I am now to speak of the great woods called Fentum's, Piper's, Column's, Walk Wood, and Shipman's, in which a serpentine drive has been formerly cut, which no one would desire to pass a second time, from its length, added to the total absence of interest or variety of objects; but following the taste which supposes "Nature to abhor a straight line," this drive meanders in uniform curves of equal lengths, and the defect is increased by there being only one connexion with the park, while the other end of the drive finishes at a great distance across Fulmer Common. The first object, therefore, of improvement will be to form such a line of connexion with the park as may make it seem a part of the same domain, and this would be more easily done if the hollow wayroad under the park wall could be removed; because otherwise the drive must cross the road twice at No. 12, as I suppose it to enter a field at No. 13, which might be planted to connect it with the Broomfield copse, No. 14, from whence, after crossing Several interesting small enclosures, with forest-like borders, it enters and sweeps through the wood, Little Fentums, No. 16, to join the old drive, or at least such parts of it as can be made subservient to a more interesting line. After crossing a valley and streamlet at No. 17, and another at No. 18, it should ascend the hill of Piper's Wood, in which there are at present no drives, and at No. 19, a branch may lead on to the common, as a green way to London. The drive sweeping round to No. 20, opens on a view of the Village and valley of Fulmer, with a series of small ponds, which, in this point of view, appear to be one large and beautiful piece of water: this scene may be considered the most pleasing subject for a picture, during the whole course of the drive. This would be a proper place for a covered seat, with a shed behind it for horses or open carriages *; but it should be set so far back as to command the view under the branches of trees, which are very happily situated for the purpose at No. 20. *[In long drives such attention to convenience is advisable; a thatched hovel of Doric proportions, may not only be made an ornament to the scenery, but it will often serve for a shelter from sudden storms in our uncertain climate; for this reason it should be large enough to contain several open carriages.]
