Notes 122 



a circumstance of antiquity worthy to be drawn into notice ; 

 and, by being elevated above the plain, we shall not only see 

 into the intrenchment, but remark the venerable trees which 

 enrich its banks ; these trees are the growth of many centuries, 

 yet they lead the mind back to the far more ancient date of 

 this encampment, when the ground must have been a naked 

 surface. Another advantage will also be derived from carrying 

 the drive above the level of the plain. The eye being raised 

 above the browsing-line,^ the park wall will be better hid by the 

 lower branches of intermediate trees. At No. 10 the drive is less 

 interesting, because the surface is flat; but such occasional tame- 

 ness gives repose^ and serves to heighten the interest of subse- 

 quent scenery ; yet at this place, if the drive be made to 

 branch along the Vallum, it will pass over the most beautiful 

 part of the park, on a natural terrace, at No. 11, and this will 

 join the inner drive, returning down the valley towards the 

 kitchen-garden. 



I am now to speak of the great woods called Fentum's, 

 Piper's, Column's, Walk Wood, and Shipman's, in which a 

 serpentine drive has been formerly cut, which no one would 

 desire to pass a second time, from its length, added to the 

 total absence of interest or variety of objects ; but following 

 the taste which supposes " Nature to abhor a straight line," 

 this drive meanders in uniform curves of equal lengths, and 

 the defect is increased by there being only one connexion with 

 the park, while the other end of the drive finishes at a great 

 distance across Fulmer Common. The first object, therefore, 

 of improvement will be to form such a line of connexion 

 with the park as may make it seem a part of the same do- 

 main, and this would be more easily done if the hollow way- 

 road under the park wall could be removed; because other- 

 wise the drive must cross the road twice at No. 12, as I sup- 

 pose it to enter a field at No. 13, which might be planted to 

 connect it with the Broomfield copse. No. 14, from whence, 



' The browsing-line is explained in "Theory and Practice," chap, iv, p. 109. 



" The excess of variety may become painful, and therefore, in a long drive, some 

 parts should be less interesting, or, if possible, should excite no interest, and be indiffer- 

 ent without exciting disgust. 



