the Approach 'Road to a small Villa. 57 



stance of the house being placed in a lower position than the 

 entrance gate, and, of course, the approach road descending to it. 

 There is always something derogatory from dignity, in the im- 

 pression conveyed to the mind by having to descend to a house; 

 and the more abrupt the descent is, the stronger will be the im- 

 pression. 



By lengthening the road over the declivity, the degree of slope 

 is diminished, and the actual descent rendered less obvious. 

 The same object, of concealing the undignified position of the 

 house, is aided by the bends in the line of direction of the road ; 

 because by these bends, and by the trees to be planted, the eye will 

 be prevented from seeing the house till exactly on a level with it. 

 In the execution of the approach road, one uniform slope must 

 be formed from the entrance gate to the point «, near the front 

 of the house. As the difference of level between these two 

 points is 6 ft., and the length of road 360 ft., the slope will be at 

 the rate of y'^g of an inch to a yard, or 1 ft. in 60 ft. 



The house will scarcely be seen till the spectator is directly in 

 front of it ; and the reasons for this are, that he may not see it 

 from a higher level than that on which it stands ; and that, as, 

 from the confined situation in which it is placed, there is no pos- 

 sibility of pi'ocuring an angular view of the house from any point 

 on the approach side, the want of this angular or perspective 

 view may not be felt. Even on the supposition that the surface 

 of the ground, from the entrance lodge to the portico of the man- 

 sion, were a perfect level, we do not conceive that, in a place of 

 this limited extent, and where the house, as an object, has no- 

 thing to recommend it but its front elevation, it would be 

 desirable to show a view of it sooner. As we propose it to be 

 seen, the objections of a descending approach to it, of there being 

 no angular view, and of the space to the right and left of the 

 entrance front being extremely confined, will be in a great mea- 

 sure done away with. 



The names of the trees which it is proposed to plant are in- 

 dicated by the list on the plan ; their positions are such as to 

 conceal the house from the approach road till it is seen from the 

 point h ; and to conceal the boundary, and increase the apparent 

 extent of the surface, not only from the approach road, but from 

 every other point of view. 



It is particularly to be observed, that no thick plantations, 

 clumps, or belts of trees, or shrubs on dug surfaces, are proposed 

 to be planted, for the following reasons : — First, because closely 

 planted clumps or belts always convey the idea of there being 

 something to conceal ; or, in the case of belts, of there being a 

 boundary fence behind them ; besides which, they are heavy and 

 lumpish features in themselves. The object of concealment can 

 be equally well effected by scattered trees and shrubs, placed so 



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