Critical observations on the buildings and improvements of London / [Anon].

  • Stuart, James, 1713-1788.
Date:
1771
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Critical observations on the buildings and improvements of London / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/54 (page 9)
    but what they fhould be. The rus in urbe is a prepofterous idea at beft; a garden in a ftreet is not lefs abfurd than a ftreet in a garden; and he that wifhes to have a row of trees before his door in town, betrays almoft as falfe a tafte as he that would build a row of houfes for an avenue to his feat in the country. To defcend next to particulars, and obferve in what * f- J1 l ! ‘ f ... , manner the abfurdity of this tafte is aggravated or extenuated in the confequent practice, let us begin with Grofvenor fquare, which is generally held out as a pattern of perfection in its kind. It is doubt- lefs fpacious, regular, and well-built ; but how is this fpacioufnefs occupied ? A clumfy rail, with lumps of brick for piers, to fupport it, at the diftance of every two or three yards, inclofes nearly the whole • ^ *. area, intercepting almoft entirely the view of the fides, and leaving the paftage round it as narrow as moft ftreets, C with