206 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



attractions of the place, and we have already made acquaint- 

 ance with the glorious trees of ancient growth, the groups and 

 individual trees which are the attraction of the park, with the 

 younger plantations, skilfully disposed. Great and beautiful 

 are the gardens, as the illustrations will show. Their earlier 

 predecessors are known to have been of a quainter aspect, 

 with the well-known features of dense yew hedges and 

 clipped trees, and one old visitor when these had been swept 

 away remarked that an excellent metamorphosis had been 

 wrought by the removal of leaden gods and goddesses, of lions, 

 peacocks, and temples, all shaped out of yew, and " all in rank 

 and file according to the military rules and regulations of the days 

 of Marlborough and his royal mistress Anne." Lancelot Brown 

 the famous or notorious " Capability " wrought the change. 

 He declined to accede to the wish of George II. that he should 

 " improve " the gardens at Hampton Court, " out of respect to 

 himself and his profession," but we have the assurance of 

 Chatham, in a letter to Lady Stanhope, that he was an esquire 



ingly attractive. Here, as everywhere else at Eaton, the 

 sculpture is exceedingly good, for eminent hands have been 

 employed in adorning the grounds with suitable figures and 

 groups, which are not surpassed in Enghu.d. The vases and 

 stonework are of the bast, but we may regret the absence of 

 the leaden gods and god Jesses whom Brown seems to have 

 removed. The glorious banks of foliage which enframe this 

 charming place complete a superbly attractive garden picture, 

 but it will be observed that the view is not restricted, and that 

 an opening is left in the belt of tree? to admit a wide outlook 

 through the park. 



Another remarkably beautiful garden is on the south side. 

 This is somewhat Italian in character, although it may be 

 remarked that the distinction between the national styles of 

 gardening is not very clearly drawn. The enclosing yew 

 hedges are as good as can anywhere be found, and within the 

 chosen space the sculptor Ins exercised his skill. Here is the 

 Dragon Fountains with appropriateness in the figure, for those 



THE BROAD WALK. 



en litre d'offke, shared the private hours of the King, dined 

 familiarly with the Duke of Northumberland, and sat down at 

 the tables of all the House of Lords. 



" Banls yet unborn 



Shall pay to Drown that tribute fitliest paid, 

 In strains the b.-auty of his scenes inspire." 



The effect of his skill in landscape gardening may be seen 

 in the grounds at Eaton Hall, but many other workers in the 

 same field more eminent than he have modified his work, 

 and given to the gardens the particular character they 

 possess. 



The principal pleasaunce is on the east, overlooked by 

 the great facade. There is here a superb outlook from the 

 upper terrace, and then by broaJ descents we go down to the 

 glorious parterre. It is a feast of colour in rich and rare 

 variety, and the contrasts afforded by the spaces of green turf, 

 and by the dark hue of yews and Portugal laurels, are exceed- 



who have studied early mythology know that the fabulous 

 beast, after having inflicted- upon m.m unt)ld woe, by ste.iling 

 from him the fountains of water, and afflicting him with famine 

 and disease, became later the guardian and possess >r of those 

 life-giving streams which, in the earlier mythologies, he had 

 stolen for his own. 



The mention of the fine sculpture will have suggested to the 

 reader that there has been no stint in the embellishment < f the 

 grounds with the best works that art could supply. This will 

 again be seen in the magnificent ironwork. The splendid 

 grille at the entrance to the avenue is a noble example of the 

 ironworker's skill ; and there are other rich and elaborate gates 

 also, splendid examples of the skill of the craftsmen in metals. 

 These add much to the attraction of the gardens ; but, indeed, 

 wherever we go something will be found to delight or charm in 

 the glorious gardens of baton Hall. The skill of Mr. Lut/ens 

 was employed by the late Duke in further adornment. 



