EATON HALL GARDEN. 117 



gravel. The surface, dropping by long terraces from the steps 

 of the Hall to the river, is otherwise only varied by pyramidal 

 yews and box, and a few vases. On the whole, the effect of it, 

 in connection with the house, and looking towards it, is fine, more 

 so than I should have expected ; and it falls so rapidly, that it 

 affects the landscape seen in this direction from the house but 

 little, and, as an enriched foreground, not disagreeably. This 

 landscape is exquisitely beautiful, looking across the Dee, over a 

 lovely valley towards some high, blue mountains. From other 

 parts of the Hall, vistas open through grand avenues of elms ; 

 and there are some noble single trees about the lawn. 



The English elm is a much finer tree than I had been aware 

 of very tall, yet with drooping limbs and fine thick foliage ; not 

 so fine as a single tree as our elm, but more effective in masses, 

 because thicker and better filled out in its general outline. 



The Hall was undergoing extensive alterations and repairs ; 

 and all the grounds immediately about it, except the terrace gar- 

 den, were lumbered up with brick and stone, and masons' sheds, 

 and in complete coufusion. Being Saturday, all the workmen 

 had left, and it was long before we could find any one about the 

 house. We had got very thirsty, and considering that such a 

 place would not be left without any tenants, determined that we 

 would get a drink. After hammering for some time at a door 

 under the principal entrance, a woman came and opened it a few 

 inches, and learning our wish, brought us a glass of water, which 

 she passed out through the narrow opening, never showing her 

 face. "We were amused at this, which she perceiving, told us the 

 door was chained and padlocked, so she could not open it wider. 



Soon after, while looking for an entrance to the fruit garden, 

 we met a gamekeeper, who was followed by a pet cub fox. He 

 very obligingly showed us through such parts of the establishment 

 as he was able to. There was nothing remarkable in the gardens 



