person. Yet, although the whole was very ably and royally executed, and must prove interesting to others, placed in like circumstances, it furnishes no example for general imitation, or Park practice. All the prominent difficulties, with which the ordinary Planter has to contend, namely, want of Climate and Soil, and of a sufficient supply of Sap from exposure to the elements, were here removed or obviated. The Trees, in this favourite spot, were like the products of nature in the Happy Valley" of Rasselas, " in which all the blessings of vegetation were collected, and the evils extracted and excluded." To succeed, therefore, with Removals on the open lawn, would require a different system, as well as very different subjects.

66

It now only remains to say something on the progress of the Art, on the Continent of Europe, within the last century; and on that subject there is little to be told. The two countries, whose example, during this period, has been most generally influential, are England and France. Landscape Gardening originated in the former country; and it was naturally to be expected, that, with a character so attractive, so captivating to the imagination as well as the senses, the taste for it would soon be spread among her continental neighbours. It was justly remarked by Walpole,* a very accurate observer, that our style in this new art would

* Anecdotes of Painting in England, Vol. IV.

never, in all likelihood, be brought into general use among those nations. The expense being suited only to the opulence of a free country, it is there alone that emulation could reign among a number of independent individuals. The little Princes of Germany, he observes, who spare no cost on their palaces and country residences, would be themselves likely to become our imitators, especially as their country and climate bear, in many respects, an intimate resemblance to our own.

It is now about threescore years since Walpole wrote, and it is remarkable how well his anticipations have been verified. While the French, in general, have little cultivated Landscape Gardening, a real taste for it has, by degrees, extended itself all over Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the northern parts of Europe. From this observation respecting France, I except, of course, a few places in the neighbourhood of Paris, which have been laid out in a superior way, in imitation of the English style, such as Arnouville, Courances, Marceau, and, above all, Ermenonville, the pride of French Gardening.* The rest are such examples, as Frenchmen might be expected to produce, of an Art, which, in its character, is essentially and radically English.

The remarks of Walpole may, in a great mea

Hirschfeld, Theorie der Gartenkuntst Band V. p. 258267, &c.

sure, be applied to the Art of giving Immediate Effect to Wood, as being one of the most important accessories to that of creating Real Landscape. Since the time of Louis XIV. there is no reason to think, that Transplanting has made great advances in France. The magnificent and expensive scale, on which the efforts of that Prince were conducted, rather discouraged, than invited imitation or competition. The French nobility and gentry, in former times, never resided much on their estates; and the Revolution, which has changed many other things, has made little alteration on their taste for rural pleasures. What a man has not frequently under his eye, he feels little desire to improve or embellish. The freedom and freshness of natural scenery can have few charms for him, who is taught to consider Paris as the undoubted centre of all earthly enjoyment; and another century might pass away, ere a true-born Frenchman could either acquire or comprehend this species of British predilection. The art, therefore, of giving Immediate Effect to Wood, like that of creating real Landscape, is now regarded, as heretofore, in France, in the light of a mechanical process, capriciously and fortuitously practised, and little valued for either ornament or

use.

Madame de Sevigné mentions, in one of her Letters, that, at her country-seat "aux Rochers," they

raised great Woods, and transplanted Trees of thirty and forty feet high. This account is very vague and unsatisfactory, as she says nothing of the means, which were employed to accomplish the work. But Madame de Sevigné probably told all she knew; and we may believe they did their best, to follow the example, set by the Grand Monarque, although with inferior powers of execution. At present, in France, as we travel along the roads, we frequently see Trees of some size, which have been transferred, in order to decorate the sides of them. Their mode of proceeding seems to be the same as that directed by Evelyn (who probably borrowed it from the French), namely, to raise the Tree, by the ordinary methods; to lop and to disbranch it completely; and then, in planting it anew, to leave nothing but the summit entire. The Small-leaved Elm, is the species of tree generally adopted for this purpose, in some districts, but, in others, the Walnut, the Oak, and the Poplar.

In Germany and Poland, it is altogether different with respect to national taste, and characteristic habits. The country residences of the great and wealthy, are much more frequently inhabited by the owners; and, in Poland especially, they have been, of late years, laid out in a style more truly English, and with great magnificence. Notwithstanding a grotesque mixture, on many occasions,

of that style with their former rectilinear features, their Parks and pleasure-grounds often exhibit a rudeness and wild grandeur of scenery, which are rarely found in England, and which Wales or Scotland can scarcely rival. It is in such hands that the Art of Transplanting might produce the best effects; as there is no want of situations requiring its assistance, were the Art placed upon principles, that could insure success.

As it is, we find, that it has already been practised on a large scale, by several of the German Princes. At Potsdam, Frederick II., and at Warsaw, the last King of Poland transferred some thousands of large Trees, in order to embellish the royal Gardens at those places. At Lazenki, in the suburbs of Warsaw, the well-known, but unfortunate Stanislaus, in laying out that favourite spot in a style, which, for luxurious elegance, has perhaps never been surpassed, since the days of the Roman Emperors,* removed many large Trees, to improve the Park and Gardens there, which were frequently thrown open to the public. The method was, to lop and deface the Trees in the ordinary fashion, and, of course, to curtail the roots, and then plant them in an irregular way, or sometimes leaning to one side, the better to imitate nature. Hence,

after the interval of many years, late travellers

*NOTE XVIII.