674 Remarks on the Cooperation of 



posing him to be acquainted with landscape-gardening ; but, 

 if he be ignorant on this head, who would trust him alone in 

 such an affair ? The architect only concerns himself with the 

 site and aspect of the house, with, perhaps, an acre of ground 

 round it; while his co-laborator has to take an extensive view 

 not only of the details of the estate, but of every interesting 

 object of the surrounding country, whether near or far off. 

 The woods, roads, and rides ; the extent and boundaries of 

 the park ; in short, all internal dispositions, he must design 

 with reference to some natural and commanding spot, which, 

 in all likelihood, will be found to be the most eligible for the 

 house. Hence it appears that, when the site or aspect of the 

 house is not positively fixed by some local immovable cir- 

 cumstance, the landscape-gardener should be first consulted. 



I have been led into these desultory remarks by having 

 often seen glaring instances of want of concert and cooperation 

 between the architect and ground-workman ; on which their 

 abilities or taste (if they had any) were completely neutral- 

 ised, merely from omitting to take a comprehensive view of the 

 circumstances affecting the purpose they had in hand ; or, 

 perhaps, from inattention to those particular dispositions 

 which constitute the convenience, comfort, and pleasure of a 

 country residence. That such blunders cannot always be laid 

 at the door of the professional man must be admitted. Pro- 

 prietors have generally designs and a taste of their own ; and 

 oftener give orders than ask advice. In such cases, their 

 workmen are " more sinned against than sinning; " and all 

 the satisfaction the latter can have in the execution of what 

 they condemn, is only in receiving their fee, and denying 

 having had any hand in the work. Still, it is a pity that pro- 

 prietors do not avail themselves of good advice. Their own 

 ideas are often cramped by old arrangements ; such, for in- 

 stance, at existed in their fathers' time.* Being accustomed to 

 things as they are or have been, and with which they have 

 felt satisfied, they are, therefore, never led to consider the 

 possibility of these being made better. Often has it happened 

 that an old stable or laundry, standing in the wrong place, has 

 caused the derangement of a magnificent house, erected at the 

 cost of many thousand pounds, and in a well-wooded park, 

 of finely varied surface, many of the most interesting glades 

 of which are shut out of view from the principal windows, by 

 the interposing offices attached to the wrong side of the man- 

 sion. In such cases, it is not only that the best views are lost 

 to the best apartments, the quiet and seclusion of the latter 

 are obtruded on as well by the butcher's and every other cart, 

 as by " the coach and six." Want of a desirable aspect may 



