Different Characters and Situations 15 



house and grounds should correspond with each other 

 in point of size, but the characters of each should be in 

 strict harmony, since it is hardly less incongruous to 

 see a palace by the side of a neglected common than 

 an ugly ill-designed mansion, whether large or small, 

 in the midst of highly-improved scenery, to every part 

 of which it must be considered as a disgrace. 



Welbeck. The house appears to stand much lower 

 than it really does on account of the entrance in the 

 basement storey; which, if carried up to the principal 

 floor, will not only be of great advantage to the inside, 

 by removing all necessity for ascending the present 

 staircase, but the effect on the outside will be much 

 greater than may at first be imagined ; since, by giving 

 an opportunity of altering the shape of the ground, it 

 will take the house out of an hollow, and set it on 

 a pleasing eminence. The ground, at present, slopes 

 gradually towards the house, with a flat hanging level, 

 which is evidently artificial ; and from the northwest 

 corner of the projecting wing there is a ridge of earth 

 which divides this platform from the adjoining valley: 

 the superfluous earth from this ridge will be sufficient 

 to answer every purpose of raising the lawn to the 

 house ; and I propose to slope the ground with a grad- 

 ual fall from the riding-house to the valley, and to 

 cross this fall by an additional steep from the west front, 

 making both to wind naturally towards the low ground 

 of the valley. The earth may be raised just above the 

 tops of the windows in the basement storey, which may 

 still be sufficiently lighted by an area; but when the 

 lower row of windows is totally hid, the house will 

 appear too long for its height, and the depth of roof will 

 be still more conspicuous. After various attempts to 

 counteract this awkward effect, without any great oper- 



