POSITION OF THE HOUSE. 



195 



management of them are moved with difficulty even hj 

 individuals who are members of them. Before fixing 

 on a locality or site, see at least that there are well-fre- 

 qnented roads in the neighbourhood, for if they are not 

 in good repair at present, it may be hoped that they will 

 not be allowed to continue so. Easy access to public 

 conveyances is also an advantage not to be overlooked, 

 for though a gentleman may use his own carriage, some 

 of his family or his servants may find it convenient to 

 avail themselves of the public means of travelling. Even 

 for friends and other visitants twenty minutes' distance 

 from a railway station may afford a pleasant morning or 

 evening walk. 



Position of the House in relation to the other parts of 

 the Reside7ice. — After arrangements have been made for 

 the purchase or possession of the ground, the proprietor 

 generally proceeds to fix the spot on which he is to set 

 down his house ; and the plan is often adopted, and the 

 buildings are sometimes erected, before any attention is 

 paid to the lajdng-out of the grounds. This is a very 

 grievous mistake. The plan of the house, its position, 

 and the designing of the gardens and dressed grounds, 

 should be considered together, and mutually adjusted to 

 each other. When the architect is the only person con- 

 sulted about the position of the house, unless he has a 

 more than ordinary knowledge of landscape gardening, 

 the only element he wiU take into consideration will be 

 the securing of a site, which, according to his ideas, 

 will best exhibit his powers of architectural design. 

 Most probably the house will be so placed, and the 

 approach so contrived, as to make a decided impression 

 on strangers and other visitors. The place indeed will 

 often be little more than an enclosed approach to a house 



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