From the vein of excellent sense which pervades this letter, and particularly the latter part of it, which we have extracted entire, it is impossible to avoid suspecting, either that there is a culpable obscurity in the works referred to, or that Mr. Wyndham had not sufficiently, if at all, perus ed them. We are inclined to believe that there is some truth in both suppositions. We have no hesitation, how ever, both from a mature study of all the writings of these gentlemen, relating to this subject, as well as a careful in spection of their own residences, in saying, that there is not an opinion in the above extract, to which they would not at once assent. Mr. Knight's directions in regard to congrui ty and utility, are as distinct as can well be expected in a poem. Mr. Price never entered on that subject. His works say, " Your object is to produce beautiful land scapes; at least this is one great object of your exertions. But you produce very indifferent ones. The beauty of your scenes is not of so high a kind as that of nature. Examine her productions, To aid you in this examination, consult the opinions of those who have gone before you in the same study. Consult the works of painters, and learn the prin ciples which guided them in their combinations of natural and artificial ubjects. Group your trees on the principles they do. Connect your masses as they do. In snort, apply their principles of painting whenever you intend any imita tion of nature, for the principles of nature and of painting are the same. Are we to apply them in every case ? Are we to neglect regular beauty and utility ? Certainly not : that would be inconsistent with common sense." We next present the opinion of Mr. Stewart on the same subject, as given incidentally in his pitilosophical disquisi tion on the beautiful. (Essays, 1810, p. 285.) " As to the application of the knowledge thus acquired Lrom the study of paintings to the improvement of natural landscape, I have no doubt, that to a superior understanding and taste, like those of Mr. Price, it may often suggest very useful hints ; but if recognised as the standard to which the ulti mate appeal is to be made, it would infallibly cover the face of the country with a new and systematical species of affectation, not less remote than that of Brown, from the style of gardening which he wishes to recommend,"—• let painting be allowed its clue praise in quickening our atten tion to the beauties of nature ; in multiplying our resources for their farther embellishment, and in holding up a stand ard, from age to age, to correct the caprices of fashionable innovations ; but let our taste for these beauties be chiefly formed on the study of nature herself; nor let us ever for get so far what is due to her indisputable and salutary pre rogative, as to attempt an encroachment upon it by laws, which derive the whole of their validity from her own sanc tion," 287.
We shall conclude by remarking, that, however indivi duals have differed as to the theory of Mr. Price and Mr. Knight, yet all agree in admiring their respective seats ; IMr. Knight's entirely, and Mr. Price's in great part, Im proved by himself, without professiunal assistance. Na ture has certainly done much for each, and especially for that of Mr. Knight ; but in both the genius loci has been so happily humoured, that the operations of art have greatly heightened the natural expression of each, while a strict at tention to convenience and use has not been forgotten in either situation. (Sec a Description of these- Seats in Mr. Repton on the approaching changes of taste in Landscape Gardening and Architecture. 8 vu. 1810.)
If we have dwelt longer on the writings of these authors, it is because we consider a knowledge of them of the great est importance, not only to the introduction of a better taste than has hitherto been displayed, even in the comparatively chaste periods of Kt nt, Shenstone, and Hamilton ; but, as Mr. Stewart has expressed, as leading to studies which shall " hold up a standard from age to age, to correct the ca prices of fashionable innovations" The general taste for drawing, as already remarked, in the present generation, and the late frequent practice of making tours to the more picturesque parts of the island, have co-operated with Mr. Price's work, in refining the taste of the higher classes. Mr. Knight's learned and com prehensive " Analytical Enquiry into the Principles of Taste ;" Mr. Alison's beautiful and ptoteund essay on the same subject ; and the Philosophical Essays on Beauty by Mr. Stewart, have undoubtedly had considerable influence. The necessity of economising income has enforced the maxim, that " from truth and use all beauties flow ;" so that, as Mr. Repton observes, the characteristic of the present improved taste may be said to be "a just sense of general We confess, however, that this refined taste is by no means of a nature impelling to action ; for, partly from a fear of doing mischief, and partly from the great attention, during the last twenty years, to war and agriculture, less has been done in beautifying country seats, or improving their scenery, as scenery, than appears to have been the case fur at least two centuries before. Horticulture, and continental travelling, seem now to take the place of war and farming ; and so very little has been done since the late political changes in Europe, that Mr. Repton, in his Frag ments, published in 1817, expresses his doubts whether landscape gardening may not become one of the artes per ditre. He observes also, that war, and war taxes, have de pressed the spirit of elegant improvement—that the sudden acquisition of riches, by individuals, has divided wealth into new channels; " menace solicitous to increase property, ra ther than to enjoy it ; they endeavour to improve the value, rather than the beauty of their newly purchased estates. The country gentleman, in the last century, took more delight in the sports of the field than in the profits of the farm ; his pleasure was to enjoy in peace the venerable home of his ancestors ; but the necessity of living in camps, and the habit of living in lodgings at watering places, has of late totally changed his character and pursuits ; and, at the same time, perhaps, tended to alienate half the ancient land ed property of the country." " The taste of the country has bowed to the shrine which all worship." " It is not therefore to be wondered at, that the art of landscape gar dening should have slowly and gradually declined." In confirmation of these remarks, it is worthy of record, that one of Kent's first and best efforts, Esher, selected and described as an example of modern garden ing, by Mr. Wheatley ; and one of Brown's most celebrated creations, Fisherwick, (See Marshall's " Planting and Ru ral Ornament," and Leicestershire, in the "Beauties of England and Wales,") have been sold in lots, and the man sions razed to the ground. Let us hope, however, that those who are now engaged in visiting other countries, will shortly return with a renewed Inve of their own ; and that landscape gardening, of which Lord Walpole affirms we have given a true model to the world, may yet flourish, and perpetuate the credit we have obtained.