260. The inclination of the surface of an approach road is subject to the same general principles as its line of direction. In a 'common road across a field, its surface follows every inequality in that of the pasture, and is, perhaps, nowhere either regularly sloping or regularly level; but, in the artistical imitation of such a road, the surface will proceed in a series of regular slopes, joined with spaces approximating to levels, on exactly the same principle as the regular curves, or nearly straight lines, constituting the line of direction. It will he taken into account, that the general surface of the ground over which such an approach is to he formed will have previously been rendered artistical, by the smoothing down of all minor protuberances, the filling up of small inequalities, and the obliteration of all minor elevations and depressions which interfere with the regular flow of outline, over the entire surface of the park or pleasure-grounds. The inclination of the surface of an approach ought also to be considered with reference to the effect which it has on the character, or expression, of the house. Every one feels that a house which is approached by an ascending road appears a far more dignified object, than one the road to which is level or descending.

In order to obtain ascent in the direction of the road between the entrance-lodge and the front of the mansion, the former ought to be placed on a lower level than the latter; and the ascent should be either regularly distributed over the whole length of the road, or, what is preferable, it may be very gradual at first near the entrance-lodge, and increase as it proceeds towards the mansion. In residences of limited extent, where the approach is necessarily short, the road can seldom, with propriety, descend from the lodge, and afterwards re-ascend to the mansion; nevertheless, there are exceptions: such as when a brook or lake is to be crosssed at no great distance within the lodge, to which the road may descend, and, having crossed it, may reascend immediately afterwards, and continue rising till it reaches the house. In approaches of considerable extent, there may be various ascents and descents between the entrance-lodge and the mansion, provided none of the points of ascent are as high as the ground on which the mansion stands; because, in that case, they would interfere with its dignity.

In general, where there is great variety in the surface of the grounds in the limited space over which the approach road is to pass, the rises and falls in the inclination of the road will be numerous; though care must always be taken that the last variation before arriving at the house is one of ascent, and not of descent. On the other hand, where the variations on the surface are very gentle or very few, and where, as in all small places, the approach is not very long, there may be an ascent from the entrance-gate to the front of the mansion, either regularly distributed throughout, at the rate of so many inches of rise in a yard or pole of length, or the rate of inclination may vary in different parts of the road. One of the finest descriptions of approach road that we can imagine is, where a road of several miles in extent is made to wind its way through hilly or mountainous scenery at one uniform rate of ascent, till at last it arrives at an open level area containing the mansion.

261. The materials of which approach roods are formed, to be artistical, ought not to be those used in the common roads of the country: for example, if the common roads are Macadamised with granite, then the approach road ought to be gravel; or, if the common roads are gravelled, as in most parts of the neighbourhood of London, then the material of the approach road ought to be gravel of a finer kind, such as that of Kensington or Bays water; or the approach may be Macadamised with granite, flints, blue limestone, or sandstone. The artistical effect of the materials, whatever they may be, of approach roads, may be heightened by the use of a heavy roller, so as to render them perfectly smooth and even; and by keeping them at all times free from weeds, horse-droppings, and other offensive objects.

262. The margins of an approach rood, to be artistical, ought not to be rough like those of a common road through a field; and, above all things, they should not have footpaths running parallel to them, with a gutter between, as in the ease of public roads. The surface of the road ought to be on a level, or nearly so, with that of the lawn or grass on each side: it ought never to be raised above it, or to be rounded in the middle; nor ought it to be more than one inch sunk beneath it. The reason why the gravel ought not to be raised above the grass is, that the appearance produced gives the idea of the gravel in the road having been carted there, and laid down on the natural surface; whereas, when it is kept level with, or an inch beneath, the surface, the expression is conveyed of a proper foundation, or preparation, having been made for it. The reason why the margin ought to be one smooth, definite, delicate line is, that such a line is gardenesque, which is more likely to be the style employed in planting along an approach road through an open lawn, or through the park scenery of a small place, than the picturesque.

If, however, the picturesque style of planting be employed, then the line of demarcation between the grass and the gravel may be indefinite, broken, and irregular, as in the case of walks with picturesque margins.

263. The scenery accompanying an approach road will, in all ordinary cases, and especially in small places, consist chiefly of groups of trees. Shrubs are seldom admissible along such a road, because, as its sides are generally supposed to be pastured by sheep or cattle, the shrubs would require fences for their protection. In planting along an approach, two objects ought to be chiefly kept in view: to dispose of the trees in such a way as to account for the curves of the road, and to arrange them so as to form suitable foregrounds to the scenery beyond. Subordinate objects are, to prevent two turns of the road from being seen at the same time; to conceal the house from the approach road till the spectator is near enough to see it in a bold and striking point of view; and, above all, to prevent it from being seen from the entrance-lodge, or from the road immediately within it, as that implies a limited extent of grounds, destroys the idea of seclusion, and shows the house without due preparation.

264. The width of approach roads, in very small places, where only a one-horse carriage is kept by the proprietor, need not be more than 8 ft; because, when two such carriages meet, each driver can draw his horse to one side, so as to have one wheel on the turf, and may thus pass without difficulty. But where a two-horse carriage is kept, and, indeed, in every case where the mansion is of a respectable size, however small the grounds may be, the approach road should not be less in width than 12 ft. Indeed, much of the dignity and grandeur of every place depends on the walks and roads being of a good breadth, and always being highly artistical in their material and keeping.

265. The general surface of the ground, exclusive of what is occupied by the buildings and the kitchen-garden, requires to be rendered artistical, either in the geometrical style, by forming it into regular levels or slopes; or in the modern manner, by merely polishing the surface, by reducing roughnesses, protuberances, and petty inequalities, so as to form it everywhere into flowing lines, consisting of curves of various degrees of curvature and extent, insensibly gliding into each other, or into levels or slopes. The operations of levelling and smoothing arc most conveniently performed before beginning to lay out the walks or roads, or to mark off the places for planting, or to trench the ground.