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perfection of which few arrive. The Gardeners there, 

 far from being either ignorant or illiterate, are men of 

 high abilities, who join to good natural parts, mod or- 

 naments that ftudy, travelling, and long experience can 

 fupply them with : it is in consideration of thefe accom- 

 plifhments only that they are permitted to exercife their 

 profeiTion ; for with the Chinefe the tafte of Orna- 

 mental Gardening is an object of legiflative attention, 

 it being fuppofed to have an influence upon the general 

 culture, and confequently upon the beauty of the whole 

 country. They obferve, that miftakes committed in this 

 Art, are too important to be tolerated, being much ex- 

 pofed to view, and in a great meafure irreparable ; as it 

 often requires the fpace of a century, to redrefs the 

 blunders of an hour. 



The Chinefe Gardeners take nature for their pattern; 

 and their aim is to imitate all her beautiful irregularities. 

 Their firft consideration is the nature of the ground they 

 are to work upon : whether it be flat or floping; hilly 

 or mountainous j fmall or of confiderable extent; abound- 

 ing 



