8 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



sea^ on the bank of a lake, or in the vicinity of a river, 

 as at these points, besides the land scenery, we have that 

 life and variety which water can alone afford. There 

 are, however, few rivers forming the boundaries of estates 

 of suflacient breadth to allow the house to be erected 

 close to their banks. Besides the risk of inundation and 

 of damp vapour, which is incident to low situations, there 

 is always the possibility of discordant or offensive objects 

 being erected on the opposite side. A more elevated 

 position, even though it may be near some public road, 

 will probably command equally fine views of the river, 

 and at the same time will be more free from intrusion, 

 than any of those lower down. We may add, that 

 certain baronial residences, and some of them of no 

 small splendour, are occasionally seen standing on the 

 side of street or road, having been erected there because 

 they were places of strength in ancient times. Such 

 remains of the old feudal glories we should be sorry to 

 see removed from where they are ; but similar situations 

 are now seldom or never adopted for new residences. 



Elevation of the Site. — The house should be placed 

 on ground moderately elevated, of easy access, and com- 

 manding some of the best views of the park and the 

 surrounding scenery. The expression "ground mode- 

 rately elevated'' applies more to an undulating country 

 than to a level tract or to a hilly or mountainous region. 

 In a low, level, and weU wooded country, the effect of 

 the mansion from without, and more particularly the 

 views from it, would be entirely lost were it not built in 

 the highest position to be found within the park. In a 

 hin country, again, a comparatively "^moderate eleva- 

 tion" would probably place the house among the mists 

 and clouds, whereas it might be secured from these, or at 



