1 6 Sketch of a Visit to Allanton^ 



sights. With regard to the disposition of the trees, which (with 

 the exception of here and there a holly) are all deciduous, and 

 indiscriminately mixed, they have evidently been planted thick 

 at first, to produce immediate effect; which, from the nature of 

 the place, must have been a desideratum : they are, conse- 

 quently, now so much crowded, owing to the rapid progress 

 they have made, as, in some places, almost to obliterate the 

 original design. This, however, may easily be remedied, if 

 taken in time ; that is, before the trees are drawn up and 

 spoiled. 



After passing the west lodge gate, and following the ap- 

 proach towards the house, a degree of littleness is conveyed to 

 the mind, in consequence of the extreme narrowness of the road, 

 which is only 8 ft. wide ; and, indeed, this is so striking, that it 

 at first looks like a drive through a plantation ; which idea is 

 more confirmed by the closeness of the planting. On proceed- 

 ing a short distance, however, open spaces present themselves, 

 which gradually widen, till there are scattered groups of trees 

 visible in the open park, which is intersected by a long sheet of 

 water, having the appearance of a lake, narrowing into a river. 

 Near the head of the former, there is a neat stone bridge, of 

 three arches, leading to the house. The water is on two levels ; 

 that nearest the house being the higher. The fall, however 

 (which is under the bridge), is fortunately rendered invisible 

 from the approach, by a small mass of trees. Above the bridge, 

 the water narrows, and indicates the character of a river, which 

 has not been quite satisfactorily accomplished ; because, although 

 the channel makes a long bend in reality to the left, it does not 

 appear to do so from the bridge, but seems to terminate not only 

 too abruptly, but at too short a distance above the bridge itself; 

 and, as first impressions are generally of importance, it would be 

 better to prevent the query of " Why should there be a bridge 

 at all, if the Jiead of the water could so readily be circumambu- 

 lated, without any apparent impediment ?" Now, had a visible 

 portion of water, however small, recalled the continuation of the 

 river, the artificial character of the feature in question would 

 not have been betrayed. On looking down the lake from the 

 bridge, the general outline, though agreeable, might be im- 

 proved; as the lines of opposite shores repeat each other too 

 frequently, instead of having one or two bold points, with deep 

 indentations. The smooth turf, also, bounds the water's edge 

 with monotony ; whereas a break of bank here and there, with 

 shingle, or a few large scattered stones, with which the neigh- 

 bourhood abounds, would have produced a better effect, by 

 coming nearer to nature, which it professes to resemble. The 

 house, which is Grecian Doric, without much architectural pre- 

 tension, stands on a good site, many feet above the lake, and is 



