SECRETARY'S REPORT. 237 



turf heaped up as is the custom with us, without a foot or a 

 lioad-stoiie to indicate who rests below : 



"Beneath those rugged elms that yew trees shade, 



Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, 

 Each in his narrow cell forever laid, 

 The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." 



The church is completely mantled with ivy. It stands in a 

 quiet nook, away from the road, and joins the great park of the 

 Penn estate. I shall never forget the hour I spent there, and 

 there is no spot in England of which I have so pleasing and 

 satisfactory recollections. 



It was late when we returned to the city, but not dark. 

 There are, in clear weather, not more than four hours of a 

 summer night when one cannot see to read with ease in 

 London, and farther north, in Scotland, the length of the 

 summer night is still less. 



The next day we visited Kew gardens, seven miles above 

 London on the Thames. Here is preserved the finest collection 

 of plants in England. The garden contains many ornamental 

 buildings, one of which is the orangery, and near it, in a beau- 

 tiful grove, the temple of the Sun, in Corinthian style. Exten- 

 sive flower gardens and botanical gardens are also connected 

 with the main enclosure. The temples of the god Pan, of 

 Solitude, Victory, &c., are pleasing structures, while the grace- 

 ful pagoda gives an extensive view of this luxuriant section. 

 The Palm House is said to be one of the finest and most exten- 

 sive in Europe, and to have cost $150,000. 



The distance from Kew to Richmond is but short, and the 

 walk along the bank of the river as beautiful as can be 

 imagined. Here we saw the remains of the old palace that 

 Henry the Eighth gave to Wolsey in exchange for Hampton 

 Court, and the room where Queen Elizabeth died. The green 

 in front was the scene of grand and splendid tournaments 

 before Henry the Seventh and Henry the Eighth, while the 

 church near by contains the tomb that holds the remains of 

 Thomson the author of the " Seasons," and another of Kean, 

 the actor. Not far off stands the seat of the renowned Sir 

 Robert Walpole, called Pembroke Lodge, now the residence of 

 Lord John Russell. Twickenham, long the residence of Pope, 

 and where he wrote his " Essay on Man," and other works, is 



