A common error, by which modern improvers are apt to be misled, arises from the mistake so often made by adopting extent for beauty. Thus the longest circuit is frequently preferred to that which is most interesting; not indeed by the visitors, but by the fancied improver of a place. This, I apprehend, was the origin, and is always the tedious effect, of what is called a Belt; through which the stranger is conducted, that he may enjoy the drive, not by any striking points of view or variety of scenery, but by the number of miles over which he has traced its course, and instead of leading to those objects which are most worthy our attention, it is too common to find the drive a mere track round the utmost verge of the park; and if any pleasing features excite our notice, they arise rather from chance than design. To avoid this popular error, therefore, I shall endeavour to avail myself of natural beauties in this drive, without any unnecessary circuit calculated to surprise by its extent. I shall rather select those points of view which are best contrasted with each other, or which discover new features, or the same under different circumstances of foreground; beguiling the length of the way by a succession of new and pleasing objects.
