258 Gilpin's foeest scenery. 



dious bridge, or avoiding a wood or a piece of 

 water, any traveller would naturally wisli to 

 deviate a little ; and obstacles of this kind, if 

 necessary, must be interposed. Mr. Brown was 

 often Jiappy in creating these artificial obstruc- 

 tions. 



From every part of the approach, and from the 

 ridings and favourite walks about the park, let all 

 the boundaries be secreted. A view of paling, 

 though in some cases it may be picturesque, is in 

 general disgusting. 



If a natural river or a real ruin embellish the 

 scene, it may be a happy circumstance : let the 

 best use be made of it ; but I should be cautious 

 in advising the creation of either. At least, I 

 have rarely seen either ruins or rivers well manu- 

 factured. Mr. Brown, I think, has failed more in 

 river-making than in any of his attempts. An 

 artificial lake has sometimes a good effect, but 

 neither propriety nor beauty can arise from it, 

 unless the heads and extremities of it are perfectly 

 well managed and concealed ; and, after all, the 

 success is hazardous. You must always suppose 

 it a portion of a larger piece of water, and it is 



