LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
322 
therefore, of whatever character, the comfort and coir 
venience of the various members of the family being the 
first and most important consideration, the quality of 
fitness is universally appreciated and placed in the first 
rank. In many of those articles of furniture or apparel 
which luxury or fashion has brought into use, fitness or 
convenience often gives way to beauty of form or texture : 
but in a habitation intended to shelter us from the heat 
and cold, as well as to give us an opportunity to dispense 
the elegant hospitalities of refined life — the neglect of the 
various indispensable conveniences and comforts which 
an advanced state of civilization requires, would be but 
poorly compensated for by a fanciful exterior or a highly 
ornate style of building. Further than this, fitness will 
extend to the choice of situation ; selecting a sheltered 
site, neither too high, as upon the exposed summit of bleak 
hills, nor too low, as in the lowest bottoms of damp 
valleys ; but preferring those middle grounds which, while 
they afford a free circulation of air, and a fine prospect, 
are not detrimental to the health or enjoyment of the 
occupants. A proper exposure is another subject, worthy 
of the attention of either the architect or proprietor, as 
there are stormy and pleasant aspects or exposures in all 
climates. 
However much the principle of fitness may be appre- 
ciated and acted upon in the United States, we have 
certainly great need of apology for the flagrant and almost 
constant violation of the second principle, viz. the expres- 
sion of purpose. By the expression of purpose in 
buildings, is meant that architectural character, or 
ensemble , which distinctly points out the particular use or 
destination for which the edifice is intended. In a 
