•M2 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND. 



Sir Richard Temple, who died in 1697, commenced rebuilding 

 the house at Stow, and his son, Lord Cobham, continued it, and 

 began the gardens, which were constantly being added to until 

 1755. By that time they covered a space of five hundred acres. 

 Bridgeman was the first designer, and after him, Kent, while 

 Vanburgh constructed several of the temples and monuments. In 

 one of the numerous descriptions of Stow, a pyramid is specially 

 mentioned as being the last design Vanburgh executed * : — 



" ascends 



The pointed pjTamid ; this, too, is thine. 

 Lamented Vanburgh ! this thy last design, 

 Among the various structures, that around, 

 F"ormed by thy hand adorn this happy ground." 



As this was the ideal garden of the period, there are several 

 contemporary guides and descriptions to it published. As 

 smaller places copied it, and were composed of the same sort 

 of collection of temples, gardens, and vistas; it will be necessary 

 to go through its varied features in detail, so I have transcribed 

 in full a letter from that same delightful correspondent. Lord 

 Percival, to his brother-in-law, Dering, giving his own 

 impressions of the gardens, to which he paid a visit in 1724 :t 



" Brackley, 14 Aug: 1724 Friday night, 



7 a clock. 

 " Dear Daniel, 



" Yesterday w^e saw Lord Cobham's house, which within 



these five years, has gained the reputation of being the finest 



seat in England. . . . The gardens by reason of the good 



contrivance of the walks, seem to be three times as large as they 



are. The}^ contain but 28 acres, yet took us up two hours. It 



is entirely new, and tho' begun but eleven years ago, is now 



almost finished. From the lower end you ascend a multitude 



of steps (but at several distances) to the parterre, and from 



thence several more to the house, which, standing high, 



commands a fine prospect. One way they can see 26 miles. 



It is impossible to give you an exact Idea of this garden, but 



* Stoiv. The Gardens of the Rt. Hun. Ricliard, Lord Viscoutit Cohliaiu, 

 1732. Anon. 



■j- MS. belonging to the Earl of Egmont. In St. James's Place. 



