S86 Garden Calls : — 



knows very little about, the richer he is he commonly rentiers himself the 

 more ridiculous : good taste is more frequently the result of necessity than 

 of superabundance. Arundel Castle, as a piece of architecture, and as a 

 nobleman's residence, is bungled from the want of one grand general plan 

 to commence with and proceed upon, as well as from tlie bad taste of the 

 details. We cannot recall to mind any quadrangle of castellated building 

 so nobly placed by nature, and yet so deficient in dignity of expression when 

 viewed from the entrance near the keep. On analysing this expression, 

 we find it proceeds from the lowness of the floor of the main entrance, 

 and the descent to that entrance from the gate to the quadrangle, instead 

 of an ascent; from the want of determinate character in the lines of the 

 plan, which is neither that of a quadrangle nor that of any other determin- 

 ate figure, which operates on the eye of an artist like imperfect notes on 

 the ear of a musician,; from the want of such bold and striking features in 

 the elevation as might have carried off any deficiency in the plan ; and, 

 finally, from the details of the architecture, which, setting at defiance all the 

 received associations of art, have yet failed in making us forget this by 

 grandeur or singularity of effect. In short, whatever might be said in 

 favour of some particular parts or details (and we admire some other 

 points besides the picture in stained glass of the signing of Magna Charta, 

 and the alto-relievo in artificial stone of the trial by jury), the general 

 impression is, that of the desire and the pecuniary means of doing some- 

 thing grand and suitable to the situation and the family, without the 

 requisite knowledge or taste. 



What has been done in landscape gardening is not better than what has 

 been done in architecture. The place is frittered into details, without con- 

 nection, and without any pervading principle. There are three or four 

 kitchen-gardens, and three or four places that may be called flower-gardens ; 

 but not one grand leading walk to show either these or any thing else. In 

 all that relates to plan, in short, nothing can be worse; but there are some 

 good trees and shrubs in a very thriving state, most extraordinary and suc- 

 cessful care having been bestowed on them by Mr. Wood, an estimable 

 man, a gardener of great experience, and interesting to us as being the only 

 Scotch gardener that we know or ever heard of who is a Roman catholic. 

 The present Duke, with that liberality and benevolence which every wealthy 

 family of character in civilised countries shows, or ought to show, to their 

 good and faithful servants, has permitted him, being no longer young, 

 though only nine years in His Grace's service, to retire on his full salary. 

 The characters of the present Duke, and of the Earl of Surrey, in this re- 

 spect stand very high, and it gives us the most sincere pleasure to put it on 

 recoi'd, as a stimulus and example to other wealthy men, and as affording 

 us an opportunity of reminding gardeners, and the other servants of such 

 masters, how attentive they ought to be to them, and how grateful to Pro- 

 vidence. We know of families whose maxim it is never to keep servants 

 more than six or seven years, lest they should have a claim on the family 

 bounty for themselves, their widows or children. Mr. Wood is succeeded 

 by Mr. Deas, a young man of great merit, recommended by the Horticul- 

 tural Society : but no young man, whatever may be his merits as a cultivator, 

 will ever make much of tliis place till a general system of arrangement, 

 very different from the present, is fixed on, and the main roads and walks 

 executed. 



In our excitement at the want of plan, however, we must not forget the 

 fine old trees of different kinds about the castle and in the park. The 

 native trees are the beech, the conmion maple, and about the castle pro- 

 bably the elm, the ash, and the ivy may be added. There are many very 

 fine old maples, some curious-rooted elms on the castle banks, some large 

 oaks, and some of the largest ivy we ever saw. This ivy has fastened itself 

 on the ash trees, covered every part even of their extreme branches, and 



