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best views." Simple as this apothegm may appear, it contains
more truth in theory, and more difficulty in practice, than all
the rules which have ever been laid down in books by archi-
tects, or the remarks of all the admirers of rural scenery, with
whom I have conversed. The former never think of Aspects,
and the latter think of nothing but Prospects. I will therefore
beg leave to enlarge on these two subjects.
I consider the Aspect as of infinitely more consequence to
the comfort and enjoyment of the inhabitant, than any Pro-
spect whatever: and every common observer must be con-
vinced, that in this climate a southern aspect is most desirable;
but few are aware of the total difference in the effect of turning
the front of the house a few points to the East or to the West of
the south; because, although the south-east is the best, yet the
south-west is the worst of all possible Aspects; for this rea-
son, viz. all blustering winds and driving rains come from the
south-west, and consequently the windows are so covered with
wet, as to render the landscape hardly visible. My attention
was originally drawn to this subject by travelling so much in
post carriages, and often remarking the difference betwixt the
window to the south-west and that to the south-east, during a
shower of rain, or immediately after; when the sun shining on
the drops causes an unpleasant glitter, obstructing the prospect,
while the view towards the south-east remains perfectly visible.*
At Organ-Hall, in Hertfordshire, a seat of Wiliam Towgood, Esq. the living-
room was towards the south-west, and during a heavy storm of wind and rain we acci-