TERRACES. 



terraces with suitable walls may be not only ornamental, 

 but almost- indispensable to trie protection of the in- 

 mates when walking in that part of the grounds. With- 

 out them, indeed, in such situations, scarcely any thing 

 in the way of ornament or convenience can be effected. 

 The adoption of terraces should be suggested by the 

 nature of the ground and the character of the house, 

 rather than by any considerations immediately con- 

 nected with themselves. Nothing is worse than a 

 terrace out of place. We generally do not expect to 

 find them on very flat surfaces, although, in certain 

 circumstances, a single terrace of low elevation has a 

 good effect. On slight declivities, two or three feet of 

 descent will afford a suitable opportunity for intro- 

 ducing this species of ornament. Where there is no 

 slope, the terrace may nevertheless be introduced by 

 raising the base of the house sufficiently at its first 

 erection, and then by carrying the earth that is neces- 

 sary for the embankment. Where there can be only 

 a small breadth of dressed grounds between the house 

 and the park, the terrace wall may form the fence of 

 these grounds, and may be more in keeping with the 

 house than one of a lighter construction. The most 

 important position of the terrace is on the drawing- 

 room front ; but it is not necessarily confined to that, 

 as it may be extended along the ends of the house, 

 and even of the offices, if these latter touch the side of 

 the dressed grounds. Terraces should be considered 

 architectural formations of the grounds : as such, their 

 leading lines should be level, whether they are bounded 

 by walls or by banks ; and these lines should also be 

 parallel, and especially when there are more than one 

 terrace on the same slope. The upper surfaces, too, 



