16 



be able to float nearly to the height he 

 wished by means of the dam only, but that 

 he still would be obliged to form some 

 part totally by digging. Such an improver 

 would, of course, admire the last-mentioned 

 lake, and be desirous of finding out how 

 he might more quickly, and with greater 

 certainty give birth to those picturesque 

 circumstances, which in that must slowly 

 have arisen from time and accident. He 

 would begin, by taking the level of the 

 future water according to the intended 

 height of the head : by which means he 

 would have a very tolerable idea of the 

 general form ; and he would take care that 

 in digging out the mould from the sides to 

 form the head, the workmen should, if pos- 

 sible, always keep some little way below 

 that level, in order that no marks of the 

 spade should appear after the pool was 

 filled, but that he might see the exact out- 

 line which would be formed by the water 

 itself. By this method, some varieties, 

 even in the most unvaried ground, will 

 present themselves ; whereas by the usual 



