Chambers, William: A Dissertation On Oriental Gardening (London: Griffin [u.a.], 1773)

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Whether the Chinese manner of Gardening be better
or worse than those now in use amongst the Europeans,
I will not determine: comparison is the surest as well
as the casiest test of truth: it is in every man’s power to
compare and to judge for himself.—Should the present
publication contain any thing useful, my purpose will
be fully answered ; if not, it may perhaps afford home
little entertainment, or ferve at worst to kill an idle
hour.
I mu st not enter upon my subject, without apologizing
sor the liberties here taken with our English Gardens..
There are, indeed, several that do not come within the
compass os my description •, some of which were laid out
by their owners, who are as eminently {killed in Garden-
ing, as in many other branches of polite knowledge; the
rest owe most of their excellence to nature; and are,
upon the whole, very little improved by the interposition
of art; which, though it may have heightened some of
their beauties, has totally robbed them of many others.

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