644 Notes a7id Reflections during a Tour : — 



100 acres ; about three fourths of it consist of a flat or very 

 slio"htly varied surface, planted with hornbeam avenues, and 

 close woods pierced by numerous clipped alleys diverging 

 from centres in the usual manner, of which the only one that 

 has left any impression on our mind, is the triple vista, from a 

 patte d'oie to the river. The remaining fourth part consists of 

 a surface a good deal varied, and is laid out in imitation of the 

 English manner, with numerous buildings, and on the whole 

 it is not an unsuccessful imitation. 



The kitchen-garden is close to the house, and in former 

 times must have been its chief ornament in the way of pleasure- 

 ground ; at present it is in a state of ruin and desolation, such 

 as no British gardener can form the slightest idea of. The 

 walls, terraces, slopes, platforms on different levels, basins no 

 longer fit to hold water, ruined fountains, broken statues and 

 urns, the remains of an old conservatory and of some pavilions, 

 neglected wall trees, and old shrubs, show what it has been, 

 and the luxuriancy of the w^eeds what it might very soon be. 

 An English gardener would turn the whole into one of the 

 richest flower-gardens in the world. The house is grand, 

 considered with reference to its size, accompaniments, and 

 antiquity ; but it has little architectural merit either externally 

 or within. A great deal, however, might be said about the 

 house and grounds, the view to the Abbaye de Jumieges, built 

 in the 1 1th century, and containing the ashes of Agnes Sorrel, 

 and about other views ; but the reader, we fear, must be tired 

 with the unavoidable sameness of our details. With the excep- 

 tion of the kitchen-garden, it gives us pleasure to state that 

 the grounds were tolerably well kept. We were shown them 

 by the gamekeeper, who could write very well. 



IJie Village of Mailleraie is situated close by the river, and, 

 though small, contains an inn, tolerably good for the country, 

 which is said to be much frequented by visitors during sum- 

 mer. After dining on stewed eels and eggs, this being Friday, 

 we hired a one-horse vehicle of a very rude description, with a 

 man between seventy and eighty, who could neither read nor 

 write, and a pony, to take us to Landin, a distance of five or 

 six miles. The road is indescribably bad, and of very little 

 variety or interest in a pictui'esque point of view. Great 

 part of it is thi'ough a forest of birches and oaks, which seems 

 to be cut down periodically for fuel, and the rest is a narrow 

 crooked lane. We arrived at Landin about five o'clock. 



Laiidin, at present the residence of the Marquis de St. 

 Marie, has long been celebrated for its situation, on the bank 

 of the river, here lofty, irregular, and covered with natural 

 wood. The chateau must be at least 300 ft. above the level of 



