Ascot Place. 569 



know any that can be compared with it excepting that at Pains Hill, which 

 we consider the first in England. The Ascot grotto is chiefly executed of 

 stones collected on the surrounding lands, and they are built up and keyed 

 together so judiciously and substantially, that the structure is almost as per- 

 fect as when it was first erected, and it will, doubtless, last a great many 

 years — a prediction that can be made of very few buildings of this kind. 

 The grounds of Ascot park are flat ; but, being of considerable extent, and 

 displaying a large piece of water, with abundance of wood, they are not 

 witjiout interest, even independently of the house and garden scenery. We 

 admire the house for its simple grandeur, both without and within. It con- 

 sists of a square centre, with four fronts and four stacks of chimneys, and 

 two wings each with one stack ; the wings are after additions, the sub-story 

 having been found too damp for the kitchen offices. We mention this to 

 account for what the architect, Paul Sandby, must have felt with us, had 

 been better omitted. We looked through the offices and principal rooms, 

 and were gratified by the elegant simplicity which pervaded the whole, 

 though the finishing, and part of the furniture, are not of the latest taste. 

 We are happy to see, occasionally, rich and sumptuous apartments, and a 

 multiplicity of objects of taste and contrivance combined in little space : a 

 suite of magnificently-furnished rooms like those at Goodwood, and a ca- 

 binet villa like Whitmore Lodge ; but, for our own particular taste and use, 

 whether it be in houses or gardens, in men or in women, or, in fact, what- 

 ever is to be permanently near us, we prefer scope, simplicity of design, 

 and obvious use. Simple, useful, and economical ; these are the words. 

 Whatever is costly and superfluous soon satiates. A connoisseur in build- 

 ing and furnishing is never happy but in adding something, contemplating 

 changes, or carrying them into execution ; the man of elegant usefulness, or 

 simple grandeur, attains his end, and rests satisfied. There is an excellent 

 oak staircase ; a small collection of choice shells in the drawing-room ; a 

 good library ; and, among the pictures, some landscapes by Both, a pupil of 

 Claude, eminent for his touch and style of handling. A book of Chinese 

 drawings of plants contains, among some articles of which we never saw the 

 oriainals, a double yellow Paeonia Moutan, and a deep blue chrysanthemum . 



The late proprietor was his own landscape-gardener, and has succeeded 

 in forming very agreeable walks among exotic trees and shrubs, and erect- 

 ing some ornamental buildings of stone in good taste, and so substantially 

 executed, that they are not like those of Stowe, and many other places, 

 falling into decay. An open temple, in a grove of oaks rising from the 

 smoothest turf, is worthy of notice. We should like to see all the countiy 

 boys and girls, for miles round, ienjoying a fete under these oaks. Among 

 the shrubs are many American things, such as were furnished by the nurse- 

 ries about 1786. Miss Ferrard has lately added some rhododendrons, 

 azaleas, and similar exotics, a collection of standard roses, and other things, 

 which she selected last autumn in Paris. Among the old trees are several 

 cedars of Lebanon, with tall, straight, clean trunks, which proves the truth 

 of what is asserted by Mr. Sang {Pla7iter^s Calendar, Edin. 8vo), that if 

 these trees were planted, or, in preference, sown in masses, as Scotch pines 

 and larches are, or, among other trees, they would produce as clean straight 

 timber as could be desired. We have no doubt of it, and should like to see 

 a few acres of waste planted with nothing else but cedars, at, say 10 ft. 

 apart every way. 



There is an excellent collection of geraniums and carnations, with a con- 

 siderable number of green-house plants. These, with the vinery, are 

 exceedingly well managed ; and the pleasure-ground is kept in perfect order 

 by Mr. James Beal, who has long been head-gardener here, and who, as a 

 faithful industrious servant, is duly valued by his employer ; and we have 

 sent him the first volume of our Magazine of Natural History, in testimony 

 of his professional merit. 



