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REPTON’S LANDSCAPE GARDENING, &c.

should have been happy to have shewn my assent to that style,in adopting the castle character for the house at Stallage [seefigs. 175 and 176]; but this would exceed my prescribedlimitation; and, since we cannot imitate the ancient baronialcastle, let us endeavour to restore that sort of importancewhich formerly belonged to the old manor-house, where theproprietor resided among his tenants, not only to collect therents, but to share the produce of his estate with his humbledependants; and where plenteous hospitality was not sacri-ficed to ostentatious refinements of luxury.

I do not mean to condemn the improvements in comfortand convenience enjoyed in modern society ; nor to leave un-provided for every accommodation suited to the presenthabits of life, but to furnish the means of enjoying them atStanage, without departing from its original character; andthis I propose doing, by restoring, as far as possible, the samekind of mansion, on the same identical site, taking for mymodel the character of the grange, or old manor-farm ; which,I trust, will not be deemed incongruous with the surroundingscenery. But before 1 shew the present state of the site andthe effect, I shall describe tbe internal arrangements of theadditions proposed. The three following principles, howeverthey may be at variance with each other, have all been con-sidered in the plan here suggested, viz., 1st, economy; 2nd,convenience; and 3rd, a certain degree of magnificence.'*These are placed according to the respective weight eachbears in my mind.

1st. Economy dictates compressing within a compact andsmall extent, and preserving everything which can be retainedwithout alteration, however little it may be worth preserv-ing: but, as I prefer the old site of the house to any otherin the park, I see no occasion to take down for the sake ofrebuilding.

2nd. Convenience requires a certain number of rooms, of

* I mean a certain degree of magnificence, when compared with acommon farm-house. I could, in this case, have used the word picturesque-ness ; but that bears no relation to its importance, because the meanestobjects may sometimes be deemed picturesque; but the external magnifi-cence of a building will often depend on parts intended rather forornament than use, such as lofty towers in Gothic, and columns in Grecianarchitecture.