16'2 



their attention to the peculiar chasaetet of 

 svjch gardens : that they should observe, 

 without prejudice on eitheT sidiev what mo- 

 dern improvers have done; their merits, 

 their defects, aivd the causes of them : that 

 they should make the same observations oa 

 all that has been done in every age and 

 country, and compare them with each 

 other; in all this, putting fashion out of the 

 question, and judging only by the great 

 leading principles, »ot the particular prac- 

 tice of their own art. That they should 

 mark the alterations which time and acci- 

 dent had produced, and consider how far 

 such effects might be imitated in new 

 works ; and lastly, how all these more orna- 

 mented parts might be connected both 

 with the house and the general scenery. 

 By such studies, many new lights would 

 be thrown on the whole subject, many new 

 inventions and combinations worthy of be- 

 ing recorded, would arise ; but the bane of 

 all invention, is exclusive attachment to 

 one manner and that above all others is 



