A LETTER, &c. SIR, I AM much obliged by your attention, in having directed your bookfeller to fend me an early copy of your ingenious work. It has been my companion during a long journey, and has furnished me with entertainment, fimilar to that which I have occafionally had the honour to experience, from your animated converfation on the subject. In the general principles and theory of the art, which you have confidered with fo much attention, I flatter myfelf that we agree; and that our difference of opinion relates only to the propriety, or, perhaps, poffibility, of reducing them to practice. B 2 I am I am obliged both to Mr. Knight, and to yourself, for mentioning my name as an exception* to the tastelefs herd of Mr. Brown's followers. But while you are pleafed to allow me fome of the qualities neceffary to my profeffion, you suppose me deficient in others, and therefore strongly recommend the ftudy of "what the higher "artifts have done, both in their pictures " and drawings:" a branch of knowledge which I have always confidered to be not lefs effential to my profeffion than hydraulics or furveying; and without which I should never have prefumed to arrogate to myself, the title of "Landscape Gar"dener," which you obferve is, "a title of no fmall pretenfion." 66 Should the new fyftem of improving, "by neglect and "accident," ever prevail fo far as to render this beautiful kingdom one huge picturefque foreft, I doubt whether fuch mention of my name may not be attributed to the fame delicate motives which you fo ingeniously affign in excufe for Mr. Mafon's praife of Brown. It is difficult to define GOOD TASTE in any of the polite arts; and amongst the respective profeffors of them, I am forry to obferye that it is feldom allowed in a rival; while thofe who are not profeffors, but, being free from the business or diffipation of life, have found leisure to excel in any one of these arts, generally find time alfo to cultivate the others; and because there really does exift fome affinity betwixt them, they are apt to fuppofe it ftill greater.* During the pleasant hours we paffed together amidst the romantic scenery of the Wye, I do remember my acknowledging that an enthusiasm for the picturesque, had Thus Mufic and Poetry are often coupled together, although very few inftances occur in which they are made to affimilate; because the melody of an air is feldom adapted either to the rhyme or measure of the verfe. In like manner, Poetry and Painting are often joined; but the canvas rarely embodies thofe figurative perfonages to advantage, which the poet's enthusiasm prefents to the reader's imagination. originally |