12 ' Public Parks. 



from their numerous sculpturesque ornaments, interspersed with 

 fountains and jets d' eati, than for the beauty or rarity of their 

 vegetation, or from their arrangement."* 



The name Park is derived from the French parg?ie, pare, 

 {i. e., a loe2cs inclusus,) formerly a large quantity of ground inclosed 

 and privileged for the keeping of beasts of the chase, particularly the 

 deer, by the King's grant or prescription. These grants were made 

 by the kings of England to the nobles ; and as the country became 

 populated, these parks were selected as residences, and in the course 

 of time were considered as luxurious appendages to the dwellings of 

 the I'ich. 



The word park has different significations, but that in which 

 we are now interested has grown out of its application, centuries 

 ago, simply to hunting grounds ; the choicest lands for such pur- 

 poses being those in which the beasts of the chase thrived best, and 

 consequently were most abundant. Sites were chosen, in which it 

 was easy for them to turn from rich herbage to clear water, from 

 warm sunlight to cool shade ; that is to say, by preference, ranges of 

 well-watered dale-land, broken by open groves, and dotted with 

 spreading trees, undulating in surface, but not rugged. In some 

 parts of Britain the word park is still employed in its original sense — 

 to denote a field or enclosure ; but more generally applied to the 

 enclosed grounds around a mansion, designated in Scotland by 

 another term of French origin — policy. The park, in this sense, not 

 only includes the lawn, but all that is devoted to the growth of 

 timber, pasturage for deer, sheep, etc., in connection with the 

 mansion, and to pleasure walks or drives, or to purposes of enjoy- 

 ment, in contradistinction to those of economical use. Gay parties 

 of pleasure occasionally met in these parks, and when these meetings 

 occurred, the enjoyment otherwise obtained in them was found to be 

 increased. Hence, instead of mere hunting-lodges and hovels for 

 game-keepers, extensive buildings and accommodations, devoted 

 frequently to festive purposes, were, after a time, provided within the 

 enclosures. Then it was found that people took pleasure in them 

 without regard to the attractions of the chase, or of conversation ; 

 and this pleasure was perceived to be, in some degree, related to the 

 scenery, and in some degree to the peculiar manner of appreciation 

 which occurred in them ; and this was also found to be independent 

 of intellectual gifts, tranquilizing and restorative to the powers most 

 tasked in ordinary social duties, and stimulating only in a healthy 



♦Downing: " Landscafie Gardening;." 



