186 



LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



turesqiie cottage, as if placed by the hand 

 of taste itself. The improver, conceiving this 

 cottage an improper appendage, has removed 

 a large portion of earth (from a situation to 

 which it was essential) to raise a mound on 

 this foreground, for the purpose of excluding 

 it : this he has completely effected, and, with 

 the cottage, has shut out the valley, the gorge, 

 the river, and buried behind his mound the 

 boles of the foreground trees ; thus contriving 

 to render abortive the judicious selection of 

 the architect. A more glaring example of 

 perverted taste cannot exist. 



Shenstone observes, " A rural scene, to me, 

 " is never perfect without the addition of 

 " some building. A cottage is a pleasing ob- 

 " ject, partly on account of the variety it 

 " may introduce, on account of the tran- 

 " quillity that seems to reign there, and, 

 " perhaps, I am somewhat afraid on account 

 " of the pride of human nature." 



The improver above mentioned seems to 

 have been alike insensible to both the causes 

 of Shenstone's predilection for the cottage in 

 landscape-scenery. 



But, perhaps, life and motion are, after all, 

 the principal sources of cheerfulness, as con- 



