5§0 OF CONVENIENCES PECULIAR TO BOOK I. 



done (without being insufferably tedious), after referring to prin- 

 ciples already treated of, than to mention the names of, and 

 perhaps a few leading particulars respecting, such as are neces- 

 sary to every complete country residence. 



The Approach to the mansion is a variety of road peculiar 

 to a house in the country. In direction it should, on the 

 one hand, neither be affectedly graceful or waving, and studi- 

 ously intercepted by trees ; nor, on the other, vulgarly recti- 

 lineal, direct, or abrupt. There is a dignity, propriety, and 

 ingenuity, requisite in an approach, analogous to that of ad- 

 dressing a great man to whom we are unknown. In given cir- 

 cumstances it easily presents itself to the mind ; and from the 

 simplicity of the whole operations, both of conceiving and 

 designing an approach, it is easily marked out on the ground — 

 easily improved upon — and the execution is mere road making *„ 

 What regards accompaniments to roads or approaches, has been 

 already treated of under Picturesque Improvement. Ave- 

 nues have been reckoned the only proper approaches to castles ; 

 but there seems no reason in nature for such a rule ; and argu- 

 ments from antiquity are certainly insufficient to justify their 

 constant reintroduction in such cases. Wherever they exist 

 with good effect, as at Taymouth, they ought to be carefully 



* See Agriculture.. 



