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the fine walnut-tree avenue at Huntercombe; the pleasant little 
town of Burnham through which they drove, and the picturesquely 
wooded aspect of the country as they neared their destination, 
CLIVEDEN. 
Arriving at Cliveden, or, as it is sometimes spelt, Cliefden, the 
company were met by Mr Richard Nisbet, gardener and steward, 
who acted as guide through the policies, and by Mr Harry J. Veitch, 
of the well-known Chelsea Nurseries. Cliveden was formerly the 
residence of George IV. when he was Prince of Wales. It after- 
wards came into the possession of the Sutherland family, to the 
second Duke of which house there is a fine monument in the centre 
of one of the avenues. It subsequently fell into the possession of 
the Duke of Westminster, who, however, has in turn parted with it 
to an American gentleman, Mr Astor, into whose hands it passed 
in September. There is a splendid mansion in the Italian style of 
architecture, by Barry, the architect of the Houses of Parliament, 
and the pleasure-grounds, nearly 400 acres in extent, have been 
charmingly laid out in gardens, shrubberies, and wooded parks, 
from various parts of which most beautiful views of the Thames 
can be enjoyed. In driving up the avenue we note some fine 
specimens of ornamental Conifers, such as Abzes lasiocarpa, A. 
cephalonica, A. Douglasii, A. nobilis, Retinospora squarrosa, and 
others of the newer kinds; and the laurels were growing in 
great profusion along the sides of the drive. One of the chief 
arboreal features of the place is a fine grove of evergreen oaks 
called ‘*The Ribbons,” which it is known were there in the 
time of George IV. Near to the grove is a statue of the 
Prince Consort, in Highland costume—on a rocky pedestal— ~ 
being a replica of that erected at Balmoral. The whole of 
the policies are heavily timbered, and the walks are arranged 
in such a manner as to give the estate, in walking over it, 
an aspect of much greater extent than it really possesses, 
This is the country of the beech; and at Cliveden it was 
found growing in much luxuriance. There were also many fine 
oaks and Spanish chestnuts met with, and among the lowlier 
growing subjects that attracted our notice were here and there 
patches of heather in sweetest bloom. From the high walk along 
the south-west side of the estate, lovely views of the Thames valley 
were obtained. Many of the natural pictures seen, with a lovely 
