Theory and Practice 99 



"La Nature fiiit les lieux frequentes ; c'est au som- 

 met des montagnes, au fond des forets, dans les isles 

 desertes, qu'elle etale ses charmes les plus touchants ; 

 ceux qui I'aiment et ne peuvent Taller chercher si loin, 

 sont reduits a lui faire violence, et a la forcer en quelque 

 sorte a venir hablter parmi eux, et tout cela ne peut se 

 faire sans un peu d'illusion." — J. J. Rousseau. 



[Nature flies from frequented places ; it is on the 

 summit of mountains, in the depths of forests, and in 

 desert islands that she displays her most affecting 

 charms ; those who love her, and who cannot go so far 

 in search of her, are reduced to the necessity of con- 

 straining her, and forcing her to take up her habitation 

 among them ; but this cannot be done without a certain 

 degree of illusion.] 



One of the views from the house at Thoresby looked 

 towards 



" the long line 

 Deep delv'd of flat canal, and all that toil. 

 Misled by tasteless fashion, could achieve. 

 To mar fair Nature's lineaments divine." Mason. 



As, in this instance, I shall have occasion to propose 

 a diff^erent idea to that suggested by Mr. Brown, I must 

 beg leave to explain the reasons on which I ground my 

 opinion. 



Amidst the numerous proofs of taste and judgement 

 which that celebrated landscape gardener has left for 

 our admiration, he frequently mistook the character 

 of running water ; he was too apt to check its pro- 

 gress, by converting a lively river into a stagnant 

 pool, nay, he even dared to check the progress of 

 the furious Derwent at Chatsworth, and transform 

 it into a tame and sleepy river unworthy the majesty 



