In all these discussions, proper references will be made to the maps and sketches. Simple language will of course be employed in describing future effects ; but, above all, simple sketches, which shall owe little of their effect to shading, and none to colouring, or finishing, arc essentially necessary.
Mr. Girardin seems to have been the first who suggest ed this mode of obtaining an opinion systematically his remarks on the fallacious effect of beautiful drawings instead of outlines, are well deserving of attention. (4 Von; tleherez metricque cette esquisse ne soit qu'un simple trait, et ne presente d'aiaord que les formes principales des objets, et la disposition genegale des grandes masses de votrc ensemble. 1.To dessei Men finic ne manquera pas de vous seduire par Pagrement de la. touche (fun {labile artiste ; vous vous determineriez d'aprei un dessein ding vous ne reussiriez pent-etre pas a obtenir Pellet dans la nature, et it faut bier mieux avoir a gagner qu'a perdre dans l'execution." Mr. Repton has the merit of first employing this system elegantly and extensively in England, and of adopting, in stead of one entire landscape to shrew the previous state, and another to shew the effect of the alterations, a slip of paper of the size and shape of those parts of the landscape which require alteration. This is fixed at one edge of the entire landscape, and lies flat over part of it, so that when lifted up it shews the full effect. It must be confessed, howe ver, that though an elegant mode, it is not perfectly fair, since the view in which the cut paper forms a part can Dever look so well as the other, even from the mere circum stance of the bounding line of the paper. For some cases, however, it may be used, though in general it will be found, that two entire landscapes afford the most impartial means of judging of the effects of an improvement. The discus sion and sketches of the place and improvements being finished, and bound in a book, the ground or working plan, Plate CCCXLIV. is to be put on canvass, or copied on parchment, for the common use of the gardener, or who ever sets out the work ; and the profile, Plate CCCXLV. put on rollers, to be preserved along with the red-book of the place. These being delivered to the proprietor, he will determine, after mature deliberation, whether or not he will adopt the whole, or any part of the improvements, previously consulting those friends, whose taste or judg ment he considers adequate to forming a judicious opi on the whole, or on any one part of the subject.
" Lorsque l'esquisse de votre ensemble sera faite, alors vous reflecherez, vous concerterez. vous discutetez avec des Bens de gi tit Cordonnance ge erale de la disposition qu'clle vous presente." In this example of forming a plan, we have chosen a dull and nearly flat site where nothing has been done; but it is evident, that the same general principles are applica ble to such places as are to be altered, diminished, or en larged.
Whether this must be done by contractors, or by the proprietor at his own risk, must depend on circumstances, both respecting the knowledge, taste, and leisure of the proprietor, and the nature and extent of the improvements. Where an entire new house and grounds are to be created, an eminent substantial contractor for the buildings, and another for the ground operations, will be found the most speedy and certain as to expense ; the work, in both cases, being liable to be regularly examined at stated periods by a neutral surveyor, accompanied by the original designer of the improvements.
If this mode is not adopted, the whole, or greater parr, may be done under the eye of the owner and his steward ; various, and as many parts as possible, being let by the job. We shall take a cursory view of the chief objects of alteration or addition, and indicate some things in each, which may in most cases be more profitably done by the job, premising, that whenever the cost or intricacy of any piece of work is considerable, unless a contractor of some respectalfility is employed, the work is much better done by the labourers of the proprietor.
Buildings. All alterations, or new erections, may be readily estimated and executed by contract, and almost in every case at less expense to the proprietor. The mere difference between the trade price and the gentleman's price of the materials and labour, and between the hours kept and the quantity of work done in a given time by a journeyman to a master tradesman and to a gentleman, will (if the former should, by error in estimating, find no other gain,) afford a certain profit to the tradesman ; and thus, suppose a contractor to estimate a piece of work at L1000, and which the proprietor, changing his mind, instead of letting to the contractor, executes it himself, and finds the amount L1100, the contractor, had he got the job, would have actually had a profit, and the owner been a gainer of L100.