zon *. The larger the vessel is, the nearer of course she may approach the eye. In the variety and motion of natural views, we are not fo much hurt with thefe circumftances, which have a bad effect in painting; and yet a bird'seye view on water, is always lefs pleafing than on land; as the variety of ground is more amufing in itself than water, and as it carries off the perfpective better. The grandeur, which an extenfive view of the ocean prefents, is a different idea: we are speaking here only of its beauty. If we reftrict the masts of ships, however, from appearing below the horizon, we object not to boats and birds in that fituation. The boat either fishing or in motion, the wheeling gull, or the lengthened file of feafowl, appear often to great advantage against the bofom of the fea; and being marked with a few ftrong touches, contribute to throw the ocean into perspective.

But though the fituation of Undercliff or Steephill is pleafing, we could not fay much for what is called the cottage. It is covered indeed with thatch; but that makes it no more a cot

* See this fubject treated more at large in the Foreft Scenery, vol. ii. p. 115.

tage,

every

tage, than ruffles would make a clown a gentleman, or a meally hat would turn a laced beau into a miller. We where fee the appendages of junket and good living. Who would expect to find a fountain bubbling up under the windows of a cottage, into an elegant carved shell to cool wine? The thing is beautiful; but out of place. The imagination does not like to be jolted in its fenfations from one idea to another; but to go on quietly in the fame track, either of grandeur or fimplicity. Eafy contrafts it approves; but violent interruptions it diflikes.

Pleasing ideas, no doubt, may be executed under the form of a cottage; but to make them pleafing, they fhould be harmonious. We fometimes fee the cottage idea carried fo far, as to paste ballads on the walls with good effect. But we need not reftrict what may be called the artificial cottage to fo very close an imitation of the natural one.

In the infide cer

tainly it may admit much greater neatness and convenience; though even here every ornament that approaches fplendor, should be rejected. Without too, though the roof be thatched, we may allow it to cover two stories;

and if it project somewhat over the walls, the effect may be better. We should not object to fashed windows; but they must not be large; and if you wifh for a veftibule, a common brick porch, with a plain neat roof, is all we allow. We often see the front of a cottage covered with what is called rough caft; which has a good effect; and this may be tinted with a yellowish tinge mixed with lime, which is more pleasing than the cold raw tint of lime and afhes. But if in the front there is any ftonework, under the denomination of frize, archetrave, or ornament of any kind, it is too much.

The ground about a cottage should be neat, but artless. There is no occafion to plant cabbages in the front. The garden may be removed out of fight; but the lawn that comes up to the door, fhould be grazed, rather than mown. The funk-fence, the net, and the painted rail, are ideas alien to the cottage. The broad gravel walk too we totally reject; and in its room wish only for a simple unaffected one.

These things being considered, it may, perhaps, be a more difficult thing to rear a cottage,

with all its proper uniformities, than is commonly imagined; inasmuch as it may be easier to introduce the elegances of art, than to catch the pure fimplicity of nature.

From Steephill we visited a scene of a very different kind, Sir Richard Worley's feat at Appuldercomb. Here every thing was uniformly grand. The house is magnificent, and it is magnificently furnished. Enriched ceilings, a few good pictures, coftly hangings, fhewy carpets, Gobelin chairs, and large pier-glaffes, all correfpond; and yet not in any expensive profufion *.

The grounds too, which were more the objects of our curiofity, are laid out in a ftile of greatness equal to the mansion. A woody scene rifing behind, is a beautiful back-ground to the house, as well as an excellent fhelter from the north. In front is fpread a magnificent lawn, or rather a park, (for it is furnished with deer,) well varied, and not ill-planted, stretching far and wide. Its boundary, in one

* Since this has been written, I am told, the house is adorned with some curious pieces of Greek antiquities.

part, is confined, at the diftance of about two miles, by a hill running out like a promontory; whofe continuous horizontal ridge might hurt the eye, if it were not crowned with a castle. This object feems well executed, and is certainly well placed. Views of the sea, and various parts of the island, are judiciously opened from all the higher grounds about the house.