PART II. IMPROVEMENT OF RESIDENCES. 6'95 



until, washing the adamantine base of the castle, it bursts into 

 liberty, and forms an ample lake, encircled by the park or 

 forest, and beyond that on one side a fertile plain : all which, 

 from the lake, forms a noble foreground to the distant woods 

 and mountains. On one of the islands in this lake is placed the 

 parish church and burying-ground ; conspicuous at a distance, 

 they seem, by being debarred from common access, more 

 forcibly to excite the piety, reverence, and frequent attendance, 

 of the simple country folks. In the still clear morning of " the 

 hallowed day," the rural nymphs and swains, in gay simplicity 

 of dress, meeting the eye in variegated clusters, glide over the 

 resplendent waters in little boats and gallies, directing their 

 progress from different shores to the heaven-pointing spire in 

 the island of pines and cypress. Thence, when the hymn of 

 praise, borne on breezes over the waters, and echoed from the 

 cliffs of the neighbouring islands, has ascended into air, and 

 mingled with the songs of birds and angels, they retire to simple 

 fare in cleanly cottages, sheltered by woods, and decorated 

 with gardens and woodbines. Among those cottages, which 

 are judiciously scattered at different parts of the grounds, that 

 their possessors may cultivate and guard plantations, preserve 

 fences, or herd flocks, or that the smoke from the chimney of 

 the deserving widow may enliven the side of a woody hill or soli- 

 tary glen, the worthy proprietor takes delight to walk, to view 

 the progress of his trees, and hear the little histories and ac- 



