AUGUST. 379 



over the water, reached by piers, the latter of which affords 

 a cool retreat in a hot summer's day. 



The house stands back from the main road several hundred 

 feet, and is approached by a winding avenue entered from either 

 side, the intervening space being lawn and ornamental plan- 

 tations. The lawn is six or eight acres in extent, and, 

 considering the light soil, in exceedingly fine order. It is 

 thinly planted with several fine trees, principally Norway 

 spruces, and only needs more variety and a little judicious 

 grouping to render it one of the most beautiful we have in this 

 vicinity. 



In the rear of the house is an architectural flower garden, 

 of the same width as the building, laid out very neatly, with 

 all the beds edged with iron basket work, and gay with the 

 finest roses, verbenas, fuchsias, &c. ; this garden opens on to 

 the descending flight of steps before mentioned. From this 

 garden to the left of the house, a broad walk leads along the 

 grounds and through a plantation of trees, terminated by one 

 of the most complete summer-houses we have ever seen in 

 this country, and reminding us of those we saw in England 

 at Dropmore and other places, which we described in the 

 notes of our tour. The design is by Mr. Hunnewell, and is 

 executed with larch and cedar poles. It is octagonal, with 

 a projecting roof and rustic posts, over which climb roses, 

 honeysuckles, woodbine, &c. The panelling of the interior 

 is finely executed, and the windows, of different colored panes 

 of glass, aff'ord some of the finest views, both of the water 

 and lawn front, in all .the varied hues of purple, gold, and 

 crimxson. In front is a small grotto, from which gushes a 

 fountain of crystal water. 



Proceeding in the same direction, that part of the ground 

 is reached which was formerly covered with a rather stunted 

 growth of white and pitch pines. The best of them yet 

 remain, and such spaces as have not been cut away to create 

 open glades, have been planted with evergreens. Winding 

 walks have been laid out through it, and clearings made for 

 that purpose have been filled with choice rhododendrons, 

 azaleas, and other fine shrubs, and all the hardy pines, cedars, 



