or five years since ^Ir. Down- 

 ing commenced operations upon the present place: he former- 

 ly resided at the nursery now occupied by his brother, till 

 their extensive business rendered it necessary to provide a 

 larger sj)Ot of ground to supply their trade. Though resid- 

 ing separate from his brother, he is occupied exclusively in 

 growing trees for him, through whom all orders are trans- 

 mitted. 



