608 



PRACTICE OF FORMING 



BOOK II, 



those ideas; or, that of surprize and wonder may be excited 

 by the appearance of art, by avenues, terraces, ponds, statues, 

 buildings, &c. but this last expression can only be desirable in 

 the immediate vicinity of great towns or cities, where the im- 

 mense concourse of spectators will correspond with these ap- 

 pearances, and prevent the proprietor from becoming weary of 

 them. Such is the case in many French gardens, and such a 

 scheme might be carried into execution at London, Edinburgh, 

 or many of the great towns of Britain, where the proprietor was 

 willing either to throw his grounds open to the public, or con- 

 tinually to see company. In any other situation, or upon any 

 other principle, such works of art should not be attempted in 

 an improved and highly cultivated country, because they would 

 soon cease to please and become disgusting. In general, there- 

 fore, in flat situations, art should imitate nature in producing 

 the desired character, either of beauty or grandeur; at least as far 

 as regards the materials which she can command. See the ma- 

 nagement of all these materials and component parts in Book I. 



either totally eradicated, kept under, or removed to appropiuate situations, will very 

 materially injure the effect of the whole, and will degrade it to the rank of Stow, 

 Hagley, and the Leasowes. I trust, however, that these, and many other things, 

 will be improved on, and especially the water, which is capable of unlimited beauty. 

 It is impossible for me not to feel a high degree of interest in the success of that 

 place, which, when finished, will probably contribute more to the establishment of 

 my ideas of Picturesque Improvement, than any thing that I can write. It will at 

 least be an exquisite model to shew what may be effected, where taste is made to 

 triumph over fashion and system. 



