BO\V 



the attractions nt the place, being .1 liberal pat run of 

 art and literature, like his father, and he exercised .1 



discretion in bringing together a large part of 

 the splendid collection nf pictures and statuary which 

 arc one of the great attractions of Bowood. To him 

 also the gardens owe very much, for he enlarged and 

 embellished them, and the noble Italian garden is 



ly the work of his hand. As a young man he 

 made the grand tour, in company with M. Ktienne 

 Dumont, an intimate frien.l of Mirabeau, and though 

 upon his return he immediately plunged into politics, 

 and became Chancellor of the h'.xchequer at twenty 



in the Ministry of " All the Talents," fie 

 for every manifestation of 

 his time, became again the 

 distinguished in literature 



in 



never lost his love 

 art, and Bowood, 

 resort of many men 

 and science. 



The ornamental grounds cover some seventy 

 acres, while the park comprises about 1,000 acres of 

 wood and open land. Knthusiastic- and justly 

 enthusiastic- Britton notes three distinguishing 

 J.tsses into which the "agreeable objects of Nature 

 at Bowood may be divided the sublime, the 

 picturesque and the beautiful. Sublimity he found 

 in the extensive prosjxxts, the rich wixxi and the 

 massive rock worn into furrows by the rush of falling 

 waters, the details of landscape being "absorbed in 

 the striking grandeur of the surrounding scenery " ; 

 picturesquencss he applauds in the broad lake and its 

 artless, wild and broken accompaniments ; and beauty 



he rightly discerns in the glory of the lawns and the 

 pleasure-grounds. 



The park through which we approach these latter 

 is a green and liowery wilderness, where great frees 

 of the patrician forest, tall and stately, cast their wide 

 expanse of shade, standing in groups like umbrageous 

 islands in the far-spread green of the grass, or 

 clothing in wixxlland extent the steep slopes. No 

 level expanse, indeed, is this, but one rich in hill ami 

 dale, intersected by green roads, and possessing those 

 magnificent woods and sheltered groves, streams and 

 the noble lake and cascade which add so much to the 

 grace and variety of the domain. The approach 

 from Chippcnham is superb, by the picturesque 

 hamlet ot Derry Mill, sweetlx embowered, and 

 through the arched gatew.u which gives admittance, 

 flanked by a tower of Barry's design. There is a 

 drive of some two miles to the mansion, and, as we 

 go, new beauties of the park are revealed as the hills 

 and hollows come into sight, luxuriant in their 

 verdure, and there are occasional glimpses of the tall 

 Linsdownc column, standing on the lofty height of 

 Cherhill Downs, and the white horse on the slope. 

 Not less attractive is the approach from C'alne, which 

 brings the privileged visitor by the famous gardens 

 of Bowood. 



And now, as we near the house, we notice its 

 stately forms, and discern how well it harmonises 

 with its surroundings, and how happy is the effect of 

 colour in the garden glory and the beautiful tints ot 



T//K 



A.\iy THE LEA\/\G 



