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city under the same circumstances ; in 

 which, though the summits of the general 

 mass of houses are neglected, those of the 

 highest, and consequently the most conspi- 

 cuous buildings, have always a full share of 

 the architect's attention. 



In walking about Blenheim, I have been 

 repeatedly struck with the excellence of the 

 principle displayed by Vanbrugh in all that 

 regards the summit, whatever objections 

 may be made to many of the parts in detail. 

 Wherever the smallest portion of it was to 

 be seen, and from whatever quarter, whe- 

 ther between, or above trees, the grandeur, 

 richness, and variety of it never failed to 

 make a strong impression, and to suggest 

 to me how insipid a bit of slated roof and a 

 detached chimney, would have been in the 

 same view. It certainly appears to be the 

 most obvious of all reflections, that as the 

 highest part of an object is the most seen, 

 in all the more distant views, the form 

 of it, where such views often present them- 

 selves, should be carefully studied ; but 



