House and Garden 
bushes in the low meadow, which may then 
with ease be converted into a pleasing piece 
of water, in front of the house. 
The effect of this alteration is shown by 
our figures 5 and 6. In its present state two 
tall elms are the first objects that attract our 
notice (see Fig. 5). From the tops of these 
trees the eye measures downwards to the 
house, that is very indistinctly seen amidst 
the confusion of bushes and buildings with 
which it is encumbered; and the present 
water appearing above the house, we neces¬ 
sarily conclude that the house stands low. 
But instead of this confusion, let water be 
the leading object (see Fig. 6) and the eye 
will naturally measure upwards to the house, 
and we shall then pronounce that it no 
longer appears in a low situation. 
H owever delightful a romantic or moun¬ 
tainous country may appear to a traveler, the 
more solid advantages of a flat one to live in 
are universally allowed; and in such a coun¬ 
try, if the gentle swell of the ground occa¬ 
sionally presents the eve with hanging woods, 
dipping their foliage in an expanse of silvery 
lake, or softly gliding river, we no longer ask 
for the abrupt precipice or foaming cataract. 
Livermere Park possesses ample lawns, 
rich woods and an excellent supply of good 
colored water. Its greatest defect is a want 
of clothing near the house and around that 
part of the water where the banks are flat; 
yet, in other parts, the wood and water are 
most beautifully connected with each other. 
Where the ground naturally presents very 
little inequality of surface, a great appearance 
of extent is rather disgusting than pleasing, 
and little advantage is gained by attempts 
to let in distant objects; yet there is such 
infinite beauty to be produced by judicious 
management of the home scenery as may 
well compensate the want of prospect. There 
is always great cheerfulness in a view on a 
flat lawn, well stocked with cattle, if it be 
properly bounded by a wood at a distance, 
neither too far off' to lessen its importance nor 
too near to act as a confinement to the scene; 
and which contributes also to break those 
straight lines which are the only cause of dis¬ 
gust in a fiat situation. Uneven ground may 
be more striking as a picture, and more in¬ 
teresting to a stranger’s eye; it may be more 
bold, or magnificent, or romantic, but the 
character of cheerfulness is peculiar to the 
plain. Whether this effect be produced by 
the apparent ease of communication, or by 
the larger proportion of sky which enters 
into the landscape, or by the different manner 
in which cattle form themselves into groups 
on a plain, or on a sloping bank, 1 confess 1 
am at a loss to decide. All three causes may, 
perhaps, contribute to produce that degree 
of cheerfulness which every one must have 
observed in the scenery of Milton Park. 
27 
