276 THE FLOKIST. 



ing may be inspected without inconvenience, during all kinds of 

 weather. The railway itself is in a very forward state. 



If we pass down the line of the great central walk which is to lead 

 to the bottom of the park, decorated, as it is intended to be, on 

 ther side, with flowers and shrubs, and alive with fountains and 

 waterfalls, we find great operations going on ; but little here is at 

 present finished. True, broad gravel-walks and green sloping banks 

 are beginning to make their appearance, and the basins for the great 

 lakes and fountains, on either side of the main walk, are in a compa- 

 ratively advanced state ; but nevertheless, upon the whole, it is as yet 

 difficult to form a correct idea of the grandeur and magnificence 

 which it is intended that this portion of the grounds, when finished, 

 shall display. Of the kind of fountains with which the lakes are to 

 be furnished, we may mention that the centre column of water will 

 rise 230 feet in height; around that will be four fountains, each 120 

 feet in height, and these, again, will be surrounded by sixteen others, 

 each 72 feet in height. Nor is this all ; there are other groups as 

 grand, besides multitudes of smaller jets of a similar character, which 

 in themselves will doubtless be worthy of Sir Joseph Paxton's expe- 

 rience in such matters. 



On the shores and islands of the lake, at the end of the main 

 central walk, are to be dispersed " models of the extinct and singular 

 monsters of the wealden and neighbouring periods. Huge Chelo- 

 nians are to bask upon the banks ; the Plesiosaur, with its reptile 

 form and bird-like neck, is to repose in the mud ; the Megalosaur, 

 the most gigantic of lizards, is to rear its portentous form among the 

 rushes ; and the enormous Iguanodon, half elephant half crocodile, 

 measuring 100 feet from his snout to his tail, is to exhibit himself 

 as the true prototype of the dragons of antiquity. We have seen 

 these models, and we are glad to bear witness to the admirable skill 

 with which Mr. Hawkins is investing Portland cement with the simi- 

 litude of these hideous giants of a former world." 



It will be gathered from the above hasty glance at this great 

 garden, that much — very much — has yet to be done before all that 

 is contemplated shall have been completed ; and nowithstanding the 

 immense number of labourers employed, we doubt whether the Com- 

 pany will be able to fulfil its promise to have every thing finished by 

 May next. Surface-work is soon forwarded ; but here the great 

 bulk of the labour lies in moving immense quantities of soil, and 

 carrying it from one part of the grounds to another, in order to raise 

 mounds and carry out the levels. This, therefore, is a work of time ; 

 and unless the winter should be favourable, it cannot be conducted 

 with advantage during that season of the year. We will, however, 

 from time to time, furnish our readers with such accounts of its pro- 

 gress as we shall hereafter think may prove interesting to them. 



