1go to his Country Houſe on Foot, for the Sake
of Exerciſe, and return on Horſeback. It ought
not therefore to lie far from the City, and the
Way to it ſhould be both good and clear, ſo as
he may go it either in Summer or Winter, either
in a Coach, or on Foot, and if poſſible by
Water. It will be alſo very convenient to have
your Way to it lie through a Gate of the City
that is not far from your Town Houſe, but as
near it as may be, that you may go backwards
and forwards from Town to Country, and from
Country to Town, with your Wife and Fami
ly, as often as you pleaſe, without being too
much obſerved by the People, or being obliged
in the leaſt to conſult your Dreſs. It is not
amiſs to have a Villa ſo placed, that when you
go to it in a Morning the Rays of the riſing
Sun may not be troubleſome to your Eyes, nor
thoſe of the ſetting Sun in the Evening when
you return to the City. Neither ſhould a Coun
try Houſe ſtand in a remote, deſart, mean Cor
ner, diſtant from a reaſonable Neighbourhood:
but in a Situation where you may have Peo
ple to converſe with, drawn to the ſame Place
by the Fruitfulneſs of the Soil, the Pleaſantneſs
of the Air, the Plentifulneſs of the Country,
the Sweetneſs of the Fields, and the Security of
the Neighbourhood. Nor ſhould a Villa be
ſeated in a Place of too much Reſort, near ad
joyning either to the City, or any great Road,
or to a Port where great Numbers of Veſſels
and Boats are continually putting in; but in
ſuch a Situation, as though none of thoſe Plea
ſures may be wanting, yet your Family may
not be eternally moleſted with the Viſits of
Strangers and Paſſengers. The Ancients ſay
that in windy Places Things are never ſpoilt
by Ruſt or Mildew; but in moiſt Places, and
low Vallies, where the Winds have not a free
Courſe, they are very much expoſed to them.
I cannot approve of one general Rule which is
laid down for all Places, namely, that a Coun
try Houſe ought to be built ſo as to look to
wards the riſing of the Sun when it is in the
Equinox: For nothing can be ſaid relating to
the Sun and Winds but what muſt alter accord
ing to the Difference of the Climate, ſince the
North Wind is not light and the South un
healthy in all Places. Celſus, the Phyſician,
very well obſerved that all Winds which blow
from the Sea, are groſſer than thoſe which
blow over Land, which are always lighter.
Upon this Account of the Winds we ought to
avoid the Mouths of all Vallies, becauſe in ſuch
Places the Winds are too cold if they come in
the Night, or too hot, if in the Day, being
over-heated by the too great Reflection of the
Sun's Rays.
of Exerciſe, and return on Horſeback. It ought
not therefore to lie far from the City, and the
Way to it ſhould be both good and clear, ſo as
he may go it either in Summer or Winter, either
in a Coach, or on Foot, and if poſſible by
Water. It will be alſo very convenient to have
your Way to it lie through a Gate of the City
that is not far from your Town Houſe, but as
near it as may be, that you may go backwards
and forwards from Town to Country, and from
Country to Town, with your Wife and Fami
ly, as often as you pleaſe, without being too
much obſerved by the People, or being obliged
in the leaſt to conſult your Dreſs. It is not
amiſs to have a Villa ſo placed, that when you
go to it in a Morning the Rays of the riſing
Sun may not be troubleſome to your Eyes, nor
thoſe of the ſetting Sun in the Evening when
you return to the City. Neither ſhould a Coun
try Houſe ſtand in a remote, deſart, mean Cor
ner, diſtant from a reaſonable Neighbourhood:
but in a Situation where you may have Peo
ple to converſe with, drawn to the ſame Place
by the Fruitfulneſs of the Soil, the Pleaſantneſs
of the Air, the Plentifulneſs of the Country,
the Sweetneſs of the Fields, and the Security of
the Neighbourhood. Nor ſhould a Villa be
ſeated in a Place of too much Reſort, near ad
joyning either to the City, or any great Road,
or to a Port where great Numbers of Veſſels
and Boats are continually putting in; but in
ſuch a Situation, as though none of thoſe Plea
ſures may be wanting, yet your Family may
not be eternally moleſted with the Viſits of
Strangers and Paſſengers. The Ancients ſay
that in windy Places Things are never ſpoilt
by Ruſt or Mildew; but in moiſt Places, and
low Vallies, where the Winds have not a free
Courſe, they are very much expoſed to them.
I cannot approve of one general Rule which is
laid down for all Places, namely, that a Coun
try Houſe ought to be built ſo as to look to
wards the riſing of the Sun when it is in the
Equinox: For nothing can be ſaid relating to
the Sun and Winds but what muſt alter accord
ing to the Difference of the Climate, ſince the
North Wind is not light and the South un
healthy in all Places. Celſus, the Phyſician,
very well obſerved that all Winds which blow
from the Sea, are groſſer than thoſe which
blow over Land, which are always lighter.
Upon this Account of the Winds we ought to
avoid the Mouths of all Vallies, becauſe in ſuch
Places the Winds are too cold if they come in
the Night, or too hot, if in the Day, being
over-heated by the too great Reflection of the
Sun's Rays.
CHAP. XV.
That Country Houſes are of two Sorts; the proper Diſpoſition of all their
Members whether for the Lodging of Men, Animals, or Tools of Agricul
ture and other neceſſary Inſtruments.
Members whether for the Lodging of Men, Animals, or Tools of Agricul
ture and other neceſſary Inſtruments.
But as of Habitations in the Country ſome
are deſigned for Gentlemen, others for
Huſbandmen, ſome invented for Uſe, others
perhaps for Pleaſure; we ſhall begin with thoſe
which belong to Husbandmen. The Habita
tions of theſe ought not to be far from their
Maſter's Houſe, that he may be at Hand to
over-look them every now and then, to ſee
what they are doing, and what Orders it is
neceſſary for him to give. The peculiar Buſi
neſs of theſe Structures is for the getting in,
ordering and preſerving the Fruits of the Earth:
Unleſs you will ſay that this laſt Office, name
ly, of preſerving the Grain, belongs rather to
the Houſe of the Maſter, and even rather to his
Houſe in the City than to that in the Country.
This Buſineſs is to be done by a Number of
Hands and a good Quantity of Tools, but moſt
of all by the Diligence and Induſtry of the
Farmer or Overſeer. The Ancients comput
ed the neceſſary Family of a Farmer to be
about fifteen Perſons; for theſe therefore you
muſt have convenient Places where they may
warm themſelves when they are cold, or retire
for Shelter when they are driven from their
Labour by foul Weather, where they may eat
their Meals, reſt themſelves and prepare the
Things they will want in their Buſineſs. Make
therefore a large Kitchen, not obſcure, nor li
able to Danger from Fire, with an Oven, Stove,
Pump and Sink. Beyond the Kitchen let there
be a Room where the better Sort among your
People may lie, and a Larder for preſerving all
Sorts of Proviſions for daily Uſe. Let all the
are deſigned for Gentlemen, others for
Huſbandmen, ſome invented for Uſe, others
perhaps for Pleaſure; we ſhall begin with thoſe
which belong to Husbandmen. The Habita
tions of theſe ought not to be far from their
Maſter's Houſe, that he may be at Hand to
over-look them every now and then, to ſee
what they are doing, and what Orders it is
neceſſary for him to give. The peculiar Buſi
neſs of theſe Structures is for the getting in,
ordering and preſerving the Fruits of the Earth:
Unleſs you will ſay that this laſt Office, name
ly, of preſerving the Grain, belongs rather to
the Houſe of the Maſter, and even rather to his
Houſe in the City than to that in the Country.
This Buſineſs is to be done by a Number of
Hands and a good Quantity of Tools, but moſt
of all by the Diligence and Induſtry of the
Farmer or Overſeer. The Ancients comput
ed the neceſſary Family of a Farmer to be
about fifteen Perſons; for theſe therefore you
muſt have convenient Places where they may
warm themſelves when they are cold, or retire
for Shelter when they are driven from their
Labour by foul Weather, where they may eat
their Meals, reſt themſelves and prepare the
Things they will want in their Buſineſs. Make
therefore a large Kitchen, not obſcure, nor li
able to Danger from Fire, with an Oven, Stove,
Pump and Sink. Beyond the Kitchen let there
be a Room where the better Sort among your
People may lie, and a Larder for preſerving all
Sorts of Proviſions for daily Uſe. Let all the
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