Tatton Park. 33 



Rostherne, in turn, is the pleasantest way of pedestrian 

 approach to Tatton Park, so liberally opened to visitors 

 by Lord Egerton, on compliance with certain rules. 

 Visitors bent on seeing Tatton only, should go part way 

 from Bowdon by vehicle; for here, as at Cotterill, we 

 want, as in a picture-gallery, every minute, and to let too 

 much time be consumed in mere travel is a mistake. To 

 make a too hasty and thoughtless use of our opportunities 

 of pleasure is in any case to throw away the half of them ; 

 the pleasure of the country beyond all others requires a 

 calm and unhurried step, a free and unwistful mind and 

 eye, such as cannot possibly be if, by waste or extra- 

 vagance, we are "tied to time," only when, by a wise 

 economy of our resources in this respect, we liberate 

 ourselves from care about trains and timebills, do we 

 catch nature's sweetest smiles. The boundary measure- 

 ment of this beautiful park is upwards of ten miles, and 

 of its two thousand one hundred and thirty-five acres no 

 fewer than four hundred are occupied by woods and 

 plantations, with seventy-nine acres of water. Here we 

 may stroll beneath green vaults of foliage, and be 

 reminded of the aisles of cathedrals. Here we may con- 

 template the viridis senectus of glorious old oaks that 

 have watched the flow of generations. Here, in autumn, 

 we learn, from a thousand old foresters from beech, and 

 chestnut, and elm that brave men, though overtaken by 

 inclemencies there is no withstanding, still put a good 

 face upon their fallen fortunes, and, like Caesar, who 

 drew his purple around him, die royally; and at Christ- 



