"At that time it was the pride of every possessor of a few acres, or even square yards, of ground, to display his riches and his taste to the view of passengers who have scarcely any other mode of travelling except in a trekschuit. This display was different in different places; sometimes it consisted of a parterre hanging to the water, in which the design traced on the ground was like a pattern for working muslin on embroidery. The outline might, perhaps, be marked with an edging of box, and, in some few instances, small grass-plots were introduced; but, generally, the effect of these gardens (as they were called) was produced without any vegetation; yet, by a contrast of colours, and a variety of forms, the eye of the stranger was amused, while that of taste might smile at the absurdity. Instead of filling these beds with earth, or mould, in which plants might grow, one part was filled with red brick-dust, another with charcoal, a third with yellow sand, a fourth with chalk, a fifth with broken china, others with green glass, others with spars and ores, and, in short, with materials of every colour or kind that might imitate the gardens of precious stones, described in fairy tales, or the Arabian Nights. Such fanciful ground-plans were surrounded by clipped hedges, intermixed with statues and vases of lead, painted in gaudy colours, and often richly gilt;-but sometimes they were flat boards, on which were painted men and women, to imitate the action and colours of nature. In other gardens, a taste less extravagant prevailed. The lofty trees, though always planted in rows, and always cut to preserve the exact limit of their shade, were accompanied by ornaments of sculpture in marble; and the vases were enriched with real flowers, instead of gilded pine-apples. In many places only partial views of the gardens were opened to the canal;-but these were always studied in their effect to the passengers, by a long perspective, not like that of an avenue, which is the same from one end to the other; but frequently, by arches, or other contrivances, the eye was led across many different compartments of an extensive garden, and the view was generally terminated by a scene painted at the back of some seat, which gave imaginary extent beyond the real boundary. The whole interior of these gardens was as formal and fantastic as these occasional vistas. Nature was never consulted, they were works of art; and the lofty clipped hedges, and close overarching trees, were as carefully kept by the shears, as the walks were by the scythes and rollers. All was neatness; the effect of incessant labour. A Dutch merchant's accounts and his garden were kept with the same degree of accuracy and attention. I have been more particular with this description, because it so strongly confirms the opinion I have conceived, that no degree of care or forethought in the father can avail the son in the future pursuits of his life. How few have reached to any great eminence in the profession to which, by the fond parent, they were originally designed! Could it be expected that the future landscape gardener of England should have studied in the parterres and clipped vistas of a Dutchman?"
