17 



.method of preparing the outline with the 

 spade according to the stakes, the whole of 

 that outline must, in every instance, be stiff 

 and formal : it would be so, should the level 

 be so exactly and minutely taken, that 

 the line were precisely that which the 

 water itself would describe ; and much 

 more so if artificial sweeps should be made. 

 The bank therefore being at first left in its 

 natural form, and the water itself being his 

 best guide with respect to any changes it 

 might be proper to make, he would go 

 round every part with a painter's, not a 

 mere gardener's eye ; and instead of ex- 

 amining how he might make the sweeps 

 more regular, the bank more uniformly 

 sloping to the water edge, and every thing 

 more smooth, he would consider in what 

 parts the varieties I have mentioned could 

 be introduced most naturally, and with 

 most effect. 



The two principal changes in the mere 

 ground are effected, first, by removing earth 

 from the bauks, in order to form coves and 

 inlets of various sizes; and, secondly, by 



vol. ii. q 



