98.About the middle of the eighteenth century, the English style of gardening began to attract attention in Italy; though, partly from the general stagnation of mind, and partly from the abundance of natural beauty already existing, it has never made much progress in that country. �Unfortunately,� observes Eustace (Tour, vol. i. p. 426.), a traveller abundantly partial to Italy, �the modern Romans, like the continental nations in general, are not partial to country residences. They may enjoy the description, or commend the representation, of rural scenes and occupations, in books and pictures; but they feel not the beauties of nature, and cannot relish the calm, the solitary charms of a country life.� The Italians in general, he elsewhere adds (vol. i. p. 98.), have very little taste in furnishing a house, or in laying out grounds to advantage.
