354- 



This, and other parts of Painshill seem 

 to have been formed on the precept con- 

 tained in the well-known lines of Tasso, in 

 his description of the garden of Armida : 



E quel che'l bello e'l caro accresce a I'oprc, 

 L' arte che tutto fa, nulla si scopre. 



Mr. Hamilton, however, is one of the very 

 few who have profited by it : for although 

 no precept be more generally admitted in 

 theory than that of concealing the art 

 which is employed, none has been less ob- 

 served in practice. It is true, however, 

 that it must not be too strictly followed in 

 all cases; and that like other excellent 

 rules, it has its exceptions. Every thing 

 that belongs to buildings and architecture 

 is manifest! } r artificial, and the conceal- 

 ment of art entirely out of the question : 

 whatever therefore is connected with the 

 mansion, should display a degree of art 

 and of ornament, in proportion to its style 

 and character; and I own my regret, that 

 all the old decorations have been banished 

 from an affectation of simplicity, and what 



