The modern rage for natural landscape has frequently carried its admirers beyond the true limits of improvement, the first object of which ought to be convenience, and the next picturesque beauty. My taste may, perhaps, be arraigned for asserting that the straight terrace at the HASELLS * ought not to be disturbed: although it is a remnant of geometric gardening of the last century, yet it is an object of such comfort and convenience, that it would be unpardonable to destroy it, for no other reason than because a straight walk is out of fashion; this would be acknowledging (what I protest against) that the art of landscape gardening ought to be under the dominion of fashion. If this terrace were constantly an object of view, or very materially offensive to the general scenery of the place, its linear direction might cut the composition, and destroy its effect as a natural landscape: in its present situation it is merely a foreground, or frame, to a pleasing picture, and the view from hence is so fine, so varied, and so interesting, that the spectator must be fastidious indeed, who could turn away disgusted, because it is seen over a clipt hedge, or with a broad flat walk in its foreground. A beautiful scene will always be beautiful, whether we view it from an alcove, a window, or a formal terrace; and the latter, in the height of summer, may sometimes answer the purpose of an additional room or gallery, when there is much company, who delight to saunter on such an esplanade; while the intricacies of a winding path are better calculated for a solitary walk.
*[The Red Books of the HASELLS and COBHAM, from whence these observations were transcribed, were written in the year 1790, before Mr. Price published his Essays.]
[The present house was built c. 1790 - the gardens designed by Repton.It was the home of the Pym family until 1945 . It is now known as Hazells Hall and has been converted to flats. TT]
