2. That where those expressions arc at variance ; when the beauty of the form cannot be produced without saci ific ing its utility ; that form will be most universally and most permanently beautiful, in which the expression of utility is most fully preserved. Essays, vol. ii. p. 202.
Sonic of the various modifications of utility, as applied to country residences, may be here enumerated.
For the purpose of habitation, for example, good air and water, a genial climate, fertile soil, cheerful prospect, and suitable neighbourhood, &c. are known requisites.
Convenience must be joined to use, comforts to conve niencies, and luxuries to comforts. Exercise, whether in the shape of walking, riding, or driving, requires to be pro vided for ; and recreation, whether in the common field sports, athletic games, or in botanical, agricultural, and other useful, elegant, or scientific pursuits, must be kept in view ; rural fetes and amusements might also be enume rated.
./Iccidental associations form the last class of relative beauties, and are such associations as, instead of being common to all mankind, are peculiar to the individual." " They take their rise from education, from peculiar habits of thought, from situation, from profession ; and the beauty they produce is felt only by those whom similar causes have led to the formation of similar associations." (Stewart's Essays) Among these may be reckoned, 1. Classical and historical associations. The influence of the former in architecture is well known ; the latter often adds charms to a spot, in no respect remarkable to those who are unacquainted with its history. Classical associa tions, Mr. Stewart observes, " have added immensely to our natural resources, but, at the same time, warped our taste in various instances ;" acquiring, as Mr. Alison adds, "a superiority over the more permanent principles of beauty, and determining for a time the taste of nations " 2. National associations are also frequently at variance with such as are universal, and have perhaps greater in fluence than any other associations whatever. (Stewart's Essays) • 3. Personal associations, or such as arise from the acci dental style of natural beauties, to which we have been accustomed in our youth. Many particulars come under this head, which it would be tedious to enumerate ; but one mode of vanity and selfish feeling deserves particu lar notice, as intimately connected with the business of the landscape gardener. It is that interest which the attach ment to property creates in men's minds, " rendering them alive to every trifling recommendation belonging to what is their own, while it blinds them to the most prominent beauties in the property of their neighbours." (Stewart's
Essays, p.
This leads to what, tri hying out grounds, is called ap firofination, or such an arrangement as shall, either in reali ty or appearance, render all, or the greater part of what we see from a country seat, our own. The simplest way of effect ing this, is by shutting out all objects which do not corres spun 1 %%1141 II.: a, bt means of walls or plantations. A inure refined mode is, by harmonizing the scenery ; by adopting Sun t C of tho f irms, colours, and arrangements in our ow o to i ri:r ry, which appear in those of our neighbours, seen from the house, or sonic particular points of view. Accot din; to Wheatley. one property of a riding is, to extend the idea of a scat, and appropriate a whole coun try t, the mansion." For this purpose, he requires the road of the riding to b,; different from common roads in form and prLservation. and distinguished by accompani ments burrowed from a park or garden, See. 1\1r. Knight strongly objects to appropriation, and ridicules attempts of this sort, by placing the family arms on the inns and pub lic-houses of the neighbourhood, and on 6, stones with dis tances," as, he says, was recommended by one improver. Girardin also objects to the principle ; but Mr. Repton, and, we he,ieve, almost every other professional man, finds it a very principal object of attention. Mr. Ilepton defines appropriation to be, " that command over the landscape vi sible from the windows, which denotes it to be private pro perty belonging to the place."—" A view into a square, or into the parks, may be cheerful and beautiful, but it wants appropriation; it wants that charm which only belongs to ownership ; the exclusive right of enjoyment, with the pow er of refusing that others should share our pleasure. The most romantic spot, the most picturesque situations, and the most delightful assemblage of nature's choicest mate rials, will not long engage our interest without some ap propriati2n ; something we Call call our own; and, if not our own property, at least that may be endeared to us by calling it our own home." (Fragments of Landscape Gar dening, p. 206.) In concluding the subject of accidental assooiations, it is proper to observe, that the objections to their use apply with far less force to the art of laying out grounds than to architecture, or any of the other elegant arts. For as a country residence is created for the enjoyment of an indi vidual family, that family have undoubtedly a right to gra tify their peculiar tastes ; but, in so far as their tastes are refined, in so far must they expect to obtain the sympathy of men of general associations.