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charms. One tree resembles, and is called, the ‘“‘ Elephant Beech.” 
We also saw the “ Queen of the Beeches ”—-so called on account of 
its regal size or status among its fellows; and in the course of our 
drive there was pointed out to us the ‘(Commemoration Beech,” 
which was planted by the Duke of Buckingham on the 3rd October 
1883, when his Grace, with the Lord Mayor and Corporation of 
London, proceeded to Burnham Beeches to declare the place open 
to the public for ever. Adjoining the Beeches is East Burnham 
Common, a wild bit of country covered with bracken, gorse, and 
heather, with here and there a clump of birch or a solitary Scots 
fir or juniper. The naturalness of the whole place is one of its 
greatest charms, and long may it be preserved in all its natural 
attractiveness to the London picnickers—of whom many happy- 
looking parties were observed enjoying themselves in it on the day 
we were there—to artists, and to all other visitors who take an 
interest in sylvan scenery. 
East BuRNHAM Park, 
On the way back to Windsor, a halt was called at East Burn- 
ham Park, the residence, for about twenty years previous to 1858, 
of George Grote, the historian of Greece, where many of the famous 
literary celebrities of the period visited him and his talented wife. 
It is now the property of Mr Harry J. Veitch, who has been 
busily engaged since it came into his possession in remodelling the 
house and offices, and making extensive alterations and improve- 
ments in the grounds around his beautiful residence. The tasteful 
and skilful manner in which the gardens and grounds near the 
house were being laid out, drew forth great admiration and approval. 
When the operations are complete, the place promises to be one 
of the prettiest and most interesting in the county, as it was 
noticed that only the very choicest and most appropriate of trees 
and shrubs were being planted for decorative purposes and land- 
scape effect. Among the old tree residenters in the park which are 
carefully preserved, is a fine old Cedar of Lebanon, of picturesque 
aspect, with a stem girthing 16 feet at 5 feet up. The freshness 
and brightness of the place was in strong contrast to the unkempt 
wilderness we had just left. 
Stoke Poets. 
Starting again, the carriages were next pulled up near Stoke 
Pogis, and the company walked across a meadow by a footpath to 
