from June 28. to August 16. 1840. 407 



only differ from our ha-ha, or sunk fence, in not having the 

 outer side sloped. They are, therefore, much more effective 

 as barriers, though extremely dangerous to men and cattle. 

 Those of Madame de Pompadour were 30 ft. in length, 

 12 ft. wide, and 9 ft. in depth, the side walls being perpen- 

 dicular, and without the slighest indication of protection ; so 

 that in a dark night any animal wandering near such a pit, and 

 perhaps attracted by a light proceeding from the windows of the 

 house, might very readily fall into it, and death, or at least 

 broken limbs, would be the certain consequence. The soil 

 being a dry sand on the peculiar sandstone of the district, we 

 suppose no water ever stood in them. 



The present proprietor has arranged the grounds in the 

 modern maiiner, and some very good kinds of ornamental trees 

 and shrubs are planted in them ; but there is not obtained a 

 tenth of the comfort and enjoyment which such a place is cal- 

 culated to produce, partly, perhaps, from these not being de- 

 sired. What particularly struck us was the wretched state of 

 the trees on the walls, not a fourth part of the surface of the 

 latter being covered with branches. 



The town of Fontainebleau formerly contained some large 

 palaces, the residences of the nobility, attendants of Louis XIV., 

 but they have been razed to the ground, and the materials sold, 

 since the first revolution ; and the chimney-pieces of these pa- 

 laces have long since been fixed in England. We were also 

 informed by the Baron Hanequert, that some of the chimneys 

 belonging to the royal palace were purchased many years ago 

 when a part of the building was taken down, and that after 

 remaining several years in a cellar, they ultimately found their 

 way to this country. 



From Paris we returned to Rouen by the Seine, and from 

 Rouen by the same conveyance to Havre ; passing the interest- 

 ing Chateau de Landin, described in our Vol. for 1829, p. 644., 

 and the still more interesting Chateau de Tankerville, which was 

 purchased by the celebrated financier and gambler Law of 

 Laureston. The chateau, and seven acres of ground round it, 

 are, according to the guide-book, let for 350 francs a year. It 

 would form a delightful summer residence to an inhabitant either 

 of Paris or of London. 



Havre. — We unfortunately had not time to visit the collection 

 of the British consul, Gilbert Gordon, Esq., or that of M. Eyries, 

 and some other collections known to us by reputation as bein(>- 

 well worth examining. We had a delightful voyage to South- 

 ampton, where, after visiting Mr. Page's home nursery, which 

 we found as usual, brimful of plants in the very highest order, 

 we set off by the railway, and in three hours and a half were at 

 Bayswater. 



