400 
‘was wont to be exhilarated ‘to rapture. 
The original expenses once incurred, a 
very little effort might have preserved 
those beauties, which now, perhaps, will 
be for eyer lost. The improvements can 
‘no longer be distinguished, and the 
natural graces are sunk far below their 
original standard, in consequence of a 
ruthless and irretrievable encroachment. 
About thirty years ago, the Netherton 
canal was projected, which was ulti- 
mately to cross the Leasowes by means 
of an immense embankment, and thus 
to despoil the place of one of its princi- 
pal attractions. Had Shenstone lived 
to have witnessed this commercial inno- 
yation, it must have embittered his re- 
maining days, or perhaps have termi- 
nated them by a broken heart. The 
canal was finished, and received the 
first laden boat, April 21, 1798; the 
embankment is 462 yards long, in a 
wawng line; its greatest height at the 
centre, twenty-three yards. I have been 
told that Major Halliday was negociat- 
ing with the managers of the concern to 
have an elegant aqueduct constructed, 
instead of the solid embankment; but 
that his decease happening at the time, 
they took advantage of the suspended 
opposition, and pushed on the work, 
regardless of the irreparable injury to 
the sacred spot. Had such an erection 
been constructed as that at Chirk, in 
the same county, or that of the Pont y 
Cysylltan for the Ellesmere canal, where 
it crosses the yale of Llangollen, with 
all its grandeur of effect, it would still 
have been sadly ont of place. But in 
its present state, a lofty and gloomy 
embankment, without any relief to the 
eye, entirely cutting off one-half of the 
grounds, the distant view of Hales Owen, 
and the adjoining scenery ; the evil, in a 
picturesque point of view, has no miti- 
gation. 
Mucklow-hill is generally rated at a 
mile in length, and is very steep; sup- 
posing the rise to be three inches to a 
yard, this will give a total elevation of 
146 yards; on this ascent are the Leas- 
owes situated, taking a portion from 
each extremity, so as to leave about 
three-quarters of a mile tor their extent, 
They run parallel with the turnpike 
road, contain about 115 acres, and an 
irregular walk, nearly bounding the 
estate, is about two miles in length, 
The general character of the whole may 
be thus comprized : the house is situated 
near the middle, the land above it con- 
tains an irregular glen or chasm running 
nearly down the middle, and below it 
Shenstone and the Leasowes. 
(Dec. 1, 
the whole swells into a more open ex- 
panse, where a few excavations and 
mounds of no great magnitude might 
collect the water into pools or reser- 
voirs, suited to the limited size of the 
whole. Shenstone’s excellent taste im- 
proved these natural advantages, in a 
style uniting elegance with economy); 
he made it a.complete “ ferme ornée;” 
but still it was a farm chiefly dedicated 
to utility. Perhaps about one-eighth or 
a sixth part might be allotted. to orna- 
-ment, and of this some portion might 
be considered as unavailable for pur- 
poses of agriculture, being on the slop- 
ing sides of the glades. 
The present house is a spacious and 
noble edifice, and its appearance, from 
the valley or from Hales Owen is com- 
manding and majestic ; but it wants the 
charm of the original dwelling. It is 
the abode of the gentleman, rather than 
the retreat of the philosopher. Its mag- 
nitude is beyond the proyiortionate size 
of the estate; as its establishment could 
not be supported by the profits of its 
agricultural produce. It wants the cha- 
racteristic snugness which harmonized 
so well with the taste of the poet. Be- 
fore this change, all was consistency and 
correctness. Others had exceeded (and 
among them his neighbour Lyttleton) 
in elegant and costly displays of exube- 
rant beauty and talent, suited to their 
gorgeous and splendid establishments ; 
but to estimate their merits by their 
magnitude, would be reversing the order 
of sober reality. On viewing many of 
the extensive and useless domains with 
which the country abounds, with. their 
sumptuous palaces and decorations, the 
friend of mankind can hardly repel the 
idea of their being, perhaps, in some 
period of their history, purchased by 
the oppression of the labouring poor— 
by the venal sacrifice of the public liber- 
ty—by the traffic of human carnage. 
The possessor may be free from the 
slightest shade of umputation; but the 
proprietary monopoly remains to be felt 
as one of the remote causes of priyation 
and distress, 
I know not if there be any engraving 
or drawing extant of the original dwell- 
ing attached to the estate: it would be 
interesting, as exhibiting the connexion 
of the whole, under the correct eye and 
sound judgment of the owner. Nor 
have I ever seen any sketches of the 
general features of the spot, or of the 
special beauties so luxuriantly scattered 
around. Itis the more to be desired, 
that whatever memorials there may be 
0 
