HUMPHREY REPTON, ESQ.

satisfaction of his noble employer. He was next entrusted with the
improvement of the house and pleasure grounds of Woburn, by the
duke of Bedford. Here he formed an artificial river, and altered the
approach to the mansion. The corridor, which was constructed from
his plan, was completed under his personal inspection; and he always
considered this as his happiest effort. When lord Sidmouth, in 1805,
went to reside in Richmond Park, Mr. Repton was employed to make
some alterations at White Lodge; but only a part of the improve-
ments suggested by him, were executed.

Mr. Repton, at the commencement of his professional career,
seems to have taken Brown for his model: but he afterwards saw
reason to depart from some of the principles of that celebrated artist,
and to improve upon his system, by introducing more of the simpli-
city of nature in the arrangement of his ornamental plantations.
Mr. Repton was the author of several works connected with his
professional pursuits. His first publication on this subject, was a
"Defence of Mr. Brown's Principles," which was occasioned by
the controversy then carried on respecting him, between Mr. Price
and Mr. Knight. In 1816, he published his great work, under the
title of "Fragments on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gar-
dening, including some Remarks on the Grecian and Gothic Archi-
tectures, &c." He is said to have been assisted in this work by his
son, J. A. Repton, esq. F. S. A. It is illustrated with fifty-two
plates, some of them highly coloured, from the author's own draw-
ings. His other literary productions are of less consequence.

About the year 1786, Mr. Repton fixed his residence at Hare-
street, near Romford, in Essex. Here he gave proofs of his taste
in the improvement of his own dwelling, which, from a most un-
comfortable place, he converted into a commodious building, and
embellished with a delightful garden, that, contrasted with what it had
been, assumed all the appearance of a magical transformation. Here
he spent the latter years of his life, occupied in preparing the materials
for his large work, and amusing his leisure moments with his pencil.
He here felt, we are told, " how many joys and comforts, and luxu-
ries, may be preserved beyond that period of life, when youth and
health require no special indulgencies." He died in 1818, at the
age of sixty-six.

"Mr. Repton was an artist of singular merit, and not unfrequently displayed great taste and elegance, both in his own original plans, and in the improvements suggested by him in respect to the labours of others. Notwithstanding the moisture and uncertainty of our climate, he wished, occasionally, to introduce flower beds, small cascades, and even jets d'eau, into home grounds; but on the other hand, he admired the ancient style of gardens, and, in some cases, preferred the grandeur of straight avenues to the artificial curve of modern times. He is supposed by good judges to have excelled in the embellished Gothic, as to architecture: and in home views, in landscape-gardening."