J 74 ARCHITECTURE. BOOK !► 



its use. They can always be so disguised or improved as not 

 to convey disagreeable ideas, and often so as to form the hap- 

 piest combinations with the surrounding scenery. The misfor- 

 tune has been, that when buildings for common uses were orna- 

 mented, as it is called, nothing less was attempted than to 

 change their character : thus barns have been deformed so as 

 to appear like churches or ruins. Common dwelling-houses 

 have been changed to Gothic towers, or ruins of abbeys ; and 

 commonly with such a penury of taste, as would disgust of it- 

 self, though the deceit were allowable. But no disguise of this 

 kind ought ever to be attempted. Wretched indeed must that 

 man's genius be, who cannot elevate common objects by any 

 other way than making them appear what they are not. If,., 

 instead of the common practice of either concealing all kinds 

 of offices and inferior buildings, or of disgracing them as is 

 sometimes done, they were elevated in a manner corresponding 

 with the mansion, the beauty of every place, and consequently 

 of the whole country, would be increased in a degree which,, 

 though it may not be obvious to a superficial observer, will 

 never fail to make a lasting impression on the man of taste. 

 We have seen that every mansion has three classes of offices ; 

 now supposing each class to make an object in the general 

 scene, independently of lesser offices, there would be (to apply 

 arithmetic to taste) three times the present beauty in every 

 residence, and in the country in general* This is a motive which; 



