110 A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS 



the penalties of poaching being horrible mutilations 

 and even death. The liberty enjoyed in England 

 to-day is often forgotten, and only on reviewing the 

 past conditions does the advance of justice show in 

 its true light. 



A very pretty story is attached to the broad, 

 sweeping Avenue of trees which runs from the fields 

 beyond the village to the very windows of the 

 house. 



Lady Bridgewater's widowed mother lived in the 

 village, from which the great house seemed miles 

 away. Her only daughter found no glimpse could 

 be seen of her old home among the fields. But 

 love found out a way ! A wide Avenue, straight as 

 a die, was cut from one house to the other, and 

 signals and signs could then pass between the two 

 loving hearts, though it is sad to think so many 

 hundreds of beautiful trees were ruthlessly cut 

 down for the sake of a woman's whim. 



The first Duke of Bridgewater married Elizabeth, 

 the third daughter of the great Duke of Marl- 

 borough, and the acknowledged toast of the day. 

 Pope admired the lady, as well as Jervas, the 

 Court painter, and alluded to her in an " Epistle 

 to Mr. Jervas " : 



"Thence Beauty, waking all her forms, supplies 

 An Angel's sweetness, or Bridgewater's eyes. 



With Zeuxis' Helen they Bridgewater vie." 



