JULY. 315 



so as to enclose them in films of water like glass shades. 

 After filling the surrounding basins, the water hurries down 

 the series of steps which form the cascades on either side of 

 the central walk, and then flows over the arcades into the 

 great reservoirs on this side of the Grand Plateau. 



The grounds on either side of the central fountains, tem- 

 ples, and cascades are in the mixed Italian and English styles. 

 in which green undulating lawns, irregular groups of trees 

 and shrubs, beds planted with laurels, rhododendrons, azaleas, 

 &c., and winding walks prevail. To the right is a mound, 

 surrounded by an arcade of arabesque ironwork, around which 

 innumerable roses are twined ; to the left a similar mound is 

 devoted to herbaceous plants and low growing shrubs. 



The two lower fountains were not finished, and I can only 

 say they are intended to be the largest and grandest in the 

 world ; they will not throw water so high as the great Em- 

 peror at Chatsworth, and perhaps one or two others, but will 

 embody a variety of forms and an amount of diversified 

 effects that will throw all others completely into the shade. 



The mixed or transitional style ends at the two great foun- 

 tains ; beyond them the trees wave their long branches, the 

 paths wind, and art recedes before nature. 



From the top of the Grand Plateau, which is fifty feet in 

 width, a general view is obtained of a tract of several acres 

 of ground occupied by Geological illustrations, and including 

 a number of islands already partly covered by strange figures, 

 the restored forms of various animals, which for many ages 

 have ceased to exist as living tribes. The wonders of geol- 

 ogy are not confined to grand mountain chains piercing the 

 clouds, burning mountains vomiting steam and hot ashes, and 

 accumulations of animal and vegetable remains found em- 

 bedded everywhere around us. They extend to facts con- 

 nected with the structure of the earth's crust, the existence 

 of stores of mineral wealth, and strange results derived from 

 the comparison of existing races with the fragments of other 

 races formerly occupying the surface. The form of the sur- 

 face depends on the internal structure ; the scenery is due to 

 the circumstances of the prevailing rock and soil ; and the 



