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cannot conceive of any reason for thus mingling the formal with the rude 

 natural-like rockwork. If, by the latter, it is attempted to produce the effect 

 of wild scenery, then these walls and steps of masonry, and straight walks, 

 are not in keeping, but mar altogether the original intention. Moreover, to 

 my mind, it is inconsistent with order and good taste for the rockery to 

 terminate abruptly at the wall and archway by which the area to the grand 

 conservatory is entered. It would, surely, have been much better for it to 

 have terminated considerably short of this; and fifteen or twenty yards in 

 length, at least, ought to have been employed in planting, on each side of a 

 curved walk, so as to have formed a decided separation between the ornamental 

 composition and the rude. Upon the whole, it is to be regretted that in 

 such important places as Chatsworth, where expense is nothing to the attain- 

 ment of perfection, true taste in composition is not more strictly observed, as 

 it is in such situations that most is expected. They are, in fact, looked to 

 for instruction and example, and the greater disappointment is experienced 

 when any incongruity is exhibited. 



I will add only one more example of what strikes me as objectionable at 

 Chatsworth. It is that the plant-houses are placed in the kitchen garden, and 

 thus not only too far from the house, but among the rougher specimens of 

 the vegetable world. Perhaps,' indeed, this may have been for contrast; 

 certainly it has not a harmonious effect. There, among culinary produc- 

 tions, nourish exotics from every clime ; and here a new building is erected 

 expressly to display that new and rare plant, Victoria Regia, the wonder of 

 the world. I own that the idea of associating flowers and vegetables is not 

 confined to Chatsworth, — the practice is too common ; but to present to the 

 eye, at the same moment, such flowers and vegetables, is very objectionable. 

 Whatever others may think, my taste would have been to make the plant- 

 houses strictly ornamental, and to have placed them in connexion with the 

 pleasure ground, The public should have had the option of visiting the 

 kitchen garden, but I would have kept entirely separate the contemplation of 

 both kinds of cultivation. 



I have great pleasure in adding, however, that independent of these 

 errors, (as I consider them), the general management of Chatsworth is admir- 

 able ; and, although it is not equal to some domains for noble trees, the park 

 and scenery around are highly interesting. 



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