317 



But in the other case, nothing can be more 

 alike than a sheet of water, and a real 

 sheet ; and wherever there is a large bleach- 

 ing ground, ,the most exact imitations of 

 Mr. Brown's lakes and rivers might be 

 made in linen : and they would be just as 

 proper objects of jealousy to the Thames, 

 as any of his performances*. 



I am aware that Mr. Brown's admirers with 

 one voice will quote the great piece of water 

 at Blenheim, as a complete answer to all 

 I have said against him on this subject. 

 No one can admire more highly than I do 

 that most princely of all places ; but it 

 would be doing great injustice to nature 

 and Vanbrugh, not to distinguish their 



* I happened to be at a gentleman's house, the archi- 

 tect of which (to use Colin Campbell's expression) ** had 

 not preserved the majesty of the front from the ill effect 

 of crowded apertures." A neighbour of his, meaning to 

 pay him a compliment on the number and closeness of his 

 windows, exclaimed, " What a charming house you have ! 

 upon my word it is quite like a lanlhorn." I must own 1 

 think the two compliments equally flattering ; but a charm- 

 ing lanthorn has not yet had the success of a fine sheet. 



