258 PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



the points from which the prevailing winds blow. 

 Westerly, or south-westerly winds are probably the 

 most common in these islands ; and therefore the best 

 situations, in this respect, are to be found from the 

 south-east round by south to the north-west of the city. 

 If easterly winds predominate, the preferable sites will 

 be on the reverse half of the compass; that is, from 

 north by east to south. By attending to this principle, 

 the inhabitant of the villa will live in purer air than 

 he would otherwise do, and will reduce the nuisance 

 necessarily arising from the smoke of the city to its 

 minimum. For the same reason, the vicinity of public 

 works should be avoided, Some of them vitiate the 

 air by the emission of chemical vapors ; all are largely 

 productive of smoke ; and, not to speak of the bustle 

 which they create on the roads, present, in their tall, 

 staring chimneys, and bulky, unshapely fabrics, objects 

 of contemplation by no means agreeable to the eye. 

 Besides, they tend to pollute the sluggish streams that 

 often now past them, and to render the whole neigh- 

 borhood dirty and slovenly. The very worst locality 

 of all, however, is that near the general outlet of the 

 sewerage of a city, and more particularly if the foul 

 contents are applied to purposes of irrigation, as at 

 Edinburgh. It may be added, that a locality adjacent 

 to a poor and dirty suburb should hardly be chosen. 

 A benevolent man, indeed, will not fail to visit fre- 

 quently such abodes of poverty, and to do what good 

 he can in them ; but he will not find his benevolence 

 increased by obtrusive sights of misery, or by the im- 

 portunities to which, by his proximity to such scenes, 

 he is sure to be exposed. 



Note. — Happily, the American villa is seldom seen 



