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The article discusses the c. 1729 book "Villas of the Ancients Illustrated," by Robert Castell, an annotated translation of two letters written by the Roman author Pliny the Younger regarding his villa gardens at Laurentinum and Tuscum in Rome. An account is presented of Castell's death while held at Fleet Prison in London, England for debts. The author explores how the patronage of Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington (1695-1753), helped to sponsor Castell's work and encouraged a fashion for classically inspired architecture and landscape design in 18th century Great Britain. Other subjects include English landscape designer William Kent, the historiography of garden design, and 18th century English accounts of Chinese gardens and landscape design.

Discusses that domestic relations in eighteenth-century Great Britain was supposed to run its `secret course.' Definition of `domestic joy' among family members; Value of household seclusion; Suppression of political realities within the family.

Uses porcelain china to denote women and their weaknesses. Image of china as a marker for female superficiality; Issues on the essentials of feminism; Females as desiring subjects.