344 



grounds, than by giving- scope to the inven- 

 tions of rising geniusses in architecture, or 

 by shewing us the real appearance of those 

 ancient buildings, which we have admired 

 in pictures, prints and drawings : but I 

 could wish to turn the minds of improvers 

 from too much attachment to solitary pa- 

 rade, towards objects more connected 

 with general habitation and embellishment. 

 Where a mansion-house and a place upon 

 a large scale, happen to be situated as close 

 to a village, as some of the most magnificent 

 seats in the kingdom are to small towns, 

 both styles of embellishment might be 

 adopted : far from interfering, they would 

 add to each other's effect, and it may be 

 truly said, that there is no way in which 

 wealth can produce such natural unaffected 

 variety, and such interest, as by adorning 

 a real village, and promoting the comforts, 

 arid' enjoyments of its inhabitants.* 



• Nothing ever So Strongly impressed me with the va- 

 canfcy of solitary grandeur and power, arid ibe disgust that 

 attends the etefnal sameness of artificial $eenery and man- 

 ners, a* the fcbam towns and villages made to divert the 



