157 



to a stream of water the appearance of a 

 natural rill, and yet to make it accord with 

 the artificial arrangement, and highly em- 

 bellished appearance of such a spot. Now 

 the upright fountain seems precisely suited 

 to it, as it is capable of any degree of sculp- 

 tural decoration which the decorations of 

 the place itself may require; and likewise, 

 as the forms in which water falls in its re- 

 turn towards the ground, not only are of 

 the most beautiful kind, but have some- 

 thing of regularity and symmetry : two 

 qualities which, more or less, are found in 

 all artificial scenes. 



The propriety of introducing any highly 

 artificial decorations, where there is nothing 

 in the character of the mansion which may 

 seem to warrant them, may perhaps be 

 questioned ; for my own part, I would la- 

 ther wish that some improprieties should 

 be risked for the sake of effect (where the 

 mischief, if such, could be repaired) than 

 that improvements should be confined to 

 the present timid monotony. What has 

 struck me in .some cases, and ia some points 



