Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/790

 766 COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. for a villa, are included, its locality, its present state, its prospective improvement, anil the peculiarities of its possessor. 1633. By Locality is to be understood the distance from the capital of the country in which it is situated ; from a smaller town or village ; from a road or canal ; from another villa ; or from neighbours of any sort. The distance from a town, at which it is desirable to place a villa, must depend so much on the style of living, and the taste of the occupier, that it is scarcely requisite to say any thing on the subject. Where taste is free, however, the villa ought to be at such a distance from the town as to be decidedly a country-house ; and, for the same reason, it does not appear desirable that the villa should command a view of the town, even in the extreme distance. This sentiment will be felt with more force by the citizen engaged in business, who goes to the town almost every day, than by the country gentleman or retired tradesman. In the first case, the associations recalled by the appearance of the town are those of toil and occupation ; in the second case, they are those of society and gaiety. The circumstances of a neighbour- hood materially affect the character of a villa. Hitherto the prevailing ideas in England liave been in favour of exclusive enjoyment ; and the great object, whether in small villas or extensive ones, has been, to shut out every thing belonging to the neighbour- hood, which could indicate that there was any other proprietor or resident in the vicinity. The only objects that might be legitimately shown were, wood, pasture, water, rocks, ruins, and public buildings. In short, the end aimed at by this exclusive system was, to appropriate in idea the whole of the surrounding country. The extent to which this has been carried by the higher classes in England can scarcely be conceived by tlic proprietors of other countries ; and is not at all understood by them. The possessors of extensive parks abhorred the appearance of a human habitation, however humble or however distant ; and the first object of a new settler, of the rank of a gentleman, wa?-, generally, to purchase every thing around him ; and to seclude himself in a sort of artificial forest, for his own exclusive enjoyment and that of his friends. Happily, this antisocial spirit is beginning to give way before the general spread of intelligence, and, what is of more effect, the salutary influence of diminished wealth. Notwithstanding this, we consider it perfectly natural and in good taste, to plant out a number of objects which serve to recall the idea of a town, or of manufactories, and thus to diminish the idea of the country and of rural life. 1634. The present State of a property adapted for being formed into a villa residence involves a great variety of circumstances. It may be with trees and plantations, or without them ; in aration, or under pasture ; in a high state of improvement, or in a state of neglect. No man can determine for another which of these states is most desirable. To an intended purchaser who is desirous of avoiding trouble iind uncertain expense, the less there is to do, the more immed'ate will be his gratification. To another who under- stands the improvement of land, and who takes delight in it, the more there is to do, the j^reater will be his satisfaction in doing it. A young purchaser will generally prefer forming his own plantations ; one who retires for quiet enjoyment, or because he con- siders it a mark of distinction to possess a villa, will give the preference to a situation where nearly every thing is ready prepared to his hand ; and where he has little more to do than to take possession. 1635. The. prospective Improvement of a villa residence is but a secondary consider- ation, where it has not the addition of an extensive landed estate ; and hence it cannot have much to do with Architecture. Nevertheless, it ought not to be lost sight of; and, where two situations are equally desirable in other respects, that which is likely to be improved by the growing prosperity of the neighbourhood will be preferred by every reasonable man. The difference of situation, in this respect, is very considerable. Al- most all inland towns, which are the seat of manufactures, are either in a state of pro- gressive improvement, or on the decline. Hence the great change in the value of property in their neighbourhoods ; and the consequent profit or loss on estates which derive their chief value from their local situation. Accidental circumstances, also, fre- quently increase or diminish the value of a villa residence as such. In general, whatever has a tendency to approximate the surrounding country to the character of a to^m, has the latter effect, however much it m.ay add to the actual value of the land. 1636. The peculiar Tastes or Circumstances of the intended Occupant of a Villa often determine his choice of situation. A man engaged in business every day must have his villa within a certain distance of the place of his occupation; and another, not engaged in business, may jircfer a spot with which he has some peculiar associations ; such as, the parish in which he was born ; property which once belonged to his ancestors ; or the vicinity of some river for fishing, or of a fine country for sporting, &c. 1637. All these Considerations, and a Variety of others, require to be taken into view before fixing on the situation of a villa residence. It must be confessed, however, that, in a country like Britain, where liy far the greater i)art of the landed property is in large