46 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
the improver to proceed with his fascinating operations, in 
embellishing the country residence, in a practical mode, based 
upon what are now generally received as the correct princi- 
ples of the art, we would desire the novice, after making him- 
self acquainted with all that can be acquired from written 
works within his reach, to strengthen his taste and add to his 
knowledge, by a practical inspection of the best country seats 
among us. In an infant state of society, in regard to the fine 
arts, much will be done in violation of good taste ; but here 
where nature has done so much for us, there is scarcely a 
large country residence in the Union, from which useful hints 
in Landscape Gardening may not be taken. And in nature, 
a group of trees, an accidental pond of water, or some equally 
simple object, may form a study more convincing to the mind 
of a true admirer of natural beauty, than the most carefully 
drawn plan, or the most elaborately written description. 
