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The GOTHIC GATEWAY.

This is a large fumptuous building; the middle part compofing a noble arch with a fort of portcullice, and each wing an alcove, from whence the eye is ravished with the moft delectable views that on the right commands a very extenfive range of country, but its chiefeft objects are collected from the lovely lawns, falling and rifing in wanton diverfity; the water in the fweeping valley in different lakes; the boat-house and the far-stretched plantations of the dark umbrageous fir. The tafte fhewn here is exceedingly expreffive and strong, and is indifputably one of the moft amufing fcenes in the whole range of the place.

The other wing takes in the fame variety; a fine diftant country, water, woods, and, to add to its confequence, the billiard-room, fhaded by the rich dark pines

of

of the fhrubbery, is feen from hence in great beauty.

Envil is fo different from Hagley, that to oppofe one against the other, would be ridiculous. Hagley is a park, Envil a farm. But Hagley, in spite of all its lovely appendages, in one respect must give the palm to Envil: that beautiful water which conflitutes the glory of the latter, can never be equalled in the fame manner by the former; and it must be confeffed, though the woods of Envil have not the charms which dignify those of Hagley, time, and an exertion of taste, may render them equally as important. The latter now flourishes in all its bewitching pride; fcarce a tree even to its underwood but is a century old; others perhaps two or three, branching in the most ftriking luxuriance: the former is in its infancy, and may one day, I doubt not, flourish in the fame glory.

But,

But, as I obferved before, these places totally differ-one is an elegant park, enriched by the hand of genius in all the luxuriance of fancy; the other rather like the Leafowes, and dedicated more to the common ufes of life, which is very commendable; yet when we confider it as the refident of an opulent nobleman, that fort of fimplicity, however pleafing, does not ftrike as it does in the grounds of a plain country gentleman: we expect, when we approach a palace, to fee it furrounded with correfpondent graces; to rife in fplendor, but at the fame time to be confined, like Hagley, within the limits of true and genuine taste.

Nature very profufely fpreads her charms at Envil for this purpofe; and however pleafing it may be at prefent, I' doubt not, whenever the defign is executed, which I am informed is in agitation, of building a noble manfion, and throwing a large part of the domain into a park, N

that

that whoever vifits thefe receffes, when that undertaking is accomplished, will find Envil like its neighbour Hagley, one of the moft delightful places in Britain.

FINI S.

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