31 



tnenti there is a variety of bad. Some, per- 

 haps, would cut down the old pollards, 

 clear the rubbish, and leave only the 

 maiden trees standing; some might plant 

 up the whole ; others grub up every thing, 

 and make a shrubbery on each side; others 

 put clumps of shrubs, or of firs; but there 

 is one improvement which I am afraid 

 almqst all who had not been used to look 

 at objects with a painter's eye would 

 adopt, and which alone would entirely 

 destroy its character; that is smoothing 

 and levelling the ground. The moment 

 this mechanical common-place operation, 

 by which Mr. Brown and his followers have 

 gained so much credit, is begun, adieu to 

 all that the painter admires — to all intrica- 

 cies, to all the beautiful varieties of form, 

 tint, and light and shade; every deep re- 

 cess—every bold projection— the fantastic 

 roots of trees — the winding paths of sheep 

 —all must go ; in a few hours, the rash 

 hand of false taste completely demolishes, 

 what time only, and a thousand lucky ac- 

 cidents can mature, so as to make it become 



