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lines and clumps of trees and broad grassy lawns. Towards the 
east end, however, and particularly in the East Park, the art of the 
landscape gardener has been skilfully employed with fine effect, 
and this part is elaborately decorated with statues, fountains, and 
vases, ainid nice parterres filled with the gayest flowers set in 
beautiful green lawns. The trees and shrubs are of the best 
kinds, and the whole place does much credit to the taste and intelli- 
gent spirit of the Corporation, which provides these parks for 
the use of the public. 
Keeping straight up the hill from Bargate, the Ordnance Survey 
Office was passed on the outskirts of the town, a large and useful 
establishment, with no pretensions to architectural beauty; and 
now we are in “ The Avenue,” a favourite resort of the inhabitants. 
It is nearly a mile and a half in length, and chiefly formed of elms 
from thirty to forty years old. Near the upper end of the Avenue 
some very fine elms are seen, said to be about one hundred and fifty 
years old, one of which was 11 feet 4 inches in girth at 5 feet up, 
with several others about the same size. At the end of the Avenue 
is the large public park called “ The Common,” comprising 375 acres 
of beautifully diversified scenery. It has a finely undulating surface, 
rising some 200 feet above the town in the highest parts. With afew 
prettily tree-fringed lakelets in the hollows, and well-wooded in 
general, it forms a very picturesque and delightful resort for picnic 
and pleasure parties in the summer. Natural vegetation—in the 
way of patches of heath and clumps of thorns, holly, briers, gorse, 
and other indigenous plants—has been wisely allowed to have its 
share in beautifying the landscape ; and the groups of fine old 
beeches, oaks, elms, firs, and other trees lend their aid in producing 
a very attractive aspect of rural scenery in close proximity to the 
busy town. 
Drive to LYNDHURST. 
Immediately after breakfast the carriages started for Lyndhurst, 
on our way to explore the Northern Division of the New Forest. 
Lovely weather again favoured the Excursion. As we drove out 
of Southampton in the fresh air of a bright morning, the landscape 
looked its best. On passing through Millbrook, a village on the 
outskirts of Southampton, the old church was pointed out, and in 
the burying-ground near by lie the remains of Robert Pollok, the 
author of the famous poem, “The Course of Time,” a native of 
