14 



INTRODUCTION. 



dies ton, Harewood, and Gossford. For some years back the 

 gotbic seems again to prevail, and with great propriety, as it is 

 a style more congenial to our climate and purposes than any 

 other. Some of the best gothic mansions erecting at present 

 are Dreghorn, Bel voir, Loudon Castle, Scone, and Fon thill 

 Abbey. The chief defects which have all along attended the 

 progress of architecture in the country is the neglect of harmo- 

 nizing the buildings with the situation, and a too great atten- 

 tion to minute external ornaments, which, amid the beauties of 

 vegetation, and the intricacy of rural scenery, lose their effect, 

 and only needlessly increase expenses. Now, however, sym- 

 metry and superfluous ornaments are giving way to irregularity 

 and characteristic beauty. By this means much expense is 

 avoided, and preferable effects with greater conveniences pro- 

 duced. 



From this general sketch of the pleasures and advantages of 

 a rural life, and the progressive improvement of rural architec- 

 ture, and the art of laying out grounds, may be inferred the 

 requisite qualities of a country residence. These are utility , con- 

 venience, and beauty*, all of them depend upon the state of 



* This term is used in two senses throughout this work. The first is that beauty 

 which is analogous to female beauty, is characterized by delicacy, and may be de- 

 nominated supreme beauty. The second includes every species of excellence in 

 objects or scenery, except sublimity. The term picturesque is used, 1st. To denote 

 that species of effect characterised by roughness, abruptness, and sudden variation j 

 and, 2nd. For every species of visible effect which is agreeable to the general prin- 

 ciples of painting. Good, true, natural, and genuine taste are used as synonymous 

 terms, for that faculty which with its objects in regard to the material world is ana- 

 lyzed in Book I. Part I. 



