PART VII. PICTURESQUE IMPROVEMENT. 409 



provement, with some exceptions, is much better than heighten- 

 ing it by art. Spirit and force, which it is allowed buildings give 

 to scenery, can generally be communicated by walks, broken 

 ground, stones, trunks of trees, rocks, and such materials. The 

 appropriate may either be convenient or ornamental ; but they 

 are always peculiar to, or characteristic] of certain scenes, or 

 strong characters of themselves. Thus a bridge is applied only 

 to water, a prospect tower to an eminence, and a mausoleum 

 is an impressive object of itself, &c. This class forms some of 

 the noblest buildings belonging to a residence ; a bridge, where 

 it is really useful, is always striking and beautiful, whether it 

 be the romantic Swiss foot-path across dells or dingles, or the 

 more stately arch of masonry over brooks or rivers. Mausoleums 

 not obtruded on the view, as at Castle Howard, but placed so 

 as to be seen only occasionally, may afford solemn instruction 

 to all, and may inspire the noblest sentiments in the descen- 

 dants of ancient and honourable families. Prospect towers 

 have a grand and imposing effect when judiciously placed in a 

 woody eminence, or on the top of a rocky mountain. Very 

 seldom, however, are they built in a suitable style of architec- 

 ture: they are either of the most vulgar and common-place 

 forms, as at Blaize Castle, Shooter's Hill, &c. or gaudy and af- 

 fectedly uncommon, as at Clytho, Shuckborough, and number- 

 less other places. These towers should always be designed in 

 a style analogous to their situation : where that is broad and ir- 



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