FOREIGN NOTICES. 



435 



DESIGN OF A VILLA, NEAR BOSTON. 



A FRIEND in Boston has very kindly sent us 

 a view and ground plan of a villa, in the 

 Italian style, — Langwood, the residence of 

 Mr. Wm. Bailey Lang, which we give as 

 the frontispiece of the present nuriiber. 



We gather the following description of 

 this villa from his letter; 



" Wyoming is a charming rural neigh- 

 borhood, six and a half miles north of Bos- 

 ton. Being located on the margin of one 

 of the most pictuiesque lakes in New-Eng- 

 land, it has lately become quite celebrated 

 for the beauty and variety of its natural 

 scenery. It occupies several hundred acres 

 of land, and was once owned by a recluse, 

 whose aversion to neighbors and society 

 caused its rich green lawns, deep glens, 

 foaming cascades, and numerous running- 

 streams, to remain comparatively unknown 

 for twenty-five years; but lately, the pro- 

 perty has been purchased by a company of 



gentlemen, w^ho have laid it out in lots, 

 varying from two to eight acres each, for 

 cottage and villa residences. 



"Langwood," the seat of Mr. Lang, at 

 Wyoming, is an agreeable and commodious 

 villa, built of rough stone. It covers a 

 space of 78 by 37 feet. The exterior, as 

 you will see, is expressive alike of ele- 

 gance and commodiousness ; and the in- 

 terior arrangement, which is very simple, 

 will be seen at a glance by an inspection of 

 the plan of the principal floor." 



We may add to the above, that the fine 

 back-ground of trees has been omitted by 

 the engraver, in the elevation presented, 

 so that justice is not done to the rural cha- 

 racter of the site, or the scenery which 

 surrounds this residence; which, together, 

 are far from presenting the meagre appear- 

 ance shown in the plate. 



FOREIGN NOTICES. 



Ma. Barry in London. — London, Dec. 14, 

 1S48. As the Europa sails to-morrow from 

 Liverpool, I thought I would send yon a short 

 gossip touching a lew of the more interesting mat- 

 ters that have caught my attention since I arrived 

 in England. 



The winter, so far, has been remarkably mild. 

 The lawns are as bright and green as ours in the 

 middle of May, and the gardens are yet gay 

 with Roses, Chrysanthemums and Laurustinus, and 

 other flowers, i am delighted, with every step I 

 take, with the profusion of evergreens that lill up 

 every little space throughout the cities. Laurels, 

 Ba}^s, Yews, Cypresses, Aucubas, Hollies, Juni- 

 pers, Rhododendrons, Ivys, &.C., clothe every wall 

 and door yard with a verdure as fresh and luxuri- 

 ant as we could hope for in the month of June. 

 This is some compensation for the muddy streets 

 and rainy, murky weather that continually pre- 

 vails. I have not seen the sun half a dozen times 

 .since I have been here, and then only glimmering 

 through a fog. I eat breakfast at eight in the 



morning, by candle-light, and dine at four in the 

 afternoon, by candle-light; we are hardly aware 

 of its being day, till night returns again. It takes 

 three or four daj's to accomplish the work of 

 one. 



Large quantities of American apples have been 

 brought into Liverpool recently, but the most of 

 them have been of indiflerent quality, and badly 

 gathered and picked, and hence they do not com- 

 mand high prices, nor do us any credit; nor can 

 the shippers gain by the operation. There is an 

 unfailing market here for our orchard products, 

 but to make the shipment of them profitable, it is 

 absolutely necessary that select varieties be sent, 

 that they be carefully hand-picked and packed in 

 the best manner. One barrel will then sell for as 

 much as three or four; and the freight, which is 

 the great item, will be no more on a barrel that 

 will sell more readily for $5, than one that will 

 bring only $2. Many of the apples I see here 

 cried up as "nice American apples," "beautiful 

 American apples," he, would scarcely sell at al\ 



