id

A

DIS SERTATION

BY

S? WILL I AM C HAMBERS,Kif:
Comptroller General o/' fa's Afq/r/folr Wonks.

LONDON:

Rinted byW. GRIFFIN", Printer to theROYAJ. ACADEMY"; fold bvHimiii Ca&inns/b*et;
and by T.D.AVIE.S, BookfelW to the Royal Academy, in ftqtffcfi/hvet,
Com ni ^/>//^//a alfo by J .DoiXSLKY, PatfjMall: WiL-SON" and NlCOIiti . - Wmnd;

J. AY I 'n:H//wr^ *f'/r>/Lr: mid P. ELMSLEY, J5>w^^ 1772.

Tttr/sp-

T O

THE KING.

1 HUMBLY beg leave to lay at Your Majesty's feet the following
DUTertation upon an Art of which Ifou are the firft Judge, as well as
the moft munificent Encourager .

A Sketch of the prefent little Performance was graciouily received by
Your Majesty many years ago, and found a kind reception in the world,
under the Influence of Ynir Patronage. This is more ample, I wifh it may
be more perfect than the original; that it may have a jufter title to Your
Indulgence , and better pretenlions to the favor of the Publick .
I am ,

May it pleafe Ynir Maj e s t y ,

Your Maj e sty's
dutiful fervant and faithful fubject ,

WILLIAM CHAMBERS.

PREFACE.

A MO N GST the decorative arts, there is none of
which the influence is fo extenfive as that of Gardening.
The productions of other arts have their feparate claffes
of admirers, who alone relifh or fet any great value upon
them ; to the reft of the world they are indifferent, fome-
times difgufting. A building affords no pleafure to the
generality of men, but what refults from the grandeur of
the object, or the value of its materials : nor doth a
picture affect them, but by its refemblance to life. A
thoufand other beauties, of a higher kind, are loft upon
them; for in Architecture, in Painting, and indeed in
moft other arts, men muft learn before they can admire:
their pleafure keeps pace with their judgment ; and it
is only by knowing much, that they can be highly
delighted.

A But

ii P R E F A C E.

But Gardening is of a different nature: its dominion
is general ^ its effects upon the human mind certain and
invariable; without any previous information, without
being taught, all men are delighted with the gay lux-
uriant fcenery of fummer, and depreffed at the difmal
afpeet of autumnal profpects ; the charms of cultivation
are equally feniible to the ignorant and the learned, and
they are equally difgufted at the rudenefs of neglected
nature ; lawns, woods, fhrubberies, rivers and mountains,
affect them both in the fame manner; and every com-
bination of thefe will excite fimilar fenfations in the
minds of both.

Nor are the productions of this Art lefs permanent than
general in their effects. Pictures, Itatues, buildings, foon
glut the fight, and grow indifferent to the fpectator s
but in gardens there is a continual ftate of fluctuation
that leaves no room for fatiety ; the progrefs of vege-
tation, the viciiTitudes of feafons, the changes of the
weather, the different directions of the fun, the paffage
of clouds, the agitation and founds produced by winds,

together

PREFACE.

m

together with the accidental intervention of living or
moving objects, vary the appearances fo often, and fo
confiderably, that it is almoft impoiTible to be cloyed,,
even with the fame profpects.

Is it not lingular then, that an Art with which a con-
fiderable part of our enjoyments is fo univerfally con-
nected, mould have no regular profeffors in our quarter
of the world? Upon the continent it is a collateral branch
of the architect's employment, who, immerfed in the ftudy
and avocations of his own profeffion, finds no leifure for
other difquifitions ; and, in this ifland, it is abandoned
to kitchen gardeners, well fkilled in the culture of fallads,
but little acquainted with the principles of Ornamental
Gardening. It cannot be expected that men uneducated,
and doomed by their condition to wafte the vigor of life
in hard labour, mould ever go far in fo refined, fo
difficult a purfuit.

To this unaccountable want of regular matters may,
ia a great meafure, be afcribed the fcarcity of perfect

gardens*

«r PREFACE.

gardens. There are indeed very few in our part of the
globe wherein nature has been improved to the beft ad-
vantage, or art employed with the foundeft judgment.
The gardens of Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and of
all the other countries where theantient Ityleftill prevails,
are in general mere cities of verdure ; the walks are like
flreets conducted in ftrait lines, regularly diverging from
different large open fpaces, refembling public fquares ;
and the hedges with which they are bordered, are raifed,
in imitation of walls, adorned with pilafters, niches, win-
dows and doors, or cut into colonades, arcades and
porticos ; all the detached trees are fhaped into obelifks,
pyramids and vafes ; and all the receffes in the thickets
bear the names and forms of theatres, amphitheatres,
temples, banqueting halls, ball rooms, cabinets and
faloons. The ftreets and fquares are well manned with
ftatues of marble or lead, ranged in regular lines, like
foldiers at a proceffion ; which, to make them more
natural, are fometimes painted in proper colours, and
finely gilt. The lakes and rivers are confined by quais
of hewn ftone, and taught to flow in geometrick order;

3 and

P R E F A C E. v

and the cafcades glide from the heights by many a fuc-
ceffion of marble fteps: not a twig is fufTered to grow-
as nature directs; nor is a form admitted but what is
fcientific, and determinable by the line or compafs.

In England, where this antient ftyle is held in de*
teftation, and where, in oppofition to the reft of Europe,
a new manner is univerfally adopted, in which no appear-
ance of art is tolerated, our gardens differ very little from
common fields, fo clofely is common nature copied in
moft of them; there is generally fo little variety in the
objects, fuch a poverty of imagination in the contrivance,
and of art in the arrangement, that thefe compositions
rather appear the offspring of chance than defign ; and a
ftranger is often at a lofs to know whether he be walking
in a meadow, or in a pleafure ground, made and kept at
a very considerable expence: he fees nothing to amufe
him, nothing to excite his curiofity, nor any thing to keep
up his attention. At his firft entrance, he is treated
with the light of a large green field, fcattered oyer with
a few ftragghng trees, and verged with a con fu fed bord :r

B of

viii PREFACE.

forming either; and con fequently prejudice himfelf, with-
out doing ferviee to the Art,

But though it might be impertinent as well as ufelefs
to flart a new fyftem of one's own, it cannot be improper,
nor totally unferviceable, to publifh that of others ;
efpecially of a people whofe fkill in Gardening has often
been the fubject of praife; and whofe manner has been fet
up amongfl: us as the ftandard of imitation, without ever
having been properly defined. It is a common faying,
That from the worft things fome good may be extracted ;
and even if what I have to relate fhould be inferior to
what is already known, yet furely fome ufeful hints may
be collected from it.

I may therefore, without danger to myfelf, and it is
hoped without offence to others, offer the following
account of the Chinefe manner of Gardening ; which is
collected from my own obfervations in China, from con-
verfations with their Artifts, and remarks tranfmitted to
me at different times by travellers. A fketch of what

3 I have

R E F A C E.

IX

I have now attempted to finifh, was publifhed fome
years ago ; and the favourable reception granted to
that little performance, induced me to collect materials
for this.

Whether the Chinefe manner of Gardening be better
or worfe than thofe now in ufe amongft the Europeans,
I will not determine : comparifon is the fureft as well
as the eafiefl: teft of truth ; it is in every man's power to-
compare and to judge for himfelf. — Should the prefent
publication contain any thing ufeful, my purpofe will be
fully anfwered; if not, it may perhaps afford fome little
entertainment, or ferve at worft to kill an idle hour.

I muft not enter upon my fubject, without apologizing
for the liberties here taken with our Enodifh Gardens:
there are, indeed, feveral that do not come within the
compafs of my defcription; fome of which were laid out
by their owners, who are as eminently {killed in Garden-
ing, as in many other branches of polite knowledge;
the reft owe moft of their excellence to nature, and are,

C upon.

x PREFACE.

upon the whole, very little improved by the interposition
of art ; which, though it may have heightened fome of
their beauties, has totally robbed them of many others.

It would be tedious to enumerate all the errors of a
falfe tafte : but the havock it has made in our old
plantations, muft ever be remembered with indignation :
the ax has often, in one day, laid wafte the growth of
feveral ages; and thoufands of venerable plants, whole
woods of them, have been fwept away, to make room
for a little grafs, and a few American weeds. Our vir-
tuofi. have fcarcely left an acre of made, nor three trees
growing in a line, from the LandVend to the Tweed ;
and if their humour for devaluation continues to rage
much longer, there will not be a foreft-tree left ftanding
in the whole kingdom.

D I S-

DISSERTATION.

XJlMONGST the Chinefe, Gardening is held in much
higher efteem, than it is in Europe ; they rank a perfect
work in that Art, with the great productions of the
human underftanding ; and fay, that its efficacy in moving
the paffions, yields to that of few other arts whatever.

Their Gardeners are not only Botanifts, but alfo
Painters and Philofophers, having a thorough knowledge
of the human mind, and of the arts by which its ftrongeft
feelings are excited. It is not in China, as in Italy and
France, where every petty Architect is a Gardener ;
neither is it as in another famous country, where peafants
emerge from the melon grounds to commence pro-
feflbrs ; fo Sganarelle, the faggot-maker, laid down his
hatchet to turn phyfician. In China, Gardening is a
diftincl; profeffion, requiring an extenfive ftudy; to the

perfection

( » )

perfection of which few arrive. The Gardeners there,
far from being either ignorant or illiterate, are men of
high abilities, who join to good natural parts, mod or-
naments that ftudy, travelling, and long experience can
fupply them with : it is in consideration of thefe accom-
plifhments only that they are permitted to exercife their
profeiTion ; for with the Chinefe the tafte of Orna-
mental Gardening is an object of legiflative attention,
it being fuppofed to have an influence upon the general
culture, and confequently upon the beauty of the whole
country. They obferve, that miftakes committed in this
Art, are too important to be tolerated, being much ex-
pofed to view, and in a great meafure irreparable ; as it
often requires the fpace of a century, to redrefs the
blunders of an hour.

The Chinefe Gardeners take nature for their pattern;
and their aim is to imitate all her beautiful irregularities.
Their firft consideration is the nature of the ground they
are to work upon : whether it be flat or floping; hilly
or mountainous j fmall or of confiderable extent; abound-
ing

( '3 )

ing with fprings and rivers, or labouring under a fcarcity
of water ; whether woody or bare, rough or even, barren
or rich ; and whether the transitions be fudden, and the
character grand, wild or tremendous ; or whether they
be gradual, and the general bent placid, gloomy or
chearful. To all which circumfb.nces they carefully
attend; choofing fuch difpofitions as humour the ground,
hide its defects, improve or fet off its advantages, and
can be executed with expedition, at a moderate expence.

They are alfo attentive, to the wealth or indigence of
the patron by whom they are employed; to his age, his
infirmities, temper, amufements, connections, bufinefs
and manner of living ; as likewife to the feafon of the
year in which the Garden is likely to be moft frequented
by him : fuiting themfelves in their composition to his
circumstances, and providing for his wants and recre-
ations. Their /kill confifts in Struggling with the im-
perfections and defects of nature, and with every other
impediment ; and in producing, in fpite of every obfea-
cle, works that are uncommon, and perfect in their kind.

D Though

( *4 )

Though the Chinefe artifts have nature for their ^e-
neral model, yet are they not fo attached to her as to
exclude all appearance of art ; on the contrary, they think
it, on many occafions, neceilary to make an oftentatious
fhew of their labour. Nature, fay they, affords us but
few materials to work with. Plants, ground and water,
are her only productions : and though both the forms
and arrangements of thefe may be varied to an incredible
degree, yet have they but few ftriking 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,
cafily perceived.

Art m.uft therefore fupply the fcantinefs of nature ; and
not only be employed to produce variety, but alfo no-
velty and effect: for the fimple arrangements of nature
are met with in every common field, to a certain degree
of perfection; and are therefore too familiar to excite any
ftrong fenfations in the mind of tfre beholder, or to pro-
duce any uncommon degree of pleafure.

It

( *5 )

It is indeed true that novelty and variety may both be
attained by tranfplanting the peculiarities of one country
to another ; by introducing rocks, cataracts, impending
woods, and other parts of romantic fituations, in flat
places ; by employing much water where it is rare; and
cultivated plains, amidft the rude irregularities of moun-
tains : but even this refource is eafily exhaufted, and can
feldom be put in practice, without a very great expence.

The Chinefe are therefore no enemies to (trait lines ;
becaufe they are, generally fpeaking, productive of gran-
deur, which often cannot be attained without them:
nor have they any averflon to regular geometrical figures^
which they fay are beautiful in themfelves, and well
fuited to fmall compofitions, where the luxuriant irre-
gularities of nature would fill up and embarrafs the parts
they mould adorn. They likewife think them propereft
for flower-gardens, and all other compofitions, where
much art is apparent in the culture; and where it fho.uld
therefore not be omitted in the form..

Theii

( i6 )

Their regular buildings they generally furround with
artificial terraffes, Hopes, and many flights of Heps; the
angles of which are adorned with groupes of fculpture
and vafes, intermixed with all forts of artificial water-
works, which, connecting with the architecture, ferve to
give it confequence, and add to the gaiety, fplendor, and
buftle of the fcenery.

Round the main habitation, and near all their deco-
rated ftructures, the grounds are laid out with great regu-
larity, and kept with great care : no plants are admitted
that intercept the view of the buildings ; nor no lines but
fuch as accompany the architecture properly, and con-
tribute to the general good effect of the whole com-
pofition: for they hold it abfurd to furround an elegant
fabric with diforderly rude vegetation ; faying, that it
looks like a diamond fet in lead; and always conveys the
idea of an unfiniflied work. When the buildings are
ruftic, the fcenery which furrounds them is wild; when
they are grand, it is gloomy; when gay, it is luxuriant:
in mort, the Chinefe are fcrupuloufly nice in preferving

the

( '7 )

the fame character through every part of the compolition ;
which is one great caufe of that furprizing variety with
which their works abound.

They are fond of introducing ftatues, bufts, bas-reliefs,
and every production of the chifel, as well in other parts
of their Gardens, as round their buildings; obferving,
that they are not only ornamental, but that by com-
memorating paft events, and celebrated perfonages, they
awaken the mind to pleafing contemplation, hurrying our
reflections up into the remoteft ages of antiquity: and they
never fail to fcatter antient infcriptions, verfes, and
moral fentences, about their grounds ; which are placed
on large ruinated ftones, and columns of marble, or en-
graved on trees and rocks ; fuch iituations being always
chofen for them, as correfpond with the fenfe of the
infcriptions ; which thereby acquire additional force in
themfelvesj and likewife give a ftronger expreffion to the
fcene.

They fay that all thefe decorations are neceffary, to
characterize and diftinguifli the different fcenes of their

E

( ,8 )

competitions ; among which, without fuch afllftance,
there muft unavoidably be a tirefome fimilarity.

And whenever it is objected to them, that many of
thefe things are unnatural, and ought therefore not to be
fuffered, they fay, that moft improvements are unnatural,
yet they are allowed to be improvements, and not only
tolerated, but admired. Our veftments, fay they, are
neither of leather, nor like our fkins, but formed of rich
filks and embroidery; our houfes and palaces bear no
refemblance to caverns in the rocks, which are the only
natural habitations ; nor is our mufic either like thunder,
or the whittling of the northern wind, the harmony of
nature. Nature produces nothing either boiled, roafted
or ftewed, and yet we do not eat raw meat; nor doth
{he fupply us with any other tools for all our purpofes,
but teeth and hands; yet we have faws, hammers, axes,
and a thoufand other implements: in fhort, there is
fcarcely any thing in which art is not apparent ; and why
fhould its appearance be excluded from Gardening only?
Poets and painters foar above the pitch of nature, when

they

( *9 )

they would give energy to their compositions. The fame
privilege, therefore, fhould be allowed to Gardeners :
inanimate, Ample nature, is top infipid for our purpofes;
much is expe&ed from us; and therefore, we have oc-
casion for every aid that either, art or nature can furnifh.
The fcenery of a garden fhould differ as much from com-
mon nature as an heroic poem doth from a profe relation \
and Gardeners, like poets, fhould give a loofe to their
imagination, and even fly beyond the bounds of truth,
whenever it is neceffary to elevate, to embellifh, to en-
liven, or to add novelty to their fubjecl:.

The ufual method of diftributing Gardens in China, is
to contrive a great variety of fcenes, to be feen from certain
points of view ; at which are placed feats or buildings,
adapted to the different purpofes of mental or fenfual
enjoyments. The perfection of their Gardens confifts in
the number and diversity of thefe fcenes ; and in the
artful combination of their parts; which they endeavour
to difpofe in fuch a manner, as not only feparately to
appear to the Deft advantage, but alfo to unite in forming
an elegant and ftriking whole.

( 20 )

Where the ground is extenfive, and many fcenes can
be introduced, they generally adapt each to one fingle
point of view ; but where it is confined, and affords no
room for variety, they difpofe their objects fo, that being
viewed from different points, they produce different re-
prefentations; and often fuch as bear no refemblance to
each other. They likewife endeavour to place the feparate
fcenes of their compofitions in fuch directions as to unite,
and be feen all together, from one or more particular
points of view, whence the eye may be delighted with an
extenfive, rich and variegated profpect. They take all
poilible advantage of exterior objects; hiding carefully
the boundaries of their own grounds; and endeavouring
to make an apparent union between them and the diftant
woods, fields and rivers : and where towns, caftles, towers,
or any other confiderable objects are in fight, they art-
fully contrive to have them feen from as many points,
and in as many directions as poffible. The fame they do
with regard to navigable rivers, high roads, foot-paths,
mills, and all other moving objects, which animate and
add variety to the landfcape.

Befides

( 21 )

Befides the ufual European methods of concealing
boundaries by ha-has, and funk fences, they have others,
ftill more effectual. On flats, where they have naturally
no profpects of exterior obje&s, they enclofe their plan-
tations with artificial terraffes, in the form of walks, to
which you afcend by infenfible Hopes : thefe they border
ox) the infide with thickets of lofty trees and underwood;
and on the outfide, with low fhrubberies; over which the
pafTenger fees the whole fcenery of the adjacent country,
in appearance forming a continuation of the Garden, as
its. fence is carefully concealed amongft the fhrubs that
cover the outfide declivity of the terrafs.

And where the Garden happens to ftand on higher
ground than the adjacent country, they carry artificial
rivers round the outfkirts, under the oppofite banks of
which the boundaries are concealed, amongft trees and
fhrubs. Sometimes too they make ufe of ftrong wire
fences, painted green, faftened to the trees and fhrubs
that border the plantations, and carried round in many
irregular directions, which are fcarcely feen till you come

F very

( 22 )

very near them : and wherever ha-has, or funk fences
are ufed, they always fill the trenches with briars, and
other thorny plants, to ftrengthen the fence, and to
conceal the walls, which other wife would have an ugly
appearance from without.

In their large Gardens they contrive different fcenes for
the different times of the day; difpofing at the points of
view buildings, which from their ufe point out the proper
hour for enjoying the view in its perfections. And in
their fmall ones, where, as has been obferved, one ar-
rangement produces many reprefentations, they make
ufe of the fame artifice. They have befide, fcenes for
every feafon of the year: fome for winter, generally ex
pofed to the fouthern fun, and compofed of pines, firs,
cedars, evergreen oaks, phillyreas, hollies, yews, and
many other evergreens; being enriched with laurels of
various forts, laureflinus, arbutus, and other plants and
vegetables that grow and flourifh in cold weather : and
to give variety and gaiety to thefe gloomy productions,,
they plant amongfl: them, in regular forms, divided by

walks,

( 23 )

walks, all the rare fhrubs, flowers and trees of the torrid
zone; which they cover, during the winter, with frames
of glafs, difpofed in the forms of temples, and other
elegant buildings. Thefe they call confervatiories ; they
are warmed by fubterraneous fires, and afford a com-
fortable and agreeable retreat, when the weather is too
cold to walk in the open air. All forts of beautiful and
melodious birds are let loofe in them : and they keep
there, in large porcelain citterns, placed on artificial
rocks, gold and filver fifties; with various kinds of
aquatic plants and flowers : they alfo raife in them ftraw-
berries, cherries, figs, grapes, apricots and peaches, which
cover the wood work of their glafs frames, and ferve for
ornament as well as ufe.

Their fcenes of fpring likewife abound with evergreens,
intermixed with lilacks of all forts, laburnums, limes,
larixes, double bloflbmed thorn, almond and peach-trees;
with fweet-bryar, early rofes, and honey-fuckles. The
ground, and verges of the thickets and fhrubberies, are
adorned with wild hyacinths, wall-flowers, daffodils,

violets.,

( 24 )

violets, primrofes, polianthes's, crocus's, dairies, fnow-
drops, and various fpecies of the iris ; with fuch other
flowers as appear in the months of March and April :
and as thefe fcenes are alfo fcanty in their natural pro-
ductions, they interfperfe amongft their plantations, me-
nageries for all forts of tame and ferocious animals, and
birds of prey; aviaries and groves, with proper contri-
vances for breeding domeftic fowls ; decorated dairies ;
and buildings for the exercifes of wreftling, boxing,
quail-fighting, and other games known in China. They
alfo contrive in the woods large open receffes for military
fports y as riding, vaulting, fencing, mooting with the
bow, and running.

Their fummer fcenes compofe the richeft and moft
ftudied parts of their Gardens. They abound with lakes,
rivers, and water-works of every contrivance ; and with
veflels of every conftruclion, calculated for the ufes of
failing, rowing, fifhing, fowling, and fighting. The
woods confift of oak, beech, Indian chefnut, elm, afh,
plane, fycamore, maple, abele and feveral other fpecies of

the

( 25 )

the poplar ; with many other trees, peculiar to China. The
thickets are compofed of every fair deciduous plant that
grows in that climate, and every flower or fhrub that
flourishes during the fummer months; all uniting to form
the fineft verdure, the moft brilliant, harmonious colour-
ing imaginable. The buildings are fpacious, fplendid
and numerous; every fcene being marked by one or
more: fome of them contrived for banquets, balls, con-
certs, learned difputations, plays, rope-dancing, and feats
of activity ; others again for bathing, fwimming, reading,
fleeping, or meditation.

In the center of thefe fummer plantations, there is ge-
nerally a large tract of ground fet afide for more fecret and
voluptuous enjoyments; which is laid out in a great
number of clofe walks, colonades and paflages, turned
with many intricate windings, fo as to confufe and lead
the paffenger aftray ; being fometimes divided by thickets
of underwood, intermixed with ftraggling large trees;,
and at other times by higher plantations, or by clumps
of rofe-trees, and other lofty flowering fhrubs. The

G whole.

( 26 )

whole is a wildernefs of fweets, adorned with all forts of
fragrant and gaudy productions : gold and filver phea-
fants, pea-fowls, partridges, bantam hens, quails, and
game of every kind, fwarm in the woods; doves, nightin-
gales, and a thoufand melodious birds, perch upon the
branches; deer, antelopes, fpotted buffaloes, fheep, and
Tartarean horfes, frifk upon the plains : every walk leads
to fome delightful obj eel; to groves of orange-and myrtle;
to rivulets, whofe banks are clad with rofes, woodbine
and jeffamine; to murmuring fountains, with ftatues of
fleeping nymphs, and water-gods ; to cabinets of verdure,
with beds of aromatic herbs and flowers; to grottos cut
in rocks, adorned with incruftations of coral fliells,
ores, gems and chriftalifations, refrefhed with rills of
fweet fcented water, and cooled by fragrant, artificial
breezes.

Amonpft the thickets which divide the walks, are
many fecret recefTes; in each of which there is an elegant
pavilion, confiding of one Rate- apartment, with out-
hbufes, and proper conveniences for eunuchs and vvomen-

fervants.

( 27 )

fervants. Thefe are inhabited, during the fummer, by
their faireft and moft accomplished concubines ; each
of them, with her attendants, occupying a feparate
pavilion,

The principal apartment of thefe buildings, confifts
of one or more large faloons, two cabinet or dreffing-
rooms, a library, a couple of bed-chambers and waiting-
rooms, a bath, and feveral private clofets ; all which are
magnificently furnifhed, and provided with entertaining
books, amorous paintings, mufical inftruments, imple-
ments for gaming, writing, drawing, painting and em-
broidering; with beds, couches, and chairs, of various
conftru&ions, for the ufes of fitting and lying in different
poftures.

The faloons generally open to little enclofed courts,
fet round with beautiful flower-pots, of different forms,
made of porcelain, marble or copper, filled with the
rareft flowers of the kd.(on : at the end of the court there
is generally an aviary; an artificial rock with a fountain

and

{ 28 )

and bafon for gold fifli; a cafcade ; an arbor of bamboo
or vine interwoven with flowering fhrubs ; or fome other
elegant contrivance, of the like nature.

Befides thefe feparate habitations, in which the ladies
are privately viflted by the patron, as often as he is dif-
pofed to fee them, there are, in other larger recefTes of
the thickets, more fplendid and fpacious buildings, where
the women all meet at certain hours of the day, either to
eat at the public tables, to drink their tea, to converfe,
bathe, fwim, work, romp, or to play at the mora, and
other games known in China ; or elfe to divert the patron
with mufic, finging, lafcivious pofture-dancing, andadting
plays or pantomines; at all which they generally are very-
expert.

Some of thefe ftructures are entirely open; the roof
being fupported on columns of rofe-wood, or cedar, with
bales of Corean jafper f or upon wooden pillars, made in
imitation of bamboo, and plantane-trees, furrounded with
garlands of fruit and flowers, artfully carved, being

painted

( *9 )

painted and varnifhed in proper colours. Others are en'
clofed; and confift fometimes only of one fpacious hall>
and fometimes of many different fized rooms, of various
forms ; as triangles, fquares, hexagons, octagons, circles,
ovals, and irregular whimfical fhapes ; all of them ele-
gantly finifhed with incruftations of marble, inlaid precious
woods, ivory, filver, gold, and mother of pearl; with a
profufion of antient porcelain, mirrors, carving, gilding,
painting and lacquering of all colours.

The doors of entrance to thefe apartments, are circular
and polygonal, as well as rectangular: and the windows
by which they are lighted, are made in the fhapes of
fans, birds, animals, fifties, infects, leaves and flowers;
being filled with painted glafs, or different coloured gaufe,
to tinge the light, and give a glow to the objects in the
apartment.

All thefe buildings are furnifhed at a very great ex-
pence, not only with the neceffary moveables, but with
pictures, fculptures, embroideries, trinkets, and pieces

H of

( 3° )

of clock-work of great value, being fome of them very-
large, compofed of many ingenious movements, and en-
riched with ornaments of gold, intermixed with pearls,
diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and other gems.

Befides the different ftruclures already mentioned,
they have fome made in the form of Perflan tents ;
others built of roots and pollards, put together with
great tafte; and others, called Miau Ting, or Halls of
the Moon, of a prodigious fize; compofed each of one
fingle vaulted room, made in the fhape of a hemifphere ;
the concave of which is artfully painted, in imitation of
a nocturnal fky, and pierced with an infinite number of
little windows, made to reprefent the moon and ftars,
being filled with tinged glafs, that admits the light in the
quantities necefTary to fpread over the whole interior
fabric the pleafing gloom of a fine fummer's night.

The pavements of thefe rooms are fometimes laid out
in parterres of flowers ; amongft which are placed many
rural feats, made of fine formed branches, varnifhed red

to

( 3* )

to reprefent coral : but ofteneft their bottom is full of a
clear running water, which falls in rills from the fides of
a rock in the center; many little iflands float upon its
furface, and move around as the current directs; fome
of them covered with tables for the banquet; others with
feats for muficians; and others with arbors, containing
beds of repofe, with fophas, feats, and other furniture,
for various ufes.

To thefe halls of the moon the Chinefe princes retire,
with their favourite women, whenever the heat and intenfe
light of the fummer's day becomes difagreeable to them;
and here they feaft, and give a loofe to every fort of
voluptuous pleafure.

No nation ever equalled the Chinefe in the fplendor
and number of their garden ftru&ures. We are told
by Father Attiret, that in one of the imperial gardens
near Pekin, called Yven Ming Yven, there are, befides
the palace, which is of itfelf a city, four hundred
pavilions, all fo different in their archite&ure, that

each

( 32 )

each feems the production of a different country. He
mentions one of them, that coft upwards of twd
hundred thoufand pounds, exclufive of the furniture ;
another, confirming of a hundred rooms: and fays, that
moft of them are fufficiently capacious to lodge the
greateft European lord, and his whole retinue. There is
likewife, in the fame garden, a fortified town, with its
port, ftreets, public fquares, temples, markets, fhops,
and tribunals of juftice : in fhort, with every thing that
is at Pekin ; only upon a fmaller fcale.

In this town the emperors of China, who are too much
the ilaves of their greatnefs to appear in public, and their
women, who are excluded from it by cuftom, are fre-
quently diverted with the hurry and buftle of the capital;
which is there reprefented, feveral times in the year, by
the eunuchs of the palace : fome of them perfonating
merchants, others artifts, artificers, officers, foldiers, fhop-
keepers, porters, and even thieves and pickpockets. On
the appointed day, each puts on the habit of his pro-
feflion: the fhips arrive at the port, the fhops are opened,

and

( 33 )

and the goods are offered to fale; tea-houfes, taverns,
and inns, are ready for the reception of company;
fruits, and all forts of refrefliments, are cried about the
ftreets : the fhop-kcepers teize the paffengers to purchafe
their merchandize; and every liberty is permitted: there
is no diftinction of perfons ; even the emperor is con-
founded in the crowd : quarrels happen-— battles enfue —
the watch feizes upon the combatants— they are conveyed
before the judge, he examines the difpute and condemns
the culprit, who is fometimes very feverely baftinadoed,
to divert his imperial majefty, and the ladies of his train.

Neither are fliarpers forgot in thefe feftivals ; that
noble profeffion is generally allotted to a good number of
the moft dextrous eunuchs, who, like the Spartan youths
of old, are punifhed or applauded, according to the
merit of their exploits.

The plantations of their autumnal fcenes confift of
many forts of oak, beech, and other deciduous trees that
are retentive of the leaf, and afford in their decline a

I rich

( 34 )

rich variegated colouring ; with which they blend fome
ever-greens, fome fruit-trees, and the few fhrubs and
flowers which bloffbm late in the year ; placing amongft
them decayed trees, pollards, and dead flumps, of pic-
turefque forms, overfpread with mofs and ivy.

The buildings with which thefe fcenes are decorated,
are generally fuch as indicate decay, being intended as
mementos to the paffenger. Some are hermitages and
alms-houfes, where the faithful old fervants of the family
fpend the remains of life in peace, amidft the tombs of
their predeceffors, who lie buried around them : others
are ruins of caftles, palaces, temples, and deferted re-
ligious houfes ; or half buried triumphal arches and mau-
foleums, with mutilated infcriptions, that once comme-
morated the heroes of antient times ; or they are fepulchres
of their anceftors, catacombs and cemeteries for their fa-
vourite domeftic animals ; or whatever elfe may ferve to
indicate the debility, the difappointments, and the dif-
folution of humanity; which, by co-operating with the
dreary afpect of autumnal nature, and the inclement tem-
perature

( 35 )

perature. of the air, fill the mind with melancholy, and
incline it to ferious reflections.

Such is the common fcenery of the Chinefe Gardens,
where the ground has no ftriking tendency to any par-
ticular character. But where it is more ftrongly marked^
their artifts never fail to improve upon its Angularities ;
their aim is to excite a great variety of paflions in the mind
of the fptctator; and the fertility of their imaginations,
always upon the ftretch in fearch of novelty, furnifhes
them with a thou f and artifices to accompliili that aim.

The fcenes which I have hitherto defcribed, are chiefly
of the pleafing kind: but the Chinefe Gardeners have many
forts, which they employ as circumftances vary ; all which
they range in three feparate claffes; and diftinguifh them
by the appellations of the pleafing, the terrible, and the
furprizing.

The firft of thefe are compofed of the gayeft and molt
perfect productions of the vegetable world ; intermixed

with

( 36 )

with rivers, lakes, cafcades, fountains, and water-works
«©f all forts : being combined and difpofed in all the
picturefque forms that art or nature can fuggeft. Build-
ings, fculptures, and paintings are added, to give fplendor
and variety to thefe compofitions ; and the rareft pro-
ductions of the animal creation are collected, to enliven
them : nothing is forgot that can either exhilerate the
mind, gratify the fenfes, or give a fpur to the imagination.

Their fcenes of terror are compofed of gloomy woods,
deep vallies inacceflible to the fun, impending barren
rocks, dark caverns, and impetuous cataracts rufhing
down the mountains from all parts. The trees are ill
formed, forced out of their natural directions, and feem-
ingly torn to pieces by the violence of tempefts : fome
are thrown down, and intercept the courfe of the tor-
rents; others look as if blafled and mattered by the power
of lightening : the buildings are in ruins ; or half con-
fumed by fire, or fwept away by the fury of the waters :
nothing remaining entire but a few miferable huts dif-
perfed in the mountains, which ferve at once to indicate

the

( 37 )

the exiftence and wretchednefs of the inhabitants. Bats,
owls, vultures, and every bird of prey flutter in the
groves ; wolves, tigers and jackalls howl in the forefts ;
half-famifhed animals wander upon the plains; gibbets,
croffes, wheels, and the whole apparatus of torture, are
fcen from the roads; and in the moft difmal recefles of
the woods, where the ways are rugged and overgrown
with weeds, and where every object bears the marks of
depopulation, are temples dedicated to the king of ven-
geance, deep caverns in the rocks, and defcents to fub-
terraneous habitations, overgrown with brufhwood and
brambles ; near which are placed pillars of ftone, with
pathetic defcriptions of tragical events, and many horrid
adls of cruelty, perpetrated there by outlaws and robbers
of former times : and to add both to the horror and fub-
limity of thefe fcenes, they fometimes conceal in cavities,
on the fummits of the higheft mountains, founderies,
lime-kilns, and glafs-works ; which fend forth large vo-
lumes of flame, and continued columns of thick fmoke,
that give to thefe mountains the appearance of volcanoes.

K Their

( 3« )

Their furprizing, or fupernatural fcenes, are of the
romantic kind, and abound in the marvellous ; being
calculated to excite in the minds of the fpe&ators, quick
fucceiTions of oppofite and violent fenfations. Sometimes
the pafTenger is hurried by fteep defcending paths to
fubterraneous vaults, divided into apartments, where
lamps, which yield a faint glimmering light, difcover the
pale images of antient kings and heroes, reclining on beds
of ftate ; their heads are crowned with garlands of ftars,
and in their hands are tablets of moral fentences : flutes,
and foft harmonious organs, impelled by fubterraneous
waters, interrupt, at ftated intervals, the filence of the
place, and fill the air with folemn melody.

Sometimes the traveller, after having wandered in the
dufk of the foreft, finds himfelf on the edge of precipices,
in the glare of day-light, with cataracts falling from the
mountains around, and torrents raging in the depths be-
neath him ; or at the foot of impending rocks, in gloomy
vallies, overhung with woods, on the banks of dull
moving rivers, whofe fhores are covered with fepulchral

monuments,

( 39 >

monuments, under the fhade of willows, laurels, and other
plants, facred to Manchew, the genius of forrow.

His way now lies through dark paffages cut in the
rocks, on the fide of which are recefTes, filled with
coloffal figures of dragons, infernal fiends, and other
horrid forms, which hold in their monftrous talons,
myfterious, cabaliftical fentences, infcribed on tables of
brafs; with preparations that yield a conftant flame;
ferving at once to guide and to aftonifh the pafTenger:
from time to time he is furprized with repeated fhocks
of electrical impulfe, with fhowers of artificial rain,
or fudden violent gufts of wind, and inftantaneous ex-
plofions of fire; the earth trembles under him, by
the power of confined air; and his ears are fucceffively
ftruck with many different founds, produced by the
feme means; fome refembling the cries of men in tor-
ment; others the roaring of bulls> and howl of ferocious
animals, with the yell of hounds, and the voices of
hunters; ethers a*e like the mixed croaking of ravenous
birds; and others imitate thunder, the raging of the

fea,

( 40 )

fea, the explofion of cannon, the found of trumpets,
and all the noife of wan

His road then lies through lofty woods, where ferpents
and lizards of many beautiful forts crawl upon the ground,
and where innumerable monkies, cats and parrots,
clamber upon the trees, and intimidate him as he paffes ;
or through flowery thickets, where he is delighted with
the finging of birds, the harmony of flutes, and all kinds
of foft inftrumental mufic : fometimes, in this romantic
excurfion, the pafTenger finds himfelf inextenfive receffes,
furrounded with arbors of jeffamine, vine and rofes,
where beauteous Tartarean damfels, in loofe tranfparent
robes, that flutter in the air, prefent him with rich
wines, mangoftans, ananas, and fruits of Quangfi; crown
him with garlands of flowers, and invite him to tafte
the fweets of retirement, on Perfian carpets, and beds of
cam u fat h fkin down,

Thefe enchanted fcenes always abound with water-
works, fo contrived as to produce many furprizing effects;

and

( 4* )

and many fplendid pieces of fcenery. Air is likewife
employed with great fuccefs, on different occafions ; not
only for the purpofes above-mentioned, but likewife to
form artificial and complicated echoes : fome repeating
the motion of the feet ; fome the ruftling of garments ;
and others the human voice, in many different tones :
all which are calculated to embarrafs, to furprize, or to
terrify the paffeoger in his progrefs.

All forts of optical deceptions are alfo made ufe of;
fuch as paintings on prepared furfaces, contrived to vary
the reprefentations as often as the fpectator changes placer
exhibiting, in one view, groupes of men; in another,
combats of animals ; in a third, rocks, cafcades, trees and
mountains; in a fourth, temples and colonades; and a
variety of other pleafing fubjecls. They likewife contrive
pavements and incruftations for the walls of their apart-
ments, of Mofaic work, compofed of many pieces of
marble, feemingly thrown together without order or
defign; which, when feen from certain points of view,
unite in forming lively and exadr, reprefentations of men,

L animals-*

( 42 )

animals, buildings and landfcapes : and they frequently
introduce pieces of architecture, and even whole profpects
in perfpedtive ; which are formed by introducing temples,
bridges, veffels, and other fixed objects, leffened as they
are more diftant from the points of view, by giving
greyifh tints to the diftant parts of the compofition ; and
by planting there trees of a fainter colour, and fmallcr
growth, than thofe that appear in the fore ground : thus
rendering confiderable in appearance, what in reality is
trifling.

The Chinefe Artifts introduce into thefe enchanted
fcenes, all kinds of fenfitive, and other extraordinary
trees, plants and flowers. They keep in them a fur-
prizing variety of monftrous birds, reptiles, and animals,
which they import from diftant countries, or obtain by
crofting the breeds. Thefe are tamed by art; and guarded
by enormous dogs of Tibet, and African giants, in the
habits of magicians.

They likewife have amongft the plantations, cabinets,

in

( 43 )

in which are collected all the extraordinary productions
of the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms; as well
as paintings, fculptures, medals, antiquities, and ingenious
inventions of the mechanic arts : which are a frefh fource
of entertainment, when the weather is bad, or when the
heat is too intenfe to admit of being in the open air.

The communications to the different fcenes and other
parts of the Chinefe Gardens, are by walks, roads, bridle-
ways, navigable rivers, lakes, and canals; in all which
their artifts introduce as much variety as poflible; not
only in the forms and dimenfions, but alfo in their de-
coration : avoiding, neverthelefs, all the abfurdities with
which our antient European ftyle of Gardening abounds.

" I am not ignorant," faid one of their artifts, " that
<c your European planters, thinking Nature fcanty in her
" arrangements, or being perhaps difgufted with the fa-
" miliarity and commonnefs of natural obje&s, introduce
11 artificial forms into their plantations, and cut their
" trees in the fhapes of pyramids, flower-pots, men,

" fillies,

( 44 )

" fifties, and brute animals; and I have heard of colo-
" nades, and whole palaces, formed by plants, cut as
" precifely as if they had been built of ftone. But this is
C£ purchafing variety at the expence of reafon : fuch ex-
" travagancies ought never to be tolerated, excepting in
c< enchanted fcenes : and there but very feldom; for they
c< muft be as deftitute of beauty, as they are of propriety;
" and if the planter be a traveller, and a man of ob-
" fervation, he can want no fuch helps to variety, as he
cc will recollect a thoufand beautiful effects along the
" common roads of the countries through which he has
" paffed, that may be introduced with much better
" fuccefs."

Their roads, walks and avenues, are either directed in
a fingle ftraight line, twitted in a crooked one, or carried
zig-zag, by feveral ltraight lines, altering their courfe at
certain points. They obferve that there are few objects
more ftrikingly great than a fpacious road, planted on each
fide with lofty trees, and ftretching in a direct line, be-
yond the reach of the eye ; and that there are few things

more

( 45 )

more varioufly entertaining, than a winding one, which
opening gradually to the fight, difcovers, at every ftep,-
a new arrangement; and although, in itfelf, ic has not
the power of railing violent emotions, yet, by bringing
the paflenger fuddenly and unexpectedly to great or
uncommon things, it occafions ftrong impreffions of
furprize and aftonimrnent, which are more forcibly felt,
as being more oppofite to the tranquil pleafure enjoyed
in the confined parts of the road: and, in fmall compo-
fitions, they find crooked directions exceedingly ufeful to
the planter, who, by winding his walks, may give an
idea of great extent, notwithftanding the narrownefs of
his limits.

They fay that roads which are compofed of repeated
ilraight lines, altering their directions at certain points,,
have all the advantages both of crooked and ftraight ones;
with other properties, peculiar to themfelves. The variety
and new arrangement of objects, fay they, which prefent
themfelves at every change of direction, occupy the mind
agreeably: their abrupt appearance occafions furprize;

M which,,

( 46 )

which, when the extent is vaft, and the repetitions fre-
quent, fwells into aftonifhment and admiration : the in-
certitude of the mind where thefe repetitions will end,
.and its anxiety as the fpectator approaches towards the
periods, are Hkewife very ftrong impreffions, preventing
that ftate of languor into which the mind naturally finks
by dwelling long on the fame objects.

The ftraight directions, particularly the zig-zag, are,
on account of thefe effects, well adapted to avenues or
high roads, which lead to towns, palaces, bridges, or
triumphal arches; to caftles or prifons, for the reception
of criminals; to maufoleums; and all other works of
which the intent is to infpire horror, veneration or afto-
nifhment. To humbler objects, the waving line is a
more proper approach ; the fmallnefs of their parts
rendering them unfit for a diftant infpection: and as
they are trifling in themfelvcs, they pleafe moft when
their appearance is unexpected: and from the very point
whence all their little beauties are feen in the bigheft
luftre.

In

( 47 )

In difpofing the walks of their Gardens, the Chinefe
artifts are very attentive to lead them fucceffively to all
the principal buildings, fine profpects, and other inte-
refting parts of the compofition; that the paffenger may
be conducted infenfibly, as it were by accident, and
without turning back, or feeming to go out of the way,
to every object deferving notice.

Both their ftraight and winding walks are, in fome
places, kept at a considerable diftance from each other,
and feparated by clofe planted thickets, to hide all ex-
terior objects ; as well to keep the paffenger in fufpenfe
with regard to the extent, as to excite thofe gloomy fen-
fations which naturally fteal upon the mind, in wander-
ing through the intricacies of a folitary foreft. In other
places the walks approach each other; and the thickets
growing gradually lefs deep, and more thinly planted,
the ear is ftruck with the voices of thofe who are in
the adjacent walks, and the eye amufed with a confufed
fight of their perfons, between the items and foliage of
the trees. Infenfibly again the plantations fpread and

darken.

( 4* )

darken, the objects difappear, and the voices die in
€onfufed murmurs; when unexpectedly the walks are
turned into the fame open fpaces, and the different com-
panies are agreeably furprized to meet where they may
view each other, and fatisfy their curiofity without im^
pediment.

The Chinefe Gardeners very feldom finim any of their
walks en cul de fac\ carefully avoiding all unpleafant
difappointments : but if at any time the nature of the
lituation obliges them to it, they always terminate at
fome interefiing object; which leffens the difappoint—
ment, and takes off the idea of a childim conceit.

Neither do they ever carry a walk round the extre-
mities of a piece of ground, and leave the middle entirely
open, as it is too often done amongft us: for though it
micrht render the fir ft glance ftriking and noble> they
think the pleafure would be of fhort duration; and that
the fpectator would be but moderately entertained, by
walking feveral miles, with the fame obje&s continually

obtruding

( 49 )

obtruding upon his fight. If the ground they have to
work upon be fmall, and that they choofe to exhibit a
grand fcene, either from the principal habitation, or any
other capital point, they do indeed leave a great part of
the fpace open ; but ftill care is taken to have a good
depth of thicket, which frequently breaks confiderably
in upon the open fpace, and hides many parts of it from
the fpectator's eye.

Thefe projections produce variety, by altering the ap-
parent figure of the open fpace from every point of
view; and by conftantly hiding parts of it, they create
a myftery which excites the traveller's curiofity: they
likewife occafion, in many places, a great depth in
the thicket, to make receffes for buildings, feats, and
other objects, as well as for bold windings of the prin-
cipal walks, and for feveral fmaller paths to branch off
from the principal ones ; all which take off the idea of
a boundary, and afford amufement to the paffenger in
his courfe : and as it is not eafy to purfue all the turns
of the different lateral paths, there is ftill fomething

N left

( 5° )

left to defire, and a field for the imagination to work
upon.

In their crooked walks, they carefully avoid all fudden
or unnatural windings, particularly the regular ferpentine
curves, of which our Englifh Gardeners are fo fond;
obferving, that thefe eternal, uniform, undulating lines,
are, of all things, the moft unnatural, the moft affected,
and moft tirefome to purfue. Having nature in view,
they feldom turn their walks, without fome apparent
excufe; either to avoid impediments, naturally exifting,
or raifed by art, to improve the fcenery. A mountain,
a precipice, a deep valley, a marfh, a piece of rugged
ground, a building, or fome old venerable plant, afford
a ftriking reafon for turning afide; and if a river, the
fea, a wide extended lake, or a terrace commanding
rich profpecls, prefent themfelves, they hold it judicious
to follow them in all their windings; fo to protract the
enjoyments which thefe noble objects procure: but on a
plain, either open, or formed into groves and thickets,
where no impediments oblige, nor no curiofity invites to

follow

( 5' )

follow a winding path, they think it abfurd, faying,,
that the road muft either have been made by art, or be
worn by the conftant paffage of travellers; in either of
which cafes, it cannot be fuppofed that men would go
by a crooked line, where they could arrive by a ftraight
one. In general, they are very fparing of their twifts,
which are always eafy, and fo managed that never more
than one curve is perceptible at the fame time.

They likewife take care to avoid an exadr, parallelifnx
in thefe walks, both with regard to the trees which
border them, and the ground of which they are compofed.
The ufual width given to the walk, is from eight to
twenty, or even thirty feet, according to the extent of
the plantation; but the trees, on each fide, are, in
many places, more diftant; large fpaces being left open,
and covered with grafs and wild flowers, or with fern,
broom, briars, and underwood.

The ground of the walk is either of turf or gravel;

o

neither of them finishing exadly at its edges, but run-
ning

( 52 )

ning fome way into the thickets, groves or fhrubberies,
on each fide; in order to imitate nature more clofely,
and to take off that difagreeable formality and ftiffnefs,
which a contrary practice occafions in our European
plantations.

In their ftraight roads or walks, when the extent is
vaft, the Chinefe artifts obferve an exact order and fym-
metry, faying, that in ftupendous works, the appearance
of art is by no means difgufting; that it conveys to
pofterity inftances of the grandeur of their anceftors ;
and gives birth to many fublime and pleafing reflections.
The imperial roads are aftonifhing works of this nature;
they are compofed of triple avenues, adorned with four
rows of enormous trees; generally Indian chefnuts, fpruce
firs, mountain cedars, and others of formal fhapes; or oaks,
elms, tulips, and others cf the largeft growth, planted
at proper regular diftances ; and extending in ftraight
lines, and almoft on a perfect level, two, three, even four
hundred miles. The center avenues are from one hundred
and fifty, to two hundred feet wide; and the lateral

ones.

( 53 )

ones, are generally from forty to fifty feet; the fpread-
ing branches of the trees forming over them a natural
umbrella, under which the travellers pafs, at all times
of the day, unmolefted by the fun.

In fome places thefe roads are carried, by lofty vaulted
paffages, through the rocks and mountains; in others,
upon caufeways and bridges, over lakes, torrents, and
arms of the fea ; and in others, they are fupported, be-
tween the precipices, upon chains of iron, or upon
pillars, and many tire of arcades, over villages, pagodas,
and cities: in fliort, no difficulty has been attended to
in their conftru&ion ; but every obftacle has been con-
quered with amazing induftry, and at an almoft incredible
expence.

There are, in different parts of China, many works
of the kinds juft mentioned ; but amongft the mod con-
siderable, are counted the PaiTage of King-tong, the
Bridges of Fo-cheu and Lo-yang, and the Cientao, in the
province of Xenfi. B

O The

( 54 )

The firft of thefe is a communication between two
precipices, compofed of twenty enormous chains of iron,
each two hundred feet in length, which are covered with
planks and earth, to form the road.

The fecond is a bridge between Fo-cheu and the fuburb
Nan-ti, confifting of one hundred arches, of a fufficient
fize for the paflage of fhips under full fail: it is built of
large blocks of hewn ftone, and enclofed with a mag-
nificent marble baluftrade, the pedeftals of which fup-
port two hundred coloffal lions, artfully cut in the fame
material.

The bridge of Lo-yang is in the province of Fokien,
and is the largeft and moft furprizing work of the fort
that yet has been heard of. It is compofed of three
hundred piers of black marble, joined to each other by
vaft blocks of the fame material, forming the road, which
is enclofed with a marble baluftrade, whofe pedeftals are
adorned with lions, and other works of fculpture. The
whole length of the bridge is fixteen thoufand two hundred

feet,

( 55 )

feet, or upwards of three miles ; its width is forty-two-
feet ; and the blocks of which it is compofed are each
fifty-four feet long, and fix feet diameter.

The Cientao, or Way of Pillars, is a communication
between many precipices, built to fhorten the road to
Pekin. It is near four miles long, of a considerable
width, and fupported over the vallies upon arches and
ftone piers of a terrifying height.

In the mountains, on each fide of thefe imperial roads,
are erected a great number of buildings, adorned with
colofTal ftatues, and other works of fculpture, which
afford conftant entertainment to the paffengers. Thefe
are the monuments of their wife men, their faints, and;
their warriors, erected at the expence of the ftate, and
furnifhed with nervous infcriptions, in the Chinefe lan-
guage, giving an account of the lives and actions of thofe
they commemorate: fome of thefe buildings are diftributed
into many fpacious courts and (lately apartments, being;
little inferior to palaces, either in magnificence or extent.

Inftead-

( 56 )

Inftead of roads, the center avenues are fometimes
formed into navigable canals, from one hundred to one
hundred and fifty feet wide, being fufficiently deep to admit
galleys and other fmall vefiels; with horfe-ways on each
fide of the canals, for the convenience of towing them,
either againft the wind or the ftream. On thefe the
emperor, and Chinefe mandarines, are frequently con-
veyed, in large magnificent fampans or barges, divided
into many fplendid rooms ; being fometimes attended by
a considerable train of fmaller veffels, of different con-
ft ructions, adorned with dragons, ftreamers, lanterns of
painted filk, and various other ornaments, the whole
compofing a very brilliant and entertaining jfhow.

All the imperial forefts, befides the high roads which
pafs through them, have many fpacious avenues cut in
the woods, fpreading from different centers, like rays of
ftars, and terminating at idol temples, towers, caftles, and
ajl the interefting objects of the circumjacent country. The
centers from which thefe avenues part, are of a circular
or octagonal figure, with eight avenues ; or of a femi-

circular

{ 57 )

circular form, with only three branching from them.
Their area is generally very considerable; and its middle
is adorned with a triumphal arch, a pagoda, a magni-
ficent fountain, or fome other confiderable monument.

Where the extent is vast, each lingle avenue has besides,
in its courfe, one or more open fpaces, from which a
number of fmaller avenues again branch out, and ter-
minate at many buildings, erected in the woods, for
various purpofes ; all which, without any confusion, add
to the variety and intricacy of thefe compositions; giving
them an appearance of immensity not to be conceived,
but by fuch as have feen them : and wherever a deep
valley, a large river, or an arm of the fea, interrupt and
break off the courfe of the avenues, the plantations are
neverthelefs continued on the opposite fhore, in order
to make them appear more considerable.

In straight roads, of fmaller dimensions, the Chinefe
very artfully imitate the irregular workings of nature ; for
although the general direction be a straight line, yet they

P easily

( 58 )

eafily avoid all appearance of ftiffnefs or formality, by
planting fome of the trees out of the common line; by
inclining fome of them out of an upright; or by employ-
ing different fpecies of plants, and by placing them at
irregular diftances, with their ftems fometimes bare, and
at other times covered with honey-fuckles and fweet-
bryar, or furrounded with underwood. They likewife
cut and difpofe the branches of the trees in various man-
ners ; fome being fuffered to fpread, to cover and fhade
the walks; whilft others are fhortened, to admit the fun.
The ground too is compofed of rifes and falls; and the
banks on each fide of the walk are, in fome places, of a
confiderable height, forming hollow ways, which they
often cover at the top with bufhes and trunks of fallen
trees : frequently too the courfe of the walk is interrupted
by a large oak, or elm, or tulipifera, placed in the middle;
or by a fcreen of trees running quite acrofs; which, when
the part on one fide of the fcreen is opened and illu-
minated by the fun, and the part on the other fide, clofe.
and fhaded, produces a pleafing contrail.

have

( 59 )

I have often feen, in China, berceaus and arbors*
not of lattice-work, as in France, but of bamboo, hazel,
and elm, whofe branches being interwoven at the top,,
formed an arch not at all difpleafing to the eye, and
exceedingly ufeful, during the heats of fummer : and to
render thefe cool retreats more agreeable, jeffamine,
fcarlet beans, fweet-fcented peafe, granadillas of feveral
forts, nafturtiums, the convulvus major, and many other
forts of climbers, were planted round the outfide, which,
forcing their way through, enriched the fides, and arches
of the walks in a very beautiful manner.

I have likewife feen, in Chinefe plantations, walks
bordered with the cut yew and elm hedges, fo common
in moft countries of Europe, which the Chinefe artifts
fometimes admit of, for variety's fake; but they never
have the ft iff appearance of our European ones: the fhears
are ufed fparingly; towards the top the branches are
fuffered to fpread unmoleftcd; and even in the cut parts
of them are ken large maffes of other plants forcing their
way through; fuch as the fycamore, the fig, the vine,

and

( 6o )

and others, whofe foliage and verdure are raoft oppofite
to thofe of the hedge.

The dimenfions both of their ftraight roads and walks>
vary according to the purpofes they are defigned for ; and,
in fome degree too, according to their length. Roads or
avenues to considerable objedts, are, as has been obferved,
generally compofed of three parallel walks : that in the
middle being from thirty to one hundred and fifty, or
even two hundred feet wide ; thofe on the fides, from
fifteen to forty. In their Gardens, the principal flraight
walks are never narrower than twenty feet; and feldom
broader than forty-five or fifty: and the fmalleft ftraight
walks are at leaft twelve feet wide. Thirty to thirty-fix
feet is called afufficient width for a length of two hundred
yards; forty to fifty for one of four hundred; fixty for
one of fix hundred; and feventy for a length of eight
hundred yards: and when the extent is more than this
laft dimenfion, they do not tie themfelvesup to any pro-
portion, but encreafe their width as much as they con
veniently can ; never, however, exceeding one hundred

and

( 6i )

and fifty, to two hundred feet; which they think the
utmoft width that can be given, without rendering the
avenue difproportionate to the trees that border it.

In the conftruclion of roads and walks, the Chinefe
Gardeners are very expert, and very circumfpecl: they
never fituate them at the foot of mountains or riling
grounds, without contriving drains to receive the waters
defcending from1 the heights, which are afterwards dis-
charged by arched gulleys under the roads, into the plains
below; forming, in the rainy feafon, a great number of
little cafcades, that increafe the beauty of the fcenery.
The roads which are defigned for carriages, they make as
level as poffible ; they, give them a folid bottom, and fhape
them fo as to throw off the rain-waters expeditioufly :
they ufe, as much as poffible, the neareft materials, to
fave expence; and are very judicious in employing different
foils to form mixtures, which never become either hard
or ilippery ; never loofe in dry weather, nor deep in wet;
not eafily ground into powder; nor ever forming a rough
flinty furface, difficult and painful for horfes to move
upon.

( 62 )

Their walks are either of grafs, of gravel, or chippings
of ftone, covered with a fmall quantity of coarfe river-
fand. The firft fort, which are feldom ufed but in private
Gardens, they being too liable to be fpoiled in public
walks, are made of the fineft and cleaneft turf that can
be found on downs and commons; and they are kept in
order, by frequent mowing, and rowling with large iron
rowlers. The fecond fort are made of binding gravel, laid
about fix inches deep, upon the natural ground: if it be
-dry, or if fwampy, upon brick rubbifh, flint ftones, or
any other hard materials, eafieft to be had : and thefe are
alfo kept firm, and in great beauty, by frequent rowling.
Thofe of ftone are compofed of gallets, laid about a foot
thick, rammed to a firm confiftence, and a regular fur-
face; upon which is laid a fufiicient quantity of river-
fand, to fill up all the interfaces : which done, the whole
is moiftened, and well rammed again.

Both in their roads and walks, they are very careful to
contrive fink-ftones, with proper drains and cefs-pools
for carrying off the waters, after violent rains: and to

thofe

( 63 )

thofe that are upon defcents, they never give more fall
at the moft than half an inch to every foot, to prevent
their being damaged by the current of the waters.

As China, even in the northern provinces, is exceed-
ingly hot during fummer, much water is employed in
their Gardens. In the fmall ones, where the fituation
admits, they frequently lay the greateft part of the ground
under water, leaving only fome iflands and rocks; and
in their large compofitions, every valley has its brook or
rivulet, winding round the feet .of the hills, and dis-
charging themfelves into larger rivers and lakes. Their
artifts affert, that no Garden, particularly if it be extenfive,
can be perfect, without that element, diftributed in many
(hapes ; faying, that it is refrefhing and grateful to the
fenfe, in the feafons when rural fcenes are moft frequented ;
that it is a principal fource of variety, from the diverlity
of forms and changes of which it is fufceptible; and from
the different manners in which it may be combined with
other objects; that its impreffions are numerous, and un-
commonly forcible; and that, by various modifications,

it

( &4 )

it enables the artift to ftrengthen the character of every
compofition; to encreafe the tranquility of the quiet
fcenc; to give gloom to the melancholy, gaiety to the
pleaiing, fublimity to the great, and horror to the
terrible.

They obferve, that the different aquatic fports of row-
ing, failing, fwimming, fifhing, hunting and combating,
are an inexhauftible fund of amufement; that the birds
and fifties, inhabitants of the water, are highly enter-
taining, efpecially to naturalifls ; and that the boats and
vefTels which appear upon its bofom, fometimes furioufly
impelled by tempefts, at others gently gliding over the
fmooth furface, form, by their combinations, a thoufand
momentary varied pictures, that animate and embellim
every profpect. They compare a clear lake, in a calm
funny day, to a rich piece of painting, upon which the
circumambient objects are reprefented in the higheft per-
fection; and fay, it is like an aperture in the world,
through which you fee another world, another fun, and

other Ikies.

They

( 65 )

They alfo fay, that the beauty of vegetable nature de-
pends, in a great degree, upon an abundant fupply of
water; which, at the fame time that it produces variety
and contraft in the fcenery, enriches the verdure of the
lawns, and gives health and vigor to the plantations.

Their lakes are made as large as the ground will admit;
fome feveral miles in circumference : and they are fo
fhaped, that from no fingle point of view all their ter-
minations can be feen ; fo that the fpe&ator is always
kept in ignorance of their extent. They interfperfe in
them many iflands; which ferve to give intricacy to the
form, to conceal the bounds, and to enrich the fcenery.
Some of thefe are very fmall, fufficient only to contain
one or two weeping willows, birch, larch, laburnum, or
fome other pendant plants, whofe branches hang over the
water: but others are large, highly cultivated, and en-
riched with lawns, fhrubberies, thickets, and buildings:
or they are rugged, mountainous, and furrounded with
rocks and fhoals; being covered with fern, high grafs,
and fome ftraggling large trees, planted in the vallies :

R amongft

( 66 )

amongft which are often feen (talking along the elephant,
the rhinoceros, the dromedary, the oftrich, and the giant
baboon.

There are other iflands, raifed to a confiderable height^
by a fucceiTion of terraces, communicating to each other
by various flights of magnificent fteps. At the angles of
all thefe terraces, as well as upon the fides of the fteps,
are placed many brazen tripods, that fmoke with incenfe;
and upon the uppermoft platform is generally erected a
lofty tower for aftronomical obfervations ; an elegant
temple, filled with idols ; the coloflal ftatue of a god,
or fome other confiderable work; ferving, at the fame
time, as an ornament to the Garden, and as an object
to the whole country.

They alfo introduce in their lakes large artificial rocks,
built of a particular fine coloured ftone, found on the
fea-coafts of China, and defigned with much tafte.
Thefe are pierced with many openings, through which
you difcover diftant profpe&s ; and have in them caverns

for

( 67 )

for the reception of crocodiles, enormous water-ferpents,
and other monfters; cages for rare aquatic birds; and
grottos, with many (tuning apartments, adorned with
marine productions, and gems of various forts. They plant
upon them all kinds of grafs, creepers and flirubs which
thrive on rocks, fuch as mofs, ground-ivy, fern, ftone-
crop, common houfe-leek, and various other forts of the
fedum, crane's-bill, dwarf box, rock rofes and broom ;
with fome trees rooted into the crevices: and they place
on their fummits, hermitages and idol temples, to which
you afcend by many rugged, winding fteps, cut in the
rock.

On the borders of their lakes are feen exteniive galleries,
and many detached buildings, of different forms and di-
mensions, furrounded with plantations, fea-ports with fleets
of veffels lying before them, forts with flags flying, and
batteries of cannon ; alfo, thickets of flowering flirubs,
meadows covered with cattle, corn lands, cotton and
fugar plantations, orchards of various fruit-trees, and rice
grounds, which project into the lakes; leaving, in the

midft

( 68 )

midft of them, pafTages for boats : and, in fome places,
the borders confift of lofty woods, with creeks and rivers
for the admiffion of veffels, whofe banks are covered with
high grafs, reeds, and wild fpreading trees, forming clofe
gloomy arbors, under which the vefTels pafs. From thefe
arbors are cut many viftoes through the woods, to diftant
profpects of towns, bridges, temples, and various other
objects, which fucceffively ftrike the eye, and fill the
mind with expectation ; when fuddenly a farther progrefs
is rendered impracticable, by rocks, ftrong branches, and
whole trees lying crofs the channel; between which the
river is feen ftill to continue, with many iflands; whereon,
and alfo in the water, appear the remains of antient
flructures, monumental infcriptions, and fragments of
fculpture : which ferve to give an edge to curiofny, and
to render the difappointment more affecting.

Sometimes too, inftead of being intercepted in your
paffage, the velTel, together with the whole river, are,
by the impetuofity and particular direction of the cur-
rent, hurried into dark caverns, overhung with woods ;

whence,

( 69 )

whence, after having been furioufly impelled for fome
time, you are again difcharged into day-light, upon lakes
encompafTed with high hanging woods, rich profpects on
mountains, and ftately temples, dedicated to Tien-ho,
and the celeftial fpirits.

i
Upon their lakes, the Chinefe frequently exhibit fea-

iights, proceffions, and fhip-races; alfo fire-works and
illuminations: in the two laft of which they are more
fplendid, and more expert than the Europeans. On
fome occafions too, not only the lakes and rivers, but all
the pavilions, and every part of their Gardens, are illu-
minated by an incredible number of beautiful lanterns, of
a thoufand different fhapes, intermixed with lampions,
torches, fire-pots, and fky-rockets ; than which a more
magnificent fight cannot be feen. Even the Girandola,
and illumination of St. Peter's of the Vatican, though far
the moft fplendid exhibitions of that fort in Europe, are
trifles, when compared to thefe of China.

Their rivers are feldom ftraight, but winding, and
broken into many irregular points: fometimes they a: e

S

( 7° )

narrow, noify and rapid ; at other times deep, broad and
flow. Their banks are variegated, in imitation of nature:
being, in fome places, bare and gravelly; in others, co-
vered with woods quite to the water's edge; now flat and
adorned with flowers and fhrubs; then fleep, rocky, and
forming deep winding caverns, where pigeons of the wood,
and water-fowl build their nefts ; or rifing into many
little hills, covered with hanging groves; between which
are valleys and glades watered by rivulets, and adorned
with pleafure-houfes, cottages, and ruftic temples; with
flocks of fheep and goats feeding about them. The ter-
minations of rivers theChinefe artrfts hide either in woods,
or behind hills and buildings; or they turn them under
bridges, direct them into caverns, or lofe them amongft
rocks and fhoals.

Both in their lakes and rivers are feen many kinds of
reeds, and other aquatic plants and flowers; ferving for
ornament, as well as for covert to their birds. They
erect upon them mills and other hydraulic machines,
wherever the fituation will permit. They introduce a

great

( 7i )

great many fplendid vefifels, built after the manner of all
nations; and keep in them all kinds of curious and beau-
tiful water-fowl, collected from different countries.

Nor are they lefs various and magnificent in their
bridges than in their other decorations. Some they build
of wood, and compofe them of rough planks, laid in a
ruftic manner upon large roots of trees: fome are made
of many trunks of trees, thrown rudely over the ftream 5
and fenced with decayed branches, intertwined with the
convulvulus, and climbers of different forts: and fome
are compofed of vaft arches of carpentry, artfully and
neatly framed together. They have alfo bridges of
ftone and marble* adorned with colonades,, triumphal:
arches, towers, loggias, fifhing pavilions, ftatues, bas-
reliefs, brazen tripods, and porcelain vafes. Some of
them are upon a curve, or a ferpentine plan ; others
branching out into various directions: fome ftraight, and
fome at the conflux of rivers or canals, triangular, qua-
drilateral, and circular, as the fituation requires ; with
pavilions at their angles, and bafons of water in their cen-
ters, adorned with Jets cTeau^ and fountains of many forts, .

( 72 )

Some of thefe are entire, and executed with the utmoft
neatnefs and tafte; others feem in ruins; and others are
left half finifhed, and furrounded with fcaffolds, ma-
chines, and the whole apparatus of building.

It is natural for the reader to imagine, that all thefe
bridges, with the pavilions, temples, palaces, and other
ftru&ures, which have been occafionally defcribed in the
courfe of this work, and which are fo abundantly fcat-
tered over the Chinefe Gardens, mould entirely diveft
them of a rural character, and give them rather the ap-
pearance of fplendid cities, than fcenes of cultivated
vegetation. But fuch is the judgment with which the
Chinefe ar tills fitu ate their ftructures, that they enrich and
beautify particular profpects, without any detriment to
the general afpecT: of the whole compofition, in which
Nature almoft always appears predominant; for though
their Gardens are full of buildings, and other works of
art, yet there are many points from which none of them
appear: and more than two or three at a time are feldom
difcovered; fo artfully are they concealed in valleys,

behind

( 73 )

behind rocks and mountains, or amongft woods and
thickets.

There are, however, for variety's fake, in moft of the
Chinefe Gardens, particular places, confecrated to fcenes of
an extraneous nature; from whence all, or the greateft part
of the buildings are collected into one view, riling above
each other in amphitheatrical order, fpreading out to a con-
siderable extent; and, by their whimfical combinations,
exhibiting the moft magnificent confufion imaginable.
Their artifts knowing how powerfully contraft agitates
the human mind, lofe no opportunity of practifing fudden
transitions, or of difplaying ftrong oppoiitions, as well in
the nature of the obje&s which enter into their com-
positions, as in their modifications. Thus they conduct
you from limited profpects to extenfive views ; from places
of horror to fcenes of delight; from lakes and rivers to
woods and lawns; and from the fimpleft arrangements
of nature, to the moft complicated productions of art.
To dull and gloomy colours, they oppofe fuch as are
brilliant ; and to light, they oppofe darknefs : rendering,

T by

( 74 )

by thefe means, their productions not only diflinct in the
parts, but alfo uncommonly ftriking in their total effect.

The cafcades of the Chinefe, which are always intro-
duced, where the ground admits, and where the fupply
of water is fufficient, are fometimes regular, like thofe of
Marli, Frefcati and Tivoli ; but more frequently they are
rude, like the falls of Trolhetta and the Nile. In one
place a whole river is precipitated from the fummit of
the mountain, into the vallies beneath ; where it foams
and whirls amongft the rocks, till it falls down other
precipices, and buries itfelf in the gloom of impenetrable
forefts. In another place the waters burft out with vi-
olence from many parts, fpouting a great number of
cafcades, in different directions; which, through various
impediments, at laft unite, and form one great expanfe
of water. Sometimes the view of the cafcade is in a
great meafure intercepted by the branches which hang
over it ; fometimes its paffage is obftructcd by trees,
and heaps of enormous ftones, that feem to have been
brought down by the fury of the torrent: and frequently

rough

( 75 )

rough wooden bridges are thrown from one rock to
another, over the fteepeft parts of the cataract; narrow
winding paths are carried along the edges of the pre-
cipices; and mills and huts are fufpended over the waters-;
the feeming dangerous fituation of which, adds to the
horror of the fcene.

As the Chinefe are fo very fond of water, their Gar-
deners endeavour to obtain it by art, wherever it is denied
by Nature. For this purpofe, they have many ingenious
inventions to collecl: water; and many machines, oflimpre
conftru&ion, which raife it to almoft any level, at a trifling
expence. They ufe the fame method for overflowing
vallies, that is praclifed in Europe; by raifing heads of
earth or mafonry at their extremities: where the foil
is too porous to hold water, they clay the bottom, in the
fame manner that we do to make it tight : and in order
to prevent the inconveniences ariling from ftagnant waters,,
they always contrive a considerable difcharge to procure
motion, even where the fupply is fcanty; which is done
by conveying the difcharged water back, through fubter-

raneous

( 76 )

raneous drains, into refervoirs; whence it is again raifed
into the lake or river, by means of pumps, and other
machines, proper for that purpofe. They always give a
considerable depth to their waters, at leaft five or fix feet,
to prevent the rifing of fcum, and the floating of weeds
upon the furface; and they are always provided with
fwans, and fuch other birds as feed on weeds, to keep them
under.

In overflowing their grounds, and alfo in draining
them, they take all poffible care not to kill many of
their old trees, either by over moiftening their roots, or
draining them too much ; faying, that the lofs of a fine
old plant is irreparable; that it impairs the beauty of the
adjacent plantations; and often likewife deftroys the efTecl:
of the fcenery, from many diftant points of view: and
in fhaping their grounds, they are, for the fame reafon,
equally cautious with regard to the old plantations; care-
fully obferving never to bury the ftems, nor to expofe the
roots of any trees which they mean to preferve.

In

( 77 )

In their plantations, the Chinefe artifts do not, as is
the practice of fome European Gardeners, plant indis-
criminately every thing that conies in their way; nor do
they ignorantly imagine that the whole perfection of
plantations confifts in the variety of the trees and {hrubs
of which they are compofed : on the contrary, their
pra&ice is guided by many rules, founded on reafon
and long obfervation, from which they feldom or ever
deviate.

" Many trees, mrubs and flowers," fayeth Li-Tfong,
a Chinefe author of great antiquity, " thrive beft in low
c moift fttuations; many on hills and mountains: fome
c require a rich foil; but others will grow on clay> in
i fand, or even upon rocks; and in the water: to
c fome a funny expofition is necelTary; but for others,
c the made is preferable. There are plants which thrive
c beft in expofed fituations; but, in general, fhelter is
c requifite. The fkilful Gardener, to whom ftudy and
1 experience have taught thefe qualities, carefully attends
c to them in his operations; knowing that thereon de-

U pend

( 73 )

" pend the health and growth of his plants; and con-
" fequently the beauty of his plantations."

In China, as in Europe, the ufual times of planting are
the autumn and the fpring; fome things anfwering beft
when planted in the firft, and fome in the lafi: of thefe
feafons. Their Gardeners avoid planting, whenever the
grounds are fo moift as to endanger the rotting of the
roots; or when the frofts are fo near as to pinch the
plants, before they have recovered the fliock of trans-
plantation; or when the earth and air are too dry to
afford nurture to them ; or when the weather is fo tern-
peftuous as to fhake or overturn them, whilft loofe and
unrooted in the ground.

They obferve, that the perfe&ion of trees for Orna-
mental Gardening, confifts in their fize; in the beauty
and variety of their forms ; in the colour and fmoothnefs
of their bark; in the quantity, fhape, and rich verdure
of their foliage; in its early appearance in the fpring, and
long duration in the autumn; in the quicknefs of their

growth;
x

( 79 )

growth ; in their hardinefs to endure the extremities of
heat, cold, drought and moifture; in their making no
litter, during the fpring or fummer, by the fall of the
bloffom; and in the ftrength of their branches, to refift,
unhurt, the violence of tempefts.

They fay, that the perfection of flirubs conlifts not
only in moft of the above mentioned particulars, but alfo
in the beauty, durability, or long fucceffion of their
bloffom ; and in their fair appearance before the bloom,
and after it is gone.

« We are fenfible," fay they, " that no plant is pof-
" feffed of all good qualities ; but choofe fuch as have
" the feweft faults; and avoid all the exotics, that vege-
" tate with difficulty in our climate; for though they
" may be rare, they cannot be beautiful, being always
" in a fickly ftate: have, if you pleafe, hot-houfes and
" cool-houfes, for plants of every region, to fatisfy the
" curiofity of botanifts; but they are mere infirmaries:
" the plants which they contain, are valetudinarians, di-

" vefted

( &> )

" vefted of beauty and vigor; which only exift by the
S, " power of medicine, and by dint of good nurfing."

The exceffive variety of which fome European Gar-
deners are fo fond in their plantations, the Chinefe artifts
blame, obferving, thatagreat diverfity of colours, foliage,
•and direction of branches, muft create confulion, and
deftroy all the maffes upon which effect and grandeur
depend: they obferve too, that it is unnatural ; for, as in
Nature mod plants fow their own feeds, whole forefts are
generally compofed of the fame fort of trees. They
admit, however, of a moderate variety; but are by no
means promifcuous in the choice of their plants ; attend-
ing, with great care, to the colour, form, and foliage of
each ; and only mixing together fuch as harmonize and
alTemble agreeably.

They fay that fome trees are only proper for thickets;
others only fit to be employed fingly; and others equally
adapted to both thefe fituations. The mountain-cedar,
the fpruce and filver firs, and all others whofe branches

have

( 8x )

have an horizontal direction, they hold improper for
thickets; becaufe their branches indent into each other;
and likewife cut difagreeably upon the plants which back
them. They never mix thefe horizontal branched trees with
the cyprefs, the oriental arbor vitae, or other upright ones;
nor with the larix, the weeping willow, the birch, the
laburnum, or others of a pendant nature-, faying, that the
interfe&ion of their branches forms a very unpiclurefque
kind of net-work: neither do they employ together the
catalpha and the acacia, the yew and the willow, the
plane and the fliumach, nor any of fuch heterogeneous
forts .; but on the contrary, they affemble in their large
woods, the oak, the elm, the beech, the tulip, the fyca-
more, maple and plane, the Indian chefnut and weftern
walnut, the arbeal, the lime, and all whofe luxuriant
foliages hide the direction of their branches; and growing
in globular maffes, affemble well together; forming, by
the harmonious combination of their tints, one grand
mafs of rich verdure.

In their fmaller plantations, they employ trees of a
fmaller growth, but of the fame concordant forts; bor-

X

( 82 )

dering them with Perfian lilacks, gelder-rofes, feringas,
coronillas or fennas of various forts, flowering rafberries?
yellow jeflamine, Hypericum or St. John's wort, the
fpirasa frutex, altheas, rofes, and other flowering fhrubs;
intermixed with flowers and with the padus of various
fpecies, elder, mountain affi, acacia, double bloflbmed
thorn, and many other forts of flowering trees: and
wherever the ground is bare, they cover it with white^
blue, purple and variegated periwinkle, the convulvulus
minor, dwarf flocks, violets, primrofes, and different kinds
of creeping flowers ; and with ftrawberries, tutfen and ivy3
which climbs up and covers the ftems of the trees«

In their fhrubberies they follow, as much as po/Ilble^,
the fame rules; obferving farther, in fome of them to
plant all fuch fhrubs as flourifh at one time; and in others,
fuch as fucceed each other : of which different methods
the firfl is much the moil brilliant; but its duration is
fhort ; and the appearance of the fhrubbery is generally
fliabby, as foon as the bloom is off : they therefore feldom
ufe it, but for fcenes that are to be enjoyed at certain

periods ;

( 83 )

periods; preferring the laft, on other occafions, as being
of long duration, and lefs unpleafing after the flowers are
gone.

The Chinefe Gardeners do not fcatter their flowers
indiscriminately about their borders, as is ufual in fome
parts of Europe, but difpofe them with great circum-
fpeclion; and, if I may be allowed the expreflion, paint
their way very artfully along the fkirts of the plantations:
and in other places, where flowers are to be introduced.
They reject all that are of a ftraggling growth, of harfli
colours, and poor foliage; choofing only fuch as are of
fome duration, grow either large, or in clufters, are of
beautiful forms, well leaved, and of tints that harmonize
with the greens that furround them. They avoid all
fudden transitions, both with regard to dimenfion and
colour; rifing gradually from the fmalleft flowers to holli-
oaks, pceonies, fun-flowers, carnations, poppies, and others
of the boldeft growth ; and varying their tints, by eafy
gradations, from white, ftraw colour, purple and incar-
nate, to the deepeft blues, and moft brilliant crimfons

and

( H )

and fcarlets. They frequently blend feveral roots together,
whofe leaves and flowers unite, and compofe only one
rich harmonious mafs; fuch as the white and purple can-
dituff, larkfpurs, and mallows of various colours, double
poppies, loopins, primrofes, pinks and carnations; w7ith
many others, whofe forms and colours accord with each
other: and the fame method they ufe with flowering
fhrubs; blending white, red9 and variegated rofes together;
purple and white lilacks; yellow and white jeflamine ;
altheas of various forts; and as many others, as they can
with any propriety unite. — By thefe mixtures they en-
creafe confiderably the variety and beauty of their com-
pofitions,

In their large plantations, the flowers generally grow
in the natural ground : but in their flower-gardens, and
in all other parts that are highly kept, they are in pots,
buried in the ground; which, as faft as the bloom goes
off, are removed, and others are brought in their places;
fo that there is a conftant fucceflion, for almoft every
month in the year; and the flowers are never feen, but in
the height of their beauty.

( 85 )

Amongft the mod interefting parts of the Chinefe
plantations, are their open groves ; for as the women fpend
much of their time there, care is taken to fituate them
as pleafantly as poffible, and to adorn them with all
kinds of natural beauties.

The ground on which they are planted, is commonly-
uneven, yet not rugged; either on a plain, raifed inio
many gentle fwellings; on the eafy declivity of a mountain,
commanding rich profpe&s; or in vales, furiounded with
woods, and watered with fprings and rivulets.

Thofe which are in an open expofure, are generally
bordered with flowery meadows, extenfive corn-fields, or
large lakes; the Chinefe artifts obferving, that the bril-
liancy and gaiety of thefe objects, form a pleafing contrail
with the gloom of the grove: and when they are confined
in thickets, or clofe planted woods, the plantation is fo
formed that, from every approach, fome part of the grove
is hid; which opening gradually to the eye of the paf-
fenger, fatisfies his curiofity by degrees,

Y Some

( 86 )

Some of thefe groves are compofed of evergreens, chiefly
of pyramidal forms, thinly planted over the furface, with
flowering fhrubs fcattered amongft them : others are
compofed of lofty fpreading trees, whofe foliage affords
a fhady retreat during the heat of the day. The plants
are never crowded together; fufEcient room being left,
between them for fitting or walking upon the grafs ;
whichj by reafon of its fhady fituation, retains a conftant
verdure; and, in the fpring, is adorned with a great
variety of*early flowers, fuch as violets, crocus's, poli-
anthus's and primrofes; hyacinths, cowflips, fnow-drcps,
daffodils and daifies. Some trees of the grove are feffered
to branch out from the very bottom of the flem upwards;,
others, for the fake of variety, have their {terns bare: but
far the greater number are furrounded with rofe-trees,
fweet-briar, honey fuckles, fcarlet beans, nafturtiums,.
everlafting and fweet-fcented peas, double-bloflbmed
briar, and other odoriferous fhrubs, which beautify the
barren parts of the plant, and perfume the. air.

Sometimes too their open groves are compofed of lemon»
orange, citron, pompelmofe, and myrtle-trees; which, as

( 87 ).

the climate varies, either grow in the earth, or in buried
tubs and pots, which are removed to green houfes during
the winter. They alfo have groves of all forts of fine
formed fruit-trees; which, when they bloffom, and alfo
when their fruit is ripe, arc exceedingly beautiful: and
to add to the luxuriance of thefe feenes, the Chinefe
artifts plant vines of different coloured grapes near many
of the trees, which climb up their ftems, and afterv/ards
hang in feftoons from one tree to another*

In all their open groves are kept young broods of
pheafants, partridges, pea-fowls, turkies, and all kinds
of handfome domeftio birds, who flock thither, at certain
times of the day, to be fed : they alfo retain in them, by
the fame method, fquirrels, fmall monkies, crocatoos,
parrots, hog deer, fpotted capritos, lambs, Guinea pigs,
and many other little beautiful birds and animals.

The trees which the Chinefe Gardeners ufe in their
open groves, and alfo for detached trees, or groupes of
two, three, or four together, are the mountain cedar, the

fpruce

( 83 )

fpruce filver and balm of Gilead firs, the larix, the fmooth
ftemmed or Weymouth pine, the arbor vita?, and cyprefs;
the weeping willow, the am, the maple, weftern walnut,
.arbeal, tulip, acacia, oak, elm, and all. others that grow
in pi&urefque forms: and whenever they loofe their na-
tural fhape, either by too quick vegetation, or other ac-
cidents, they endeavour to reduce them to an agreeable
form, bj; lopping ofT their exuberances; or by forcing
them into other directions. The Indian, or horfe-chefnut,
the lime, and fome others of a ftiff, formal growth, they
never ufe detached; but find them, on account of their
rich verdure, their blolTom, and abundant foliage, very
-.fit for thickets, woods and avenues.

They have particular plants for the dreffed gay parts of
the Garden; others in their wilds and fcenes of horror;
and others appropriated to monuments and ruins; or to
accompany buildings of various forts ; according as their
properties fit them for thefe different purpofes.

In planting, they are nicely attentive to the natural
fize of their plants ; placing fuch as are of humble

( 89 )

growth in the front ; and thofe that are higher, gradually
inwards: that all may be expofed to view at the fame
time. They appropriate certain plants to low moift
fituations; and others to thofe that are dry and lofty;
ftrictly attending therein to Nature : for though a willow,
fay they, may grow upon a mountain, or an oak in a
bog, yet are not thefe by any means natural fituations
for either.

When the patron is rich, they confider nothing but
perfection in their plantations : but when he is poor,
they have alfo an eye to ceconomy ; introducing fuch
plants, trees and buildings, into their defign, as are not
only beautiful, but alfo ufeful. Inftead of lawns, they
liave meadows and fields, covered with fheep and other
cattle; or lands planted with rice and cotton, or fowed with
corn, turneps, beans, peafe, hemp, and other things that
produce flowers, and variegated pieces of colouring. The
groves are compofed of all ufeful kinds of fruit-trees;
fisch as apple, pear, cherry, mulberry, plumb, apricot,
fig, olive, filbert, and many others, peculiar to China.

Z The

*

C 9° )

The woods are full of timber-trees, ufeful for fuel and
building; which alfo produce chefnuts, walnuts, acorns*
and other profitable fruits and feeds : and both woods
and groves abound with game of all forts.

The fhrubberies conrift of rofe, rafberry, bramble, cur-
rant, lavender, vine and goofberry bufhes; with barberry,
alder, peach, nectarine and almond trees. All the walks
are narrow, and carried under the drip of the trees, and
fkirts of the plantation, that they may occupy no ufeful
ground : and of the buildings, fome are barns for grain
or hay ; fome {tables for horfes and oxen ; fome dairies,
with their cow-houfes and calf-pens ; fome cottages for
the hufbandmen, with fheds for implements of hufbandry ;
fome are dove-houfes ; others menageries for breeding
poultry ; and others ftoves and green-houfes, for railing
early or rare fruits, vegetables and flowers: all judicioufly
placed, and defigned with tafte, though in a ruftic ftyle.

The lakes and rivers are well ftored with iifh and
water-fowl : and all the veffels contrived for fiming,

hunting,

( 9i )

hunting-, and other fports that are profitable as well as
entertaining. In their borders they plant, inftead of
flowers, fweet herbs, celery, carrots, potatoes, ftrawberries,
fcarlct beans, nafturtiums, endive, cucumbers, melons, pine-
apples, and other handfome fruits and vegetables : and all
the lefs fightly productions for the kitchen, are carefully
hid behind efpaliers of fruit-trees.— Thus> they fay, that
every farmer may have a Garden without expence ; and
that if all land-holders were men of tafte, the world
might be formed into one continued Garden, without
difficulty.

Such is the fubftance of what I have hitherto collected
relative to the Gardens of the Chinefe. My endeavour,
in the prefent Publication, has been to give the general
outline of their ftyle of Gardening, without entering into
trifling particulars, and without enumerating many little
rules of which their artifts occafionally avail themfelves ;
being perfuaded that, to men of genius, fuch minute
difcriminations are always unnecefTary, and often pre-
judicial, as they burden the memory, and clog the
imagination with fuperfluous reftri&ions.

( 92 )

The difpofitions and different artifices mentioned
in the preceding pages, are thofe which are chiefly
practifed in China, and fuch as be ft characterize their
ftyle of Gardening. But the artifts of that country are fo
inventive, and fo various in their combinations, that no
two of their oompofitions are ever alike : they never copy
nor imitate each other ; they do not even repeat their
own productions ; faying, that what has once been feen,
operates feebly at a fecond inflection ; and that whatever
bears even a diftant refembla-nce to a known object,
feldom excites a new idea. The reader is therefore not to
imagine that what has been related is all that exifts; on
the contrary, a confiderable number of other examples
might have been produced : but thofe that have been
offered, will probably be fufficient; more efpecially as
moft of them are like certain compofitions in mufick,
which, though fimple in themfelves, fuggeft, to a fertile
imagination, an endlefs fucceffion of complicated va-
riations.

To the generality of Europeans many of. the. foregoing

i defcriptions

( 93 )

deicriptions may feem improbable; and the execution of
what has been defcribed, in fome meafure impracticable:
but thofe who are better acquainted with the Eaft, know
that nothing is too great for Eafiern magnificence to
attempt^ and there can be few impoflibilities, where
treafures are inexhauftible, where power is unlimited, and
where munificence has no bounds.

European artifts muft not hope to rival Oriental
fplendor ; yet let them look up to the fun, and copy as
much of its luftre as they can, circumftances will fre-
quently obftrucl: them in their courfe, and they may
often be prevented from foaring high : but their attention
fhould conftantly be fixed on great objects ; and their pro-
ductions always demonftrate, that they knew the road to
perfection, had they been enabled to proceed on the
journey.

Where twining ferpentine walks, fcattering fhrubs,
digging holes to raife mole-hills, and ringing never-ceafing
changes on lawns, groves and thickets, is called Gardening,

A a it

( 94 ;

it matters little who are the Gardeners ; whether a penfant
or a Pouffin ; whether a child in fport, or a man for
hire : the meaneft may do the little there is to be done,
and the beft could reach no farther. But wherever a
better ftyle is adopted, and Gardens are to be natural,
without refemblance to vulgar Nature; new without
affectation, and extraordinary without extravagance; where
the fpeclator is to be amufed, where his attention is
conftantly to be kept up, his curiofity excited, and his
mind agitated by a great variety of oppofite pailions ;
there Gardeners muft be men of genius, experience and
judgement ; quick in perception, rich in expedients,
fertile in imagination, and thoroughly verfed in all the
affections of the human mind.

I N I S.

ERRATA.

Page 40, line 17, for camufath fkin, read camufathkin^

Page 669 line 5, for to, readvtith.

Page 81, line 11, for fhumach, read fumach."

Page 83, line 17, for carnations, poppies, read carnation-poppies.

Page 87, line 14, for crocatoos, ra^cokatoos.

15017

&ffV CENTER I.IBRARV

»7A

i

m

M

%'

■■ i

P.

iC'i;

swi

>&$ -

f •»

I; .'!

mUM

■&jJm*

• I