L30/14/71/1

Sent from London 13 August 1773, received 2 September 1773:

1773

From: 1773 To: 1773

"I am a Secretary of the Charles Turnerian faith, and as that great Apostle never prays to God for fear of being troublesome so I never write to or visit my great friends for fear of being impertinent". Last year prepared to send Lord Grantham "a copy of my little book on gardening [Dissertation on Oriental Gardening, published 1772] (then just published) for your Lordship's perusal...but the Claps and hisses were so long equal, that I grew ashamed of the present and threw it by". Within a year has been "damned through two editions in English and Applauded through one in French, violently abused by some wits and great Connoisseurs of the age and as Violently defended by others... conclude that the thing must have some merit"; therefore send copy. My performance is "of the Cameleon kind and takes its colour from the ground on which it moves"; may afford some entertainment" but the Systematic Connoisseur who measures all by his own Scale, or the grave Wise Critick who never quits his own rules, must hiss at almost every line". Difficulty in getting first 3 volumes of Vitruvius and are very dear; sent to your house and were to be sent straight to Spain " as the porter told my Clerk". Saw Count Gazola in England a few years ago the Cavellero Sabatini Lord Grantham mentions is probably "my old acquaintance the Abate of that name". -knew him intimately at Rome many years ago, a Neapolitan architect, elevé of Vanvitelli " and one of the Uglyest fellows in Italy, abbot in the Church which even the scarlet could never have effaced, he has done well to turn knight, his head like that of Medusa may be useful in War"; a man of parts and great ingenuity, superior to his master Vanvitelli who "notwithstanding his reputation was nothing more that a Mere book Architect, destitute of fancy, and unable to compose anything without twenty folios open before him. I have myself seen the poor Soul in the painful Opperation, no poor Lady ever laboured so hard to get rid of her first child". His words "are disjointed pastichios made up of parts often good in themselves but inaptly connected". Has almost finished Lord Melbourne's house; satisfied with their treatment; obliged to Lord Grantham for recommendation. "Mr Adam has just published a book of his ornaments wherein he proves their excellence by assuring the publick that they are universally copied"; claims to be the first to bring "the true Style of decoration into England" - cannot agree; whoever examines Melbourne House will find the manner of decoration "totally different from his which I never heartily liked". Reynolds has already written, list of books and prices: Vitruvius Britanicus, Inigo Jones designs. A treatise on Architecture, total: £28..6..0 Also includes in the parcel two copies of his Oriental Gardens hoping Count Gazola and Cavallero Sabatini will accept. (Sic).

item

Gazola,
Melbourne,
Adam,
Reynold,
Jones, Inigo,
Sabatini

gardening, architect