9 



to the most determined aversion to such a 

 mode of imitation, the tameness, mono- 

 tony, and, I may add, unnaiuralness of mo- 

 dern gardening must be attributed : for 

 those higher degrees of smoothing and po- 

 lishing, which, when used with judgment 

 and confined to their proper limits, have 

 so pleasing and dressed an appearance, 

 have been made, I might almost say, the 

 preparation for improvement, as well as 

 the final object of it. 



As all artificial pieces of water must of 

 course be stagnant, it seems to me that the 

 circumstances which relate to the forma- 

 tion of what may be called accidental 

 pieces of stagnant water,* should more 

 principally be attended to, than those 

 which relate to rivers. 



Upon the great and inimitable "scale of 

 nature, lakes are formed by many propor- 



# It often happens that large pieces of water are made 

 for the use of mills or forges, by floating a valley ; where, 

 as they are not intended for ornament, the banks are left 

 in their original state. These, though not accidental, may 

 be considered in the same light. The only opposition is 

 between natural banks, and those where art has interfered. 



