214 The Art of Landscape Gardening 



propriety of its application will be obvious; and, for its 

 effect, I appeal to the accompanying sketch [Plate xxii] 

 where both the actual size of the house and its com- 

 parative proportion to the surrounding scenery are 

 correctly ascertained. 



However pleasing these representations may appear, 

 I should consider myself as having planned a "castle in 

 the air," unless it should be proved that this design is 

 not only practicable but that it actually contains no more 

 building than is absolutely necessary for the purposes 

 of modern habitation. By the plan, it appears to con- 

 tain : 



A Gothic hall, for the sake of ancient grandeur, but 

 leading through a passage lower than the rooms, for the 

 sake of not depressing their comparative height. The 

 hall and passages should be rather dimly lighted by 

 painted glass, to impress a degree of gloom essential 

 to grandeur, and to render the entrance into the rooms 

 more brilliant and cheerful. 



This, it may be objected, is in character with those 

 houses which Gray describes as having 

 " Windows that exclude the light. 

 And passages that lead to nothing." 



Yet I trust these passages will be found no less useful 

 than magnificent; they lead to the several rooms, which 

 form a complete suite of apartments, consistingof eating- 

 room, breakfast-room, drawing-room, and library. The 

 rooms all open by windows to the floor on a terrace, 

 which may be enriched with orange-trees and odourif- 

 erous flowers, and will form one of the greatest lux- 

 uries of modern as well as one of the most magnificent 

 features of ancient habitation. 



It now remains for me to shew that I have not sug- 

 gested a design more expensive than a house of any 



