602 



PRACTICE OF FORMING 



BOOK II. 



pable of being ranked as a composition of the polite arts, till 

 such ideas be raised: however great may be its "utility, or 

 proportion, or scale*." 



There can be no doubt that words alone will ever fail of 

 making an artist master of this essential excellence; because 

 without much study, and perhaps what is called natural ge- 

 nius, words will ever fail of making a good poet, painter, or 

 musician ; but still, to shew the man of taste how it can be 

 done generally, I proceed to offer a few remarks on applying 

 the leading principles to different natural situations which are 

 to be heightened in effect, and some also which are to be eoun- 

 <> teracted. 



1. Suppose a situation by nature grand or sublime. This 

 estate is very extensive. The surface of the ground intended 

 for park, does not consist so much of undulations or abrupt- 

 nesses, as of large plains, broad swells, and wide vallies. It is 

 bounded, on one side, by a range of immense mountains ; and, 

 on the other, washed by the irregular shore of the ocean. 

 Every natural feature being grand, the operations of art must 

 bear a correspondency in manner. The principal materials 

 for improvement are wood and buildings. Near the centre, 

 in the most striking site, let a palace or castle be built, of 

 large dimensions, with an extensive front looking towards the 

 * The principles which Mr. Repton assumes. 



