APPENDIX. 



period when the trees may be thinned and groups " brought forward" 

 he does not say how this may be avoided generally — he does not offer any 

 general principles- but very ingeniously states, " so rich is the ground in 

 which plantations were made at Aston about ten years since, that this 

 management has already been adopted with effect." What tendency 

 have instances of this kind to establish fixed principles? which is the 

 avowed object of Mr. Repton in his writings. 



Chapter v. Woods. — " Wheatley's Remarks exemplified at Shardelloes." 

 Here is first introduced a long quotation ; and then some remarks made, 

 which shew any thing but Mr. Repton's knowledge of the subject. In 

 woods, he says, " pecuniary advantage and ornament are seldom 

 strictly compatible with each other;" this, I beg leave to observe, is an 

 affirmation directly contrary to truth; and, to prove it, I need only refer to 

 Marshall's " Planting and Rural Ornament," or to the subject as treated in 

 this Work, Part VIII. " Wood and lawn are the natural features of Buck- 

 inghamshire;" to appropriate these woods to the magnificence of Shar- 

 delloes, the author proposes some artificial objects, and points out a knoll 

 where he clears away some wood and places a pavilion ; all which is illus- 

 trated by a plate. A much nobler way of appropriation, or harmonizing 

 a residence with the country, would have been to have had no pavilion; 

 and then all Buckinghamshire might apparently have belonged to Shar- 

 delloes. The introduction of this pavilion brings to my recollection a 

 plan of Mr. Repton's at Hare wood; which was, to introduce a building in 

 the middle of a solemn and venerable oak wood ; it was to be placed over 

 the drive, in such a way as that carriages might pass under it — the inten- 

 tion was to produce more cheerfulness and variety! ! — This is characteris- 

 tic of Mr. Repton's manner of improvement. " A drive at Bidstrode 

 traced, ivith reasons for its course" — These reasons are few, and merely 

 refer to the particular scenery through which it passes. " Further examples 

 from Heathfield Park." This is equally tiresome, and void of instruc- 

 tion. A belt ; this is said to be preferred by modern improvers, from a love 



