Part Second 



Description of the Park in Muskau 

 and its Origin 



I CONFESS that it is with some trepidation 

 that I begin the present description. Although 

 this little work, in view of its purely didactic 

 nature, can make no great pretension to be en- 

 tertaining, yet it is to be feared that the follow- 

 ing very dry analysis of certain special conditions 

 must be tedious in still greater degree than the 

 foregoing part to any one who does not have a 

 very personal interest in such undertakings. 



Nevertheless, it is a fact that I have taken up 

 the pen only for this latter class, and less apology 

 is due them because I found myself obliged, in 

 order to make the matter readable, to introduce 

 much that was personal. No doubt it can interest 

 the great public but little, while those who de- 

 sire to turn the book to account as a guide and 

 handbook for their own undertakings may find 

 in these personal matters some profit ; for many 

 will find themselves in similar situations, either 

 in respect to the whole or in this or that detail, 

 and will perhaps be less intimidated by difficul- 

 ties and overcome them more easily when they 

 see how I succeeded in mastering them, 



I must begin by frankly confessing that who- 



