Nations had Abundance, were generally I fancy represented in the human
Form. And these _Saxon_ Divinities, I suppose, pretend not to any
superior Rank----But however, as no Degree of Veneration is exacted
from you, you may I think let them rest quietly upon their Pedestals,
without any farther Molestation.----We have a good View into the
Country from hence. Those Woods are extremely elegant in their kind; we
must certainly contrive to take a Ride thither some Evening. They are
laid out in a very fine Manner, and cut into very beautiful Ridings.
_Polypth._ Ay, that is the kind of Improvement that takes most with me
(let us step in here a Moment, we are caught I see in a Shower). I am
altogether of the Poet's Opinion, that
_'Tis _Use_ alone that sanctifies Expence._
Were I a Nobleman, I should endeavour to turn my Estate into a Garden,
and make my Tenants my Gardiners: Instead of useless Temples, I would
build Farm-houses; and instead of cutting out unmeaning Vistas, I would
beautify and mend Highways: The Country should smile upon my Labours,
and the Public should partake in my Pleasures. What signifies all this
ostentatious Work? Is any Man the better for it? Is it not Money most
vilely squandered away?
_Calloph._ So far from it, that I assure you, considered even in a
public Light, I look upon it as an Expence that may very properly be
said to be sanctified by _Use_.
_Polypth._ I suppose you are going to tell me that it feeds two or
three poor Labourers; and when you have said this, I know not what more
you can say to defend it. But how is it possible for a Man to throw away
his Money without doing some Service in the World?
_Calloph._ How? Why by spending it in gaming, to the Encouragement of
Cheats and Sharpers: By squandering it away upon Lusts and Appetites, in
the Support of Stews and Bawdy-houses: Or by Dealing it out in Bribes,
in opposition to Honesty, and to advance Corruption. In Arts like these,
what Numbers consume their Wealth! It is not enough for them to prevent
Mankind's being benefited by their affluent Circumstances; but they do
their utmost, while they diminish their Fortunes, to make all they can
influence as worthless as themselves. So that I assure you I should look
upon it as a very great Point gained, if all our Men of Fortune would
only take care that their Wealth proves of no Disservice to Mankind.
Tho' I am far from desiring they should stop there: I would have them
endeavour to turn it into some useful Channel. And in my Opinion, it is
laid out in a very laudable Manner, when it is spent, as it is here, in
circulating thro' a Variety of Trades, in supporting a Number of poor
Families, and in the Encouragement of Art and Industry.
_Polypth._ Well, Sir, I confess Wealth thus laid out, is beneficial to a
Country; but still you keep from the Point: I ask whether all these good
Ends would not be answered, and more too, were this Wealth laid out
according to my Scheme, in public Works, or something of an _useful_
Nature.
_Calloph._ And so you have no Notion of any Use arising from these
elegant Productions of Art: You cannot conceive how they should be of
any Service to the Public. Why you are a mere _Goth_, an unpolished
_Vandal_; were you impowered to reform the Age, I suppose I should see
you, like one of those wild misguided People, coursing furiously round
the Land, and laying desolate every thing beautiful you met with. But in
my Opinion, Sir, these noble Productions of Art, considered merely as
such, may be looked upon as Works of a very public Nature. Do you think
no _End_ is answered when a Nation's Taste is regulated with regard to
the most innocent, the most refined, and elegant of its Pleasures? In
all polite Countries the Amusements of the People were thought highly
deserving a Legislator's Inspection. To establish a just Taste in these,
was esteemed in some measure as advancing the Interest of Virtue: And
can it be considered as a Work entirely of a private Nature, for a
superior Genius to exert itself in an Endeavour to fix a true Standard
of Beauty in any of these allowed and useful kinds of Pleasure? In the
Way of Gardening particularly, the Taste of the Nation has long been so
depraved, that I should think we might be obliged to any one that would
undertake to reform it. While a Taste for Painting, Music, Architecture,
and other polite Arts, in some measure prevailed amongst us, our Gardens
for the most Part were laid out in so formal, aukward, and wretched a
Manner, that they were really a Scandal to the very Genius of the
Nation; a Man of Taste was shocked whenever he set his Foot into them.
But _Stow_, it is to be hoped, may work some Reformation: I would have
our Country Squires flock hither two or three times in a Year, by way of
Improvement, and after they have looked about them a little, return Home
with new Notions, and begin to see the Absurdity of their clipped Yews,
their Box-wood Borders, their flourished Parterres, and their lofty
Brick-walls.----You may smile, but I assure you such an Improvement of
public Taste, tho' there is no Occasion to consider it as a matter of
the first Importance, is certainly a Concern that ought by no means to
be neglected. Perhaps indeed I may carry the Matter farther than the
generality of People; but to me I must own there appears a very visible
Connection between an _improved_ Taste for Pleasure, and a Taste for
Virtue: When I sit ravished at an Oratorio, or stand astonished before
the Cartoons, or enjoy myself in these happy Walks, I can feel my Mind
expand itself, my Notions enlarge, and my Heart better disposed either
for a religious Thought, or a benevolent Action: In a Word, I cannot
help imagining a Taste for these exalted Pleasures contributes towards
making me a better Man.
_Polypth._ Good God! what an Enthusiast you are! Polite Arts improve
Virtue! an Assertion indeed for a Philosopher to make. Why are they not
always considered as having a natural Tendency to Luxury, to Riot, and
Licentiousness?
_Calloph._ No more, in my Opinion, than a wholesome Meal has to a
Surfeit, or reading the Scriptures to Heresy: All things are capable, we
know, of Abuse; and perhaps the best things the most capable: And tho'
this may indeed argue a Depravity in _us_, yet it by no means, I think,
argues a Tendency in _them_ to deprave us. However, (to let what I have
yet said stand for nothing) I can tell you one very great Piece of
Service arising to the Country from Wealth laid out in this elegant
manner, which you seem so much to grumble at; and that is, the Money
spent in the Neighbourhood by the Company daily crouding hither to
satisfy their Curiosity. We have a kind of a continual Fair; and I have
heard several of the Inhabitants of the neighbouring Town assert, that
it is one of the best Trades they have: Their Inns, their Shops, their
Farms, and Shambles, all find their Account in it: So that, in my
Opinion, viewed in this Light only, such Productions of Art may be
considered as very great Advantages to every Neighbourhood that enjoys
the lucky Situation of being placed near them.----To this Advantage
might be added, the great Degree of Pleasure from hence derived daily to
such Numbers of People: A Place like this is a kind of keeping open
House, there is a Repast at all times ready for the Entertainment of
Strangers. And sure if you have any Degree of Benevolence, you must
think an _useful End_ answered in thus affording an innocent
Gratification to so many of your Fellow-creatures. A _Sunday_ Evening
spent here, adds a new Relish to the Day of Rest, and makes the Sabbath
appear more chearful to the Labourer after a toilsome Week. For my
Part, I assure you I have scarce experienced a greater Pleasure than I
have often felt upon meeting a Variety of pleased Faces in these Walks:
All Care and Uneasiness seems to be left behind at the Garden-door, and
People enter here fully resolved to enjoy themselves, and the several
beautiful Objects around them: In one Part a Face presents itself marked
with the Passion of gaping Wonder; in another you meet a Countenance
bearing the Appearance of a more rational Pleasure; and in a third, a
Sett of Features composed into serene Joy; while the Man of Taste is
seen examining every Beauty with a curious Eye, and discovering his
Approbation in an half-formed Smile.--To this I might still add another
Advantage, of a public Nature, derived from these elegant Productions of
Art; and that is their Tendency to raise us in the Opinion of
Foreigners. If our Nation had nothing of this kind to boast of, all our
Neighbours would look upon us a stupid, tasteless Set of People, and not
worth visiting. So that for the Credit of the Country, I think,
something of this kind ought to be exhibited amongst us. Our public
Virtues, if we have any, would not, I dare say, appear to less Advantage
when recommended by these Embellishments of Art.
_Polypth._ I wonder you should not know me better than to imagine I am
always in earnest when I find fault. My Thoughts and yours, I assure
you, agree exactly upon this Subject. I only wanted to engage you in
some Discourse till the Shower was over; and as the Sky seems now quite
clear, if you will, we'll venture out, and visit what we have yet to
see.
_Calloph._ You are a humorous Fellow: This is not the first time you
have made me play my Lungs to no purpose.----As we walk along this
Terrace, you may observe the great Advantage of low Walls: By this means
the Garden is extended beyond its Limits, and takes in every thing
entertaining that is to be met with in the range of half a County.
Villages, Works of Husbandry, Groups of Cattle, Herds of Deer, and a
Variety of other beautiful Objects, are brought into the Garden, and
make a Part of the Plan. Even to the _nicest_ Taste these rural Scenes
are highly delightful.
_Polypth._ Nay you may add, that whoever has no Relish for them, gives
Reason for a Suspicion that he has no Taste at all.
_Straight mine Eye hath caught new Pleasures,
Whilst the Landskip round it measures;
Russet Lawns, and Fallows gray.
Where the nibbling flocks do stray;
Mountains, on whose barren Breast
The labouring Clouds do often rest;
Meadows trim with Daisies pide,
Shallow Brooks, and Rivers wide:
Towers and Battlements it sees
Bosom'd high in tufted Trees,
Where perhaps some Beauty lies,
The Cynosure of neighbouring Eyes.
Hard by a Cottage Chimney smokes,
From betwixt two aged Oaks._
_Calloph._ Can you repeat no more? I could have listened with great
Pleasure if you had gone on with the whole Piece. It is quite Nature:
That View of an old Castle, _bosom'd high in tufted Trees_, pleases me
exceedingly: And the two following Lines,
_Where perhaps some Beauty lies,
The Cynosure of neighbouring Eyes,_
give it an elegant, romantic Air; and add greatly to the Idea before
conceived.----But to pursue our former Argument: It must be owned indeed
that these Walks want such Openings into the Country as little as any
Place can well be imagined to do; yet even _Stow_ itself, I assure you,
is much improved by them. They contrast beautifully with this more
polished Nature, and set it off to greater Advantage. After surfeiting
itself with the Feast here provided for it, the Eye, by using a little
Exercise in travelling about the Country, grows hungry again, and
returns to the Entertainment with fresh Appetite. Besides, there is
nothing so distasteful to the Eye as a confined Prospect (where the
Reasonableness of it does not appear) especially if a dead Wall, or any
other such disagreeable Object steps in between. The Eye naturally loves
Liberty, and when it is in quest of Prospects, will not rest content
with the most beautiful Dispositions of Art, confined within a narrow
Compass, but (as soon as the Novelty of the Sight is over) will begin to
grow dissatisfied, till the whole Limits of the Horizon be given it to
range through.
_Polypth._ The Eye, according to your Account, seems to be something
like a Bee: Plant as many Flowers as you will near its Hive, yet still
the little Insect will be discontented, unless it be allowed to wander
o'er the Country, and be its own Caterer.----I have got a few very
severe Exclamations at my Tongue's End, which I will not vent till you
have told me the Architect's Name, who has loaded the Ground with that
monstrous Piece of Building, tho' I believe I can guess him without
your Information.
_Calloph._ Suffer me to intercede in his Behalf. You are so unmerciful a
Reprover, that I have not Patience to hear you. The Room above is
designed, I am told, to be fitted up in a very elegant manner; but as
very little is yet done to it, we shall find nothing I fancy to answer
the Trouble of going up Stairs.----This Part of the Garden, you see, is
yet unfinished. If we have the Pleasure of your Company in this Country
next Year, you will see I dare say great Alterations here. That _Base_
is to shoot up into a lofty Monument: And several of those Objects you
see before you are to take new Forms upon them.
_Polypth._ Yonder likewise seems to be a Monument[19] rising: Pray who is
it intended to do Honour to?
_Calloph._ Why, Sir, it is intended to do Honour to a Gentleman, who has
done Honour to his Country: It is dedicated to the Memory of Captain
_Grenville_, and joins with the Nation in applauding a Man, who pushed
forwards by Honour, and a Love for his Country, met Danger and Death
with the Spirit of a _Roman_.----Well, how do you like the Plan which
you see laid out before you?
[19] Since this View of the Gardens was taken, the Monument here
spoken of has been finished. The following Lines are a Translation
of its Inscription, which in the Original is wrote in Latin.
As a Monument To testify both his Applause and Grief, RICHARD Lord
Viscount COBHAM Erected this Naval Pillar to the Memory of his Nephew
CAPTAIN GRENVILLE, Who commanding a Ship of War in the _British_ Fleet
Under ADMIRAL ANSON, In an Engagement with the _French_, was Mortally
wounded upon the Thigh By a Fragment of his shattered Ship; Yet with his
last Breath had the Bravery to cry out, How much more desireable is it
thus to meet Death, "Than, convicted of Cowardice, to meet Justice!"
May this noble Instance of Virtue Prove instructive to an abandoned Age,
And teach _Britons_ how to act In their Country's Cause!
_Polypth._ As far as I can judge of the future Landskip from this
Sketch, it will be an admirable one. I am extremely taken with it. That
Bason has a very fine Effect.--I could return back the same Round with
great Pleasure, but my Watch informs me that Mr.----, has been
expecting us this half Hour.
_Calloph._ Is it so late? The Time has stole off very slily. However you
need be under no Apprehensions; that honest Gentleman is seldom very
hasty in his Motions.
Having thus finished their Round, our two Gentlemen directed their Faces
back again towards the Gate.
_Polypthon_, notwithstanding the sour Humour he had given so many
Evidences of in his Walk, began now to relent, and could talk of nothing
but the agreeable Entertainment that had been afforded him. Sometimes he
would run out into the highest Encomiums of the many beautiful
Terminations of the several Walks and Vistas; and observe how many Uses
each Object served, and in how many different Lights it was made to vary
itself. "For Instance, says he, the Pavilion you shewed me from the
Temple of _Venus_, terminates that Terrace in a very grand Manner; and
makes likewise a very magnificent Appearance, where it corresponds with
another of the same Form, at the Entrance into the Park: Yet the same
Building, like a Person acquainted with the World, who can suit his
Behaviour to Time and Place, can vary itself upon occasion into a more
humble Shape, and when viewed thro' a retired Vista, can take upon it
the lowly Form of a close Retreat."----When he had enlarged pretty
copiously upon this Subject, he would next launch out into the highest
Praises of the vast Variety of Objects that was every where to be met
with: "Men of all Humours, says he, will here find something pleasing
and suited to their Taste. The thoughtful may meet with retired Walks
calculated in the best Manner for Contemplation: The gay and chearful
may see Nature in her loveliest Dress, and meet Objects corresponding
with their most lively Flights. The romantic Genius may entertain itself
with several very beautiful Objects in its own Taste, and grow wild with
Ideas of the inchanted kind. The disconsolate Lover may hide himself in
shady Groves, or melancholy wander along the Banks of Lakes and Canals;
where he may sigh to the gentle Zephyrs; mingle his Tears with the
bubbling Water; or where he may have the best Opportunity, if his Malady
be grown to such an Height, of ending his Despair, and finishing his
Life with all the Decency and Pomp of a Lover in a Romance. In short,
says he, these Gardens are a very good Epitome of the World: They are
calculated for Minds of every Stamp, and give free Scope to Inclinations
of every kind: And if it be said that in some Parts they too much
humour the debauched Taste of the Sensualist, it cannot be denied on
the other hand, but that they afford several very noble Incitements to
Honour and Virtue."----But what beyond all other things seemed most to
please him, was the amicable and beautiful Conjunction of _Art_ and
_Nature_ thro' the whole: He observed that the _former_ never appeared
stiff, or the _latter_ extravagant.
Upon many other Topicks of Praise _Polypthon_ run out with great Warmth.
_Callophilus_ seemed surprized, and could not forbear asking him, By
what means his Opinions became so suddenly changed? "Why, says he, Sir,
I have said nothing now that contradicts any thing I said before. I own
I met with two or three Objects that were not entirely to my Taste,
which I am far from condemning for that Reason; tho' if I should, it is
nothing to the purpose, because I am now taking a Survey of the whole
together; in which Light I must confess I am quite astonished with the
View before me. Besides, I hate one of your wondering Mortals, who is
perpetually breaking out into a Note of Admiration at every thing he
sees: I am always apt to suspect his Taste or his Sincerity. It is
impossible that all Genius's can alike agree in their Opinions of any
Work of Art; and the Man who never _blames_, I can scarce believe is
qualified to _commend_. Besides, finding fault now and then, adds Weight
to Commendation, and makes us believed to be in earnest. However,
notwithstanding what you may think of my frequent Cavils, I assure you,
with the greatest Sincerity, I never before saw any thing of the kind at
all comparable to what I have here seen: I shall by no means close this
Day with a _Diem perdidi_; nor would the _Roman_ Emperor himself, I
believe, have made the Reflection if he had spent his condemned Hours in
this Place."
By this time the Gentlemen were come to the Gate, thro' which
_Polypthon_ assured his Friend he passed with the greatest Reluctance,
and went growling out of this delightful Garden, as the Devil is said to
have done out of Paradise.
_FINIS._
WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK
MEMORIAL LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES
The Augustan Reprint Society
PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT
The Augustan Reprint Society
PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT
1948-1949
16. Henry Nevil Payne, _The Fatal Jealousie_ (1673).
18. "Of Genius," in _The Occasional Paper_, Vol. III, No. 10 (1719),
and Aaron Hill, Preface to _The Creation_ (1720).
1949-1950
19. Susanna Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709).
22. Samuel Johnson, _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749), and two
_Rambler_ papers (1750).
23. John Dryden, _His Majesties Declaration Defended_ (1681).
1951-1952
26. Charles Macklin, _The Man of the World_ (1792).
31. Thomas Gray, _An Elegy Wrote in a Country Churchyard_ (1751),
and _The Eton College Manuscript_.
1952-1953
41. Bernard Mandeville, _A Letter to Dion_ (1732).
1964-1965
110. John Tutchin, _Selected Poems_ (1685-1700).
111. _Political Justice_ (1736).
113. T. R., _An Essay Concerning Critical and Curious Learning_
(1698).
1965-1966
115. Daniel Defoe and others, _Accounts of the Apparition of Mrs.
Veal_ (1705, 1706, 1720, 1722).
116. Charles Macklin, _The Convent Garden Theatre_ (1752).
117. Sir Roger L'Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680).
118. Henry More, _Enthusiasmus Triumphatus_ (1662).
120. Bernard Mandeville, _Aesop Dress'd or a Collection of Fables_ (1740).
1966-1967
124. _The Female Wits_ (1704).
1968-1969
133. John Courtenay, _A Poetical Review of the Literary and Moral
Character of the Late Samuel Johnson_ (1786).
136. Thomas Sheridan, _A Discourse Being Introductory to His
Course of Lectures on Elocution and the English Language_
(1759).
137. Arthur Murphy. _The Englishman from Paris_ (1756).
1969-1970
138. [Catherine Trotter] _Olinda's Adventures_ (1718).
139. John Ogilvie, _An Essay on the Lyric Poetry of the Ancients_
(1762).
140. _A Learned Dissertation on Dumpling_ (1726) and _Pudding and
Dumpling Burnt to Pot or a Compleat Key to the Dissertation
on Dumpling_ (1727).
141. Sir Roger L'Estrange, Selections from _The Observator_ (1681-1687).
142. Anthony Collins, _A Discourse Concerning Ridicule and Irony in
Writing_ (1729).
143. _A Letter From a Clergyman to His Friend, with an Account of
the Travels of Captain Lemuel Gulliver_ (1726).
144. _The Art of Architecture_, A Poem (1742).
1970-1971
145-146. Thomas Shelton,_ A Tutor to Tachygraphy, or Short-writing_
(1642) and _Tachygraphy_ (1647).
147-148. _Deformities of Dr. Samuel Johnson_ (1782).
149. _Poeta de Tristibus: or the Poet's Complaint_ (1682).
150. Gerard Langbaine, _Momus Triumphans: or the Plagiaries of the
English Stage_ (1687).
1971-1972
151-152. Evan Lloyd, _The Methodist. A Poem_ (1766).
153. _Are These Things So?_ (1740), and _The Great Man's Answer to
Are These Things So?_ (1740).
154. Arbuthnotiana: _The Story of the St. Alb-ns Ghost_ (1712), and _A
Catalogue of Dr. Arbuthnot's Library_ (1779).
155-156. A Selection of Emblems from Herman Hugo's _Pia Desideria_
(1624), with English Adaptations by Francis Quarles and Edmund
Arwaker.
1972-1973
157. William Mountfort, _The Life and Death of Doctor Faustus_
(1697).
158. Colley Cibber, _A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope_ (1742).
159. [Catherine Clive] _The Case of Mrs. Clive_ (1744).
160. [Thomas Tryon] _A Discourse ... of Phrensie, Madness or
Distraction_ from _A Treatise of Dreams and Visions_ [1689].
161. Robert Blair, _The Grave. A Poem_ (1743).
162. [Bernard Mandeville] _A Modest Defence of Publick Stews_
(1724).
1973-1974
163. [William Rider] _An Historical and Critical Account of the
Lives and Writings of the Living Authors of Great Britain_
(1762).
164. Thomas Edwards, _The Sonnets of Thomas Edwards_ (1765,
1780).
165. Hildebrand Jacob, _Of the Sister Arts; An Essay_ (1734).
166. _Poems on the Reign of William III_ [1690, 1696, 1699, 1702]
167. Kane O'Hara, _Midas: An English Burletta_ (1766).
168. [Daniel Defoe] _A Short Narrative History of the Life and Actions
of His Grace John, D. of Marlborough_ (1711).
1974-1975
169-170. Samuel Richardson, _The Apprentice's Vade-Mecum_ (1734).
171. James Bramston, _The Man of Taste_ (1733).
172-173. Walter Charleton, _The Ephesian Matron_ (1668).
174. Bernard Mandeville, _The Mischiefs That Ought Justly to be apprehended
From a Whig-Government_ (1714).
174X. John Melton, _Astrologaster_ (1620).
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Transcriber's Note. The original punctuation and spelling have been
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End of Project Gutenberg's A Dialogue upon the Gardens, by William Gilpin