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of ground, one near the green-house, the other near the dairy.
These two streams united a little above the site of the old Abbey,
contributing greatly to its comfort by reservoirs and fish-ponds;
so requisite to the supply of a numerous ecclesiastical establish-
ment, whose chief food was the fish of fresh water.
It is now too late to inquire why this site was preserved in
the present house; or why the residence of a Noble Family
retains the name of Abbey, when every vestige of the original
pile has been destroyed. If any mistake is committed, it be-
comes the duty of the improver to suggest expedients that may
retrieve errors, or remedy defects. And since it is impossible
to raise the house in reality, or to alter its real situation, we
must endeavour to do so in appearance; at least we should cau-
tiously avoid every thing which tends to lessen the magnitude,
to depress the importance, or to diminish the character which
so obviously belongs to Woburn Abbey, as now altered from a
monastic to a ducal residence.
CHARACTER AND SITUATION.
So intimately connected is the Character of a place with the
Situation of the House, that it is hardly possible to separate
them in idea; yet it is obvious, that at Wobur these two cir-
cumstances are at variance with each other.
The Character of Woburn Abbey (whether we consider its
command of surrounding property, its extent of domain, the
hereditary lonours of the family, the magnificence of the Man-