THE GLEN. '273 



the glen exhibits, may be seen to the besi; ad- 

 vantage. If a seat or two be thought necessary, 

 let them be of the rudest materials, and their 

 situation no way forced. I have often seen semi-cir- 

 cular areas, on these occasions, adapted to elegant 

 seats, which have been fixed, either where openings 

 happened to be presented, or were purposely cut 

 through the woods. All this is awkward and 

 disgusting. Let no formal preparation introduce 

 a view. A parading preface always injures a 

 story. The eye receives more pleasure from un- 

 expected, casual circumstances than from objects 

 perhaps of more real beauty, forced upon it with 

 parade and ostentation. 



But though we are averse to load these sweet 

 recesses of Nature with false ornaments, yet, if 

 such scenes make a part of the immediate environs, 

 or pleasure ground, of a house, a proper degree of 

 ornament will, of course, be required. The walk 

 must be more artificial — its borders may be spread 

 here and there, as in other decorated places, with 

 flowers and flowering shrubs — the seats may be 

 more elegant, and a temple, or other building, 

 maj perhaps find a place; but still the same chaste 



