The natural effect on the human mind of acquired wealth, is either an ostentatious display of its importance to others, or a close application of it to selfish and private enjoyment; and, very frequently, both in the same individual. And this effect may be traced in the modern practice of what is called improving both houses and palaces. In the former, if the inside display of magnificence or comfort be accomplished, the external architecture is little attended to; while, in gardening, the perfection of improvement seems to consist in the extent of ground appropriated to the private enjoyment of the possessor and his friends. It has frequently been observed, "that England would, in time, become the garden of Europe, by the continual increase in the number and extent of its improved places:" but the improvement of individual places has rather injured than benefited the traveller, because all view is totally excluded from the highways by the lofty fences and thick belt with which the improver shuts himself up within his improvement. This arises from the seclusion which is, perhaps, in some cases, necessary; but which, in the course of long practice, I have generally observed to be carried too far; and has introduced the fashion, that in all places, whether of five acres or of five thousand, the first step is to inclose with a wall, or pale; and the next, to cover that boundary with a belt, or plantation.* This gratifies the desire of seclusion and private enjoyment, while that of displaying great possessions has introduced the fashion of considering the importance of a place by its extent, rather than by its variety; and describing it rather by its number of acres, than by its beauties!!
*[This remark will be more striking, when exemplified by a comparison between a new place and an old one. In the former, a brick wall, or close paling, is put so near the road as to leave no margin of waste land, while the old hedgerow thorns and pollard trees are taken away, to make room for young plantations of firs, and larch, and Lombardy poplars. How different from the ancient manorial domains! where the public road has a broad margin of herbage, enriched with thorns and spreading timber, under whose twisted branches the rough and knotty pale admits a view into the park, where romantic and decaying oaks denote the old proprietor's taste and preference for picturesque objects, rather than for the intrinsic value of his timber: while, on the contrary, the new possessor, who has, perhaps, lately paid dearly for the timber, is too often anxious to realize the value of his purchase, by converting to profit every tree that has ceased to grow and is, therefore, deemed ripe for the axe.]
