1 Notes on Gardens and Country Seats : — - 



centre of which stands a large Spanish chestnut, covering with 

 its foHage nearly one third of the length of the oval; and on the 

 verge of the same oval there is a large walnut tree. The other, 

 and larger, portion of the lawn is studded with about a dozen 

 fruit trees, consisting of two mulberry trees, two walnut trees, 

 and the remainder with apples and pears. All this is so inconsistent 

 with taste, that the bare mentioning of it is sufficient ; and par- 

 ticularly in this case, where there are so many choice things in 

 the shrubberies, that are on the point of being ruined unless 

 removed ; and Mv. Brownlee, the gardener, would doubtless be 

 happy could he gain permission to have some of them transferred 

 as embellishments to the lawn, in place of the trees above men- 

 tioned. He has already made considerable alterations and im- 

 provements in the walks and shrubberies since their original 

 formation, and has more in contemplation, which he hopes he 

 shall have permission to carry into execution. The beauty of 

 this place might- also be much heightened by the introduction of 

 vases, and other embellishments, which might be procured at 

 Mr. Austin's manufactory, in the New Road. Mr. Brownlee is 

 zealous in his pursuit after dahlias, and, in proportion to the 

 number he is able to grow, has been very successful, this season, 

 in obtaining prizes at the shows in the neighbourhood. 



The grounds at Teddington Grove are larger than those at 

 Park House, and, consequently, capable of greater variety. It is 

 situate on the side of the road, a little distance from the village 

 of Teddington, on the Twickenham side ; and from the upper 

 rooms of the house there is a ijood view of the Thames and 

 Richmond Hill. The kitchen-garden, forcing-houses, and frame 

 ground lie contiguous to the stable-yard, which is always advan- 

 tageous. A pretty good share of judgment has been here dis- 

 played in laying out the walks, shrubberies, and lawn. At the 

 north side of the lawn there is a neat conservatory, fronted by 

 a flower-garden, and partly surrounded by a shrubbery, the 

 beds of which are on the grass at the south eni\. In the shrubbery, 

 raised on a mound, stands a rustic summer-house, neatly con- 

 structed, partly in the Gothic style, from which through a vista 

 is seen the Star and Garter on Richmond Plill. At the front of 

 the summer-house there is another flower-<;arden on turf; and 

 nearly adjoining, in a kind of recess, stands what has been an 

 ornamental dairy; in front of which is a circular basin, surrounded 

 by rockwork, with a fountain in its centre. In proceeding by 

 the side of a sort of wilderness, a walk leads down to a tunnel, 

 which they call the grotto, and which is constructed under the 

 public road. This forms the approach to a field, round the verge 

 of which a walk, backed up by a shrubbery, leads down to the 

 Thames. On the lawn stands a very fine box tree, forming a com- 

 plete cone of 27 yards round, and 14ft.high; and another, which 



