5 And spread their luftre in fo broad a blaze, O let Let thefe, then, be reminded, that it is the author's profest aim in extolling the taste of the Chinese, to condemn that mean and paltry manner which Kent introduced, which Southcote, Hamilton, and Brown followed, and which, to our national difgrace, is called the English ftyle of gardening. He fhews the poverty of this taste, by aptly comparing it to a dinner, which confifted of three grofs pieces, three times repeated; and proves to a demonstration, that Nature herself is incapable of pleafing, without the affistance of Art, and that too of the most luxuriant kind. In short, fuch art as is displayed in the Emperor's garden of Yven-Ming-Yven, near Pekin; where fine lizards, and fine women, human giants, and giant-baboons, make but a small part of the superb fcenery. He teaches us, that a perfect garden must contain within itself all the amusements of a great city; that URBS IN RURE, not R.US IN URBE, is the thing, which an improver of true taste ought to aim at. He fays-but it is impoffible to abridge all that he says :— Let this therefore fuffice to tempt the reader again to perufe his invaluable Differtation, fince without it, he will never relish half the beauties of the following epistle; for (if her Majesty's Zebra, and the powder-mills at Hounslow be excepted) there is fcarce a fingle image in it, which is not taken from tha❤ work. But tho' the images be borrowed, the author claims fome fmall merit from the application of them. Sir William fays too modeftly," that European artifts muft not hope to rival Oriental splendor." The poet fhews, that European artists may O let the muse attend thy march fublime, Teach her, like thee, to gild her fplendid fong, With scenes of Yven-Ming, and fayings of LiTfong; ΙΟ eafily rival it; and, that Richmond gardens, with only the addition of a new bridge to join them to Brentford, may be new modelled, perfectly." à la Chinois." He exhorts his Knight to undertake the glorious task, and leaves no cause to doubt, but that, under the auspicious patronage he now fo juftly enjoys, added to the READY Vote of those who furnish ways and means, the royal work will speedily be compleated. Verse 2. Cynofure of British tafte.] Cynofure, an affected phrafe. Cynofura is the conftellation of Urfa Minor, or the Leffer Bear, the next ftar to the Pole. Dr. Newton, on the word in Milton. Verfe, 10. With scenes of Yven-Ming.] One of the Imperial gardens at Pekin. (Sayings of Li-Tfong.) "Many trees, fhrubs, and flowers," sayeth Li-Tfong, a Chinese author of great antiquity, thrive beft in low, moist fituations; many on hills and mountains; fome require a rich foil: but others will grow on clay, in fand, or even upon rocks; and in the water; to fome a funny expofition is neceffary; but for others the fhade is preferable. There are plants which thrive best in exposed situations, but, in general, fhelter is requifite. The skilful gardener, to whom study and experience have taught these qualities, carefully attends to them in his operations; knowing that thereon depend the health and growth of his plants; and confequently the beauty of his plantations." Vide Diff. p. 77. The reader, I prefume, will readily allow, that he never met with fo much recondite truth, as this ancient Chinese here exhibits. Like thee to fcorn Dame Nature's fimple fence; 15 20 Tho' drunk with Gallic wine, and Gallic praise 25 The mighty Home, bemir'd in profe fo long, 30 There Verfe 34. Truth at Court.] Vide (if it be extant) a poem under this title, for which (or for the publication of Lord Bolingbroke's philofophical writings) the perfon here mentioned received There was a time, in Ether's peaceful grove 35 When Kent and Nature vy'd for Pelham's love, That Pope beheld them with aufpicious smile, And own'd that Beauty bleft their mutual toil." Mistaken Bard! could fuch a pair defign Scenes fit to live in thy immortal line? 40 Hadft thou been born in this enlighten'd day, B 3 45 received a confiderable penfion in the time of Lord B-te's adminiftration. Verfe 45. For what is Nature?] This is the great and fundamental axiom, on which the oriental taste is founded. It is therefore expreffed here with the greateft precifion, and in the identical phrafe of the great original. The figurative terms, and even the explanatory fimile, are entirely borrowed from Sir William's Differ tation. "NATURE (fays the Chinese, or Sir William for them) affords us but few materials to work with. Plants, ground, and water, are her only productions; and, though both the forms and arrangements of these may be varied to an incredible degree, yet have they but few flriking varieties, the reft being of the nature of changes rung upon bells," which, though in reality different, ftill produce the fame uniform kind of jingling; the variation being too minute to be easily perceived," "ART muft Prolong the pcal yet, fpite of all your clatter, 50 55 Come then, prolific Art, and with thee bring The charms that rife from thy exhaustless spring; To Richmond come, for fee, untutor'd Brown Destroys those virtues which were once thy own. Lo, from his melon-ground the peasant flave Has rudely rufh'd, and levell'd Merlin's Cave; Knock'd down the waxen wizard, feiz'd his wand, Transform'd to lawn what late was Fairy land;' 60 And marr'd, with impious hand, each fweet defign Of Stephen Duck, and good Queen Caroline.. Haste, bid yon livelong Terrace re-ascend, Replace each vifta, straighten every bend; muft therefore fupply the scantiness of Nature." &c. &c. &c. page 14. And again, “Our larger works are only a repetition of the fmall ones," like the honeft Bachelor's feaft," which confifted in nothing but a multiplication of his own dinner; "three legs of mutton and turneps, three roasted geefe, and three buttered applePies." Preface, p. 7. Shut |