136 OLD-FASHIONED GARDENING 
So when he came back the second time, in the spring 
of 1797, it was this work of his own in which he had 
taken such pride and such delight, that he found “de¬ 
spoiled.” Small wonder that he does give way suffi¬ 
ciently to say, “Workmen in most countries, I believe, 
are necessary plagues;—in this where entreaties as 
well as money must be used to obtain their work, and 
keep them to their duty, they baffle all calculation in 
the accomplishment of any plan, or repairs they are 
engaged in;—and require more attention to, and look¬ 
ing after, than can well be conceived.” Surely a very 
modern sounding complaint. 
In spite of all the neglect, however, the splendid 
house with its generous array of offices, the fine garden 
walls, the graceful inclosures, the exceptional pave¬ 
ments of brick and stone wherever these are desirable, 
and the well drained walks and drives leading from 
point to point, all bearing witness to the care and at¬ 
tention given originally to their construction, were not 
seriously harmed. Thus everything bespeaks the 
thoroughness of the builder—and the truth to which 
I am perpetually referring, that the garden reflects ab¬ 
solutely and in spite of himself the character of its 
maker, is nowhere more completely exemplified than 
in this creation of the man whom we all always have 
and always shall, delight to honor. If there were 
nothing else by which we might know him, this simple 
