300 



IMPUESSIONS OF CHATSWOR TH. 



water temple, placed on tlie side of a wood- 

 ed hill, below which descended a flight of 

 broad and massive stone steps, down which 

 a flood of water poured with grand effect. 

 This effect has been most admirably assist- 

 ed by the taste of the present Duke, who 

 has formed a "grand and massive aqueduct 

 of stone, which gives the impression that 

 like the old Romnn arj'icducts, it origi- 

 nally carried the water across the valley, 

 but having been brolcen or ruined near 

 the water temple, pours down its Avhole vo- 

 lume of water a hundred feet, close behind 

 this building, which thence rushes down 

 the steps in the " Grand Cascade." 



The idea, you will see, is a very bold one, 

 and is worked out as only a man of large 

 conception and gigantic means could have 

 done it. 



I could write you a volume almost, about 

 the water-works here, if I thought you had 

 patience to read it. There is no end to the 

 varied and beautiful forms this lovely element 

 is made to assume here, for the adornment 

 of one country seat. One of the most 

 pleasing and soothing effects, is felt on list- 

 ening to the murmuring sound which it 

 gives as it falls gently into snowy basins 

 from the mouths of the marble lions in the 

 great hall of the house. The only conceit 

 that I did not approve, Avas the Weeping 

 JVilloio fountain, a badly shaped copper tree, 

 having none of the grace of its natural 

 type — which pours down a shower on the 

 unlucky pilgrim that rests under its shadow! 



As 1 see my paper is fast filling up, I 

 must hurry you ofTto the Great Cofiservatory. 



Do not imagine this as an overgrown hot- 

 house attached to the mansion, or as, in 

 fact, resembling any thing greenhouse-like 

 that is to be found elsewhere. It is quite 

 an object by itself — and I was, therefore) 

 pleased with its site, and the management of 

 the locality. 



The spot where it is situated, is about 

 five minutes walk from the house. You 

 pass along one of the most perfectly kept 

 carriage roads, through the park, or rather 

 through a wood — then under a striking and 

 picturesque arch, and you come to a large 

 opening in the midst of a noble wood of 

 old trees — an opening such as I have seen 

 in some of our stateliest forests, and which 

 I am told, was actually cleared up to form 

 the site for this building. This smooth 

 area is surrounded by terraces, which form 

 a fine frame-work of walks, from which 

 the conservatory is seen to great advantage. 



The Grand Conservatory itself — I cannot 

 give you any better idea of it than by tell- 

 ing you that it is a glass structure which 

 covers an acre of ground — that it is seventy 

 feet high ; and that the carriage road is 

 continued directly through it, so that the 

 Duke and his guests can drive through with 

 a coach and four I The whole building is 

 heated by hot water, the pipes to convey 

 which measure miles. The temperature of va- 

 rious climates is imitated, and the collection 

 of trees and plants embraces all that is fairest 

 and loveliest of the vegetable world. Here 

 there is a whole avenue of Bananas and 

 Plantains lining one of the grand walks, 

 and among them Musa cave?idishii full of 

 flowers, and laden with heavy masses of 

 fruit. There, in an appropriate climate, is 

 a charming grove of Oranges and Lemons. 

 An aquarium, or pond of water, is the site for 

 all the rare and curious water lilies and other 

 aquatic plants of the tropics. And near 

 by is a wild mass of rock-work, of Derby- 

 shire spar, looking like a rich bank by a 

 forest stream, where rare exotic ferns, lich- 

 ens, and air plants, enjoy something as near 

 as possible to their natural homes.* 



* "Wc borrow from the excellent London Horticultural 

 Magazine a view of a small part of the interior of this con- 

 servatory, fig. 75.— Ed. 



