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After almost half a century passed in the Parks and Gardens
of England, and during much of that time having been profes-
sionally consulted on their improvement, I am fully convinced
that Fashion has frequently misled Taste, by confounding the
scenery of Art and Nature. And while I have acceded to the
combination of two words, Landscape and: Gardening, yet they
are as distinct objects as the picture and its frame. The Scenery
of Nature, called Landscape, and that' of a Garden, are as dif-
-ferent as their uses; one is to please the eye;* the other is' for
the comfort and occupation of man: one is wild, and may be'
adapted to animals in the wildest state of nature; while the
other is appropriated to man in the highest state of civilization
and refinement.. We therefore find, that although Painters may
despise Gardens as subjects for the pencil, yet Poets, Philoso-
phers, and Statesmen, have'always enjoyed and described the'
pure delights of Garden Scenery.
A Garden, as the appendage to a place of such importance
as Ashridge, is no trifling consideration: and it ought well to
be weighed, before we sacrifice one of the most: splendid and
costly works of Art to the reigning rage for Nature, and all that
is deemed natural.
It will perhaps be said, that where we work with Nature's
materials, the' production should imitate Nature: but it might,
with equal propriety, :be asserted, that a house being built of
rocks and stones.should imitate a cavern.
Let us then begin by defining what a Garden is, and what
it ought-to be. ,It is a piece of ground fenced off from cattle,